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Mr. Knoeppel’s Classroom Edit display name

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If you asked my students what got them started thinking about a future career in Architecture, the majority of them would tell you that it all started with Lego. The world of design has changed dramatically over the last thirty years. Many of the hands-on activities that were commonly used in architectural design classes have now been replaced by virtual simulations. The power of virtual models is that they can be changed very quickly to suit the needs of a client. The downfall of designing and visualizing solely on a computer is the lack of physical interaction with a design. There is something special about being able to hold a model in your hands and look at it from multiple points in space. I want my students to develop their own ideas about building façades, fenestration (openings) and form through the hands on manipulation of bricks. Through the construction of architectural models, I want my students to see, and feel, the importance of elements like scale, color, texture and aesthetic as they build. I want my students to experience free-form thinking, design, and creation while they also learn about engineering structures that are strong and stable. Students will use Lego bricks to learn about what design elements work and which do not. I plan to construct two four foot by four foot walls with building plates in my classroom where students can create and display their models to share with their classmates. Sharing in this manner helps with the collaborative process of design while providing students the opportunity to gain knowledge in what is successful for their future projects. These activities also help to build important post-secondary presentation skills and an understanding of the practical application of building techniques and materials.

About my class

If you asked my students what got them started thinking about a future career in Architecture, the majority of them would tell you that it all started with Lego. The world of design has changed dramatically over the last thirty years. Many of the hands-on activities that were commonly used in architectural design classes have now been replaced by virtual simulations. The power of virtual models is that they can be changed very quickly to suit the needs of a client. The downfall of designing and visualizing solely on a computer is the lack of physical interaction with a design. There is something special about being able to hold a model in your hands and look at it from multiple points in space. I want my students to develop their own ideas about building façades, fenestration (openings) and form through the hands on manipulation of bricks. Through the construction of architectural models, I want my students to see, and feel, the importance of elements like scale, color, texture and aesthetic as they build. I want my students to experience free-form thinking, design, and creation while they also learn about engineering structures that are strong and stable. Students will use Lego bricks to learn about what design elements work and which do not. I plan to construct two four foot by four foot walls with building plates in my classroom where students can create and display their models to share with their classmates. Sharing in this manner helps with the collaborative process of design while providing students the opportunity to gain knowledge in what is successful for their future projects. These activities also help to build important post-secondary presentation skills and an understanding of the practical application of building techniques and materials.

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About my class

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