framework for the implementation of a virtual design studio model in ...

Goodwin‟s use of multi-disciplinary practitioners for lectures and
tutorship (typified in Postmodernist multi-disciplinary studios) formed the
core of this project as practitioners‟ personal histories, expertise and
spatial intelligence were vital ingredients in the Chimera project.
Students speculated the scale, territory, and content of the territory of
their choice and were then required to express their vision through a
physical mode, in this case: presentation. The presentations served as a
tool to form groups. According to Professor Goodwin, “Once the groups
were decided the multi-disciplinary process begins.”
At this point, the studio encouraged the use of metaphor and
philosophical background as key tools. The initial presentations included
drawings, data, photographs, performance, and digital display which
aimed to capture the essence of Cardiff‟s direction as a developing city.
Due to the volume of ideas, feedback and discussion were reserved for
studio tuition and interaction at a later date. In accordance with the
studio‟s Political, Economical, Social and Technological (PEST) analysis
approach, the students were asked to explore Cardiff and think
metaphorically in terms of what the city needs. The students‟ political
beliefs had to be established early on to provide a solid basis for their
contributions.
Following the film screening with Neutral Film-makers Tapio and
Christian, the students were encouraged to embrace filmic language.
The brief was to form groups to then collectively produce a three-minute
film to convey their projected strategy and encapsulate their design
concept.
Facilitation: Small Cities /Big Neighbourhoods
From the outset Prof. Goodwin instilled a sense of community within the
students and focused on the social neighbourhood as a platform for their
ideas. To begin, he gave a broad overview of the small cities and big
neighbourhoods, advocating that the mix of people, opportunities, sense
of identity, and facilities are the most important aspects of any social
neighbourhood. As the project progressed he became more specific,
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