From the idea to the reality and back

At the Faculty of Architecture, BUT in the Ponešová / Foretník / Smržová studio, we focus on designs that ends with realization of the object. The assignment is always located in a specific place in a public space or landscape, but students explore the place themselves, discover it and then react to it. An essential part is not only a visit to the site, but also the design process itself, which is necessarily firmly linked to a particular site, its inhabitants, mood, specific conditions and the interaction between the design and the research process.

This process is very individual and closely connected with specific sites and people. All such built proposals show common procedural principles, which are much easier to describe retrospectively, as well as to observe the implementation itself, which very often begins to live its own life. This whole process is an interesting paradox, when it can happen that only after the implementation we find out the real potential of the object. The proposals respond to the current situation in the places of implementation, but their existence changes this situation, these changes are interesting to observe, because they are often unpredictable.

Levels of the process:

Design: Place – research – communication – interaction – analysis + concept – research of the concept on site (happening, installation, addressing the community,…) – concept modifications – design (idea, aesthetics, construction) – statics – preparation of documentation for the construction process

Project background: Location – communication – finding out the requisites (communication with authorities and representatives – budget, project description and securing finances – securing construction permits – static assessment – securing materials and suppliers – preparing the construction (deadline, tools, transport, etc.)

Feedback: Observation of the object in time and space – forms of use – community reactions, etc. – lessons learned, Research by design