DA: Discover Architecture

The Department of Architecture is a rich and varied educational environment for study and practice of architecture and art. It has strong traditions of concern for human values, and for finding appropriate roles for architecture in society. It is a place where the individual creativity of a student can be cultivated and nurtured in a framework of values that is socially and environmentally responsible.

The Department’s range of activity extends from addressing significant social, ecological, and
environmental issues to building in today’s market economy; from recent and future technological advances, especially in areas of computation and energy, to advances in design practice and research, The Department seeks to relate these issues to architectural theory and practice in this and other countries, bringing them into relationship with skills thinking, and heritage of architecture.

The goal of our undergraduate program is to develop our students as:

• Creators — Leaders in their fields, utilizing architecture as a way of thinking to offer creative solutions to issues.
  
  
• Collaborators — Learn how to work with others to find creative solutions and not compromise to the problems of our times.
  
  
• Translators — Sensitive to cultural, social, and human conditions. They hold a mirror both to reflect and to look deeply through to offer designs that provide a better life.
  
  
• Craftspeople — Learn the ability to make, assemble, craft, and build materials into beautiful and useful forms.
  
  
• Designers — Develop skills to produce architecture of creative value and have an under standing of all technologies necessary to build.
  
  
• Communicators — Communicate through all forms including words, drawings, models & computers to effectively explain ideas.
  

DA Specifics

• Dates: Thursday, August 21 through Saturday, August 23.
  
• Place: Freshmen will be housed in their assigned dormitory.
  
• Available Spaces: 25
  
• Cost: $50. The cost includes all meals, transportation, and supplies.

What will we do?

The exact schedule has yet to be finalized, but will include the following:

• Thursday, August 21st: In the morning, there will be an opportunity to meet the Department of Architecture faculty who will present and discuss architectural design, history, and technologies, with emphasis on sustainable or “green” architecture and current work in developing countries. After lunch, there will be an excursion into Boston to see the Institute for Contemporary Art located on the Boston harbor and a student led walking tour of Boston.
  
  
• Friday, August 24th: An early bus will depart for Crane Beach, a beautiful swimming beach and wildlife habitat on Boston’s North Shore. Bring your bathing suit, towel and tools to build a sand castle. Students will team up for a sand castle competition and Department faculty will award a prize to the team with the most creative castle. The festivities will end with dinner at Woodman’s, an iconic local clam shack known for it’s fresh fish. A true taste of New England.
  
  
• Saturday, August 25th: Teams of freshman will assemble a giant tinker toy construction from a provided kit on the lawn in front of the Student Center. Current majors will help each team with their imaginative structures. After lunch, a jury comprised of Department of Architecture faculty will judge the work and prizes will be given for the most creative use of the material.

Visit the Discover Architecture site at: http://architecture.mit.edu/FPOP.html