School taught me the importance of craft, discipline/work ethic and how to think through problems in creative ways. It also taught me how to do my own work instead of relying on other... such as this crowd sourcing effort you're demonstrating here.
I have an atypical background but I did have a few architecture studio classes and the most important thing I learned was time management--perfection takes time, so learn what good enough is.
The studios I learned the most from were drawing classes, where I learned to see what was there, rather than what I thought was there. 30 years later and I still think about and apply that lesson daily.
I've been pondering this since the topic first appeared, and I think my main answer is: my biggest takeaway from arch school was drawing skills. They made me draw. A LOT. And forced me to do it on short timelines. So I got a lot faster and a lot better at it. And then they forced me to use drawings to communicate. A LOT. It's a skill that has served me very well over the years.
I don't really have any deep takeaways. Here are the practical ones.
1. Don't use a glue gun for a model presented in a Crit unless you can get away with it.
2. Always have food nearby. A loaf of sourdough, or loaf of white bread and jar of Nutella could keep hunger at bay, especially if nearby food options had closed and the vending machine wasn't going to cut it.
3. Leave the architecture building to use the washroom. Consider it your little break from studio, plus the washrooms in the Music building were cleaner.
4. Coffee really doesn't make much of a difference after 3am. But once 6am comes around your energy level will pick up.
5. Get to know the name of the janitor. They are the only ones that are truly nice people in the building. Don't tell them too much personal information however.
Ok, two genuine lessons.
1. Figure out details at 1:1 on a large sheet of paper. Get off the computer.
2. Professors never noticed my effort in renders. An evocative sketch will go a lot further (and probably take less time).
Thanks for all the advice, I’ve started to realize how much more effective hand sketches have been in studio and how much time and effort it saves, plus it helps get ideas out way faster.
After reflecting a little bit and reading the other answers, the most valuable item I will add is I learned to be a visionary. I learned how to develop and iterate the big picture without getting caught up in the nuts and bolts.
Also worth adding that I also learned how to actually weld, sew, put up masonry, mitre fine wood joints, bend/break sheet steel. You don't any of this slaving over a laptop. I also learned that polished concrete studio floors and basswood sawdust makes for a wicked slippery good time at 3am.
Oct 30, 24 11:16 am ·
·
OddArchitect
I learned to do that stuff outside of school. The slippery floor though I learned in school.
One of the most useful things I learned in the studio was to spot bad ideas faster. Another one was to recognize good ideas and help people around me see them from the unique perspective of my perpetually stoned state of mind.
What did you learn from studio?
What did your school’s studio class teach you that you still apply today, whether in practice or in your way of thinking??
School taught me the importance of craft, discipline/work ethic and how to think through problems in creative ways. It also taught me how to do my own work instead of relying on other... such as this crowd sourcing effort you're demonstrating here.
Aren’t forums used to ask questions and exchange ideas?
Yes, they are... but with great power comes great snark. It's how we keep the universe balanced or else the terrorists win.
I have an atypical background but I did have a few architecture studio classes and the most important thing I learned was time management--perfection takes time, so learn what good enough is.
The studios I learned the most from were drawing classes, where I learned to see what was there, rather than what I thought was there. 30 years later and I still think about and apply that lesson daily.
quote from a great professor "the architect is a man who measures"
what about woman?
he was a known misogynist
I've been pondering this since the topic first appeared, and I think my main answer is: my biggest takeaway from arch school was drawing skills. They made me draw. A LOT. And forced me to do it on short timelines. So I got a lot faster and a lot better at it. And then they forced me to use drawings to communicate. A LOT. It's a skill that has served me very well over the years.
Thanks for the response, visual representation has been something I’ve been striving to improve at
I don't really have any deep takeaways. Here are the practical ones.
1. Don't use a glue gun for a model presented in a Crit unless you can get away with it.
2. Always have food nearby. A loaf of sourdough, or loaf of white bread and jar of Nutella could keep hunger at bay, especially if nearby food options had closed and the vending machine wasn't going to cut it.
3. Leave the architecture building to use the washroom. Consider it your little break from studio, plus the washrooms in the Music building were cleaner.
4. Coffee really doesn't make much of a difference after 3am. But once 6am comes around your energy level will pick up.
5. Get to know the name of the janitor. They are the only ones that are truly nice people in the building. Don't tell them too much personal information however.
Ok, two genuine lessons.
1. Figure out details at 1:1 on a large sheet of paper. Get off the computer.
2. Professors never noticed my effort in renders. An evocative sketch will go a lot further (and probably take less time).
Thanks for all the advice, I’ve started to realize how much more effective hand sketches have been in studio and how much time and effort it saves, plus it helps get ideas out way faster.
Somebody should start an architecture school that focuses on hand drawing.
There’s one, in NJ.
I can think of another one, but it's good to hear that they exist!
Pretty much everything ... didnt pay much attention in other classes, to be honest
For me personally studio taught me:
Integration of structural design. BIM and other 3D, Rhino, Revit, Maya
Designing with 3d Diagrams/massing models
first job at SOM, I used all that I learned in studio
After reflecting a little bit and reading the other answers, the most valuable item I will add is I learned to be a visionary. I learned how to develop and iterate the big picture without getting caught up in the nuts and bolts.
Also worth adding that I also learned how to actually weld, sew, put up masonry, mitre fine wood joints, bend/break sheet steel. You don't any of this slaving over a laptop. I also learned that polished concrete studio floors and basswood sawdust makes for a wicked slippery good time at 3am.
I learned to do that stuff outside of school. The slippery floor though I learned in school.
One of the most useful things I learned in the studio was to spot bad ideas faster. Another one was to recognize good ideas and help people around me see them from the unique perspective of my perpetually stoned state of mind.
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