DE-CONSTRUCTIVIST TOWER: CREATE. FRAGMENT. REBUILD.
|
Project Overview
Students will design an original Deconstructivist Tower —a conceptual architectural structure inspired by:
|
Learning Goals
Students will:
|
Deliverables
Students submit:
Students submit:
- Research & Analysis
- Concept Sketches Explorations
- Krita abstract studies
- Card stock model photos
- Blender blocking models
- Blender greater Detail Model
- 3D Renders
- Final Google Slides portfolio (14" × 8.5") exported as PDF
- Intermittent Work in Progress files (Krita + Blender)
- Final file named:
FirstName_LastName_DeConTower
STAGE 1:Research & Analysis
Even though at the moment I am not in our Tech Design classroom (AKA: Design Studio) with you, this stage is still an essential part of your design process. Think of these questions as a form of “post‑design rationalization” — a chance to look back at your influences, clarify your ideas, and strengthen the direction of your project. This reflection helps consolidate your thinking and ensures your tower has a clear conceptual foundation. All of this is valuable and completely aligned with the work of real designers.
Research the work of Lebbeus Woods, specifically the following Project:
https://bravedrawnworlddotnet.wordpress.com/2015/09/16/artists-the-brave-drawn-world-of-lebbeus-woods/
Reflection (Answer in 1–3 sentences each):
1. What visual ideas stand out to you in Woods’ drawings?
(Think: fractured shapes, tension cables, floating structures.)
2. What feelings or moods do his drawings create?
(Think: unstable, futuristic, damaged, hopeful.)
3. What is one idea from Woods that you might use in your tower?
What is De-Constructivism?
https://www.whereisthenorth.com/article/6-features-of-deconstructivist-architecture-with-examples
Reflection (Answer in 1–3 sentences each):
1. List 2–3 features of deconstructivist architecture that you find interesting.
2. How do deconstructivist buildings break traditional rules?
3. Which feature could influence the shape or structure of your tower
Leonard Cohen: Tower of Song
"There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in"
– Leonard Cohen
"Cohen’s words and voice didn’t just touch my soul or heart but seized upon a piece inside me waiting to be awakened and inspired, a spot where the synapses were needing a nudge not in any direction in particular but in every direction creativity would take them." Keith Whittier
https://www.ottawalife.com/article/inspiration-from-the-tower-of-song-remembering-leonard-cohen/
Reflection (Answer in 1–3 sentences each):
1. What do you think Cohen means by “a crack” and “light”?
2. What emotions or ideas do Cohen’s words inspire in you?
3. How could these ideas influence the mood or meaning of your tower?
BRINGING IT TOGETHER — Your Design Direction
Answer in 3–5 sentences total:
• What visual ideas from Woods + de-constructivism do you want to explore?
• What themes from Cohen connect to your design?
• What might your tower look or feel like based on your research?
Submit your Research & Analysis in a maximum of four slides.
Slides 1–3 should summarize your findings from the three research areas:
• Lebbeus Woods
• Deconstructivism
• Leonard Cohen’s Tower of Song
Slide 4 becomes your Design Statement.
This final slide should consolidate your insights and clearly describe the design direction you are taking for your Tower of Song project.
All four slides from this stage will be included in your final Google Slides presentation.
Even though at the moment I am not in our Tech Design classroom (AKA: Design Studio) with you, this stage is still an essential part of your design process. Think of these questions as a form of “post‑design rationalization” — a chance to look back at your influences, clarify your ideas, and strengthen the direction of your project. This reflection helps consolidate your thinking and ensures your tower has a clear conceptual foundation. All of this is valuable and completely aligned with the work of real designers.
Research the work of Lebbeus Woods, specifically the following Project:
https://bravedrawnworlddotnet.wordpress.com/2015/09/16/artists-the-brave-drawn-world-of-lebbeus-woods/
Reflection (Answer in 1–3 sentences each):
1. What visual ideas stand out to you in Woods’ drawings?
(Think: fractured shapes, tension cables, floating structures.)
2. What feelings or moods do his drawings create?
(Think: unstable, futuristic, damaged, hopeful.)
3. What is one idea from Woods that you might use in your tower?
What is De-Constructivism?
https://www.whereisthenorth.com/article/6-features-of-deconstructivist-architecture-with-examples
Reflection (Answer in 1–3 sentences each):
1. List 2–3 features of deconstructivist architecture that you find interesting.
2. How do deconstructivist buildings break traditional rules?
3. Which feature could influence the shape or structure of your tower
Leonard Cohen: Tower of Song
"There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in"
– Leonard Cohen
"Cohen’s words and voice didn’t just touch my soul or heart but seized upon a piece inside me waiting to be awakened and inspired, a spot where the synapses were needing a nudge not in any direction in particular but in every direction creativity would take them." Keith Whittier
https://www.ottawalife.com/article/inspiration-from-the-tower-of-song-remembering-leonard-cohen/
Reflection (Answer in 1–3 sentences each):
1. What do you think Cohen means by “a crack” and “light”?
2. What emotions or ideas do Cohen’s words inspire in you?
3. How could these ideas influence the mood or meaning of your tower?
BRINGING IT TOGETHER — Your Design Direction
Answer in 3–5 sentences total:
• What visual ideas from Woods + de-constructivism do you want to explore?
• What themes from Cohen connect to your design?
• What might your tower look or feel like based on your research?
Submit your Research & Analysis in a maximum of four slides.
Slides 1–3 should summarize your findings from the three research areas:
• Lebbeus Woods
• Deconstructivism
• Leonard Cohen’s Tower of Song
Slide 4 becomes your Design Statement.
This final slide should consolidate your insights and clearly describe the design direction you are taking for your Tower of Song project.
All four slides from this stage will be included in your final Google Slides presentation.
Assignment Workflow
The stages below are to be submitted into your Google slides, right after Research & Analysis.
Stage 2 — Foundations: Sketching Shapes
Goal: Build confidence with form, proportion, and visual thinking.
Students complete:
Stage 3 — Abstracting Like Lebbeus Woods
Goal: Move from simple shapes to conceptual architectural sketches.
Students study:
Stage 4 — Digital Abstraction in Krita
Goal: Translate hand sketches into digital abstract studies.
Students:
Stage 5 — Card Stock Massing Model
Goal: Move from 2D abstraction to 3D form.
Students choose one of their strongest sketches and build:
Focus: physical spatial reasoning.
Stage 6 — Blender Blocking Model
Goal: Translate the physical model into a digital 3D blocking study.
Students:
Stage 7 — Final Blender Render
Goal: Produce a polished conceptual image of the tower.
Students:
The stages below are to be submitted into your Google slides, right after Research & Analysis.
Stage 2 — Foundations: Sketching Shapes
Goal: Build confidence with form, proportion, and visual thinking.
Students complete:
- Basic 2D shapes
- Combined shapes
- Rotated, stretched, fragmented shapes
- Early explorations of “tower” silhouettes
Stage 3 — Abstracting Like Lebbeus Woods
Goal: Move from simple shapes to conceptual architectural sketches.
Students study:
- Lebbeus Woods’ DMZ drawings
- Deconstructivist architectural principles
- Post‑apocalyptic structural logic (tension cables, scaffolds, fractures, suspended forms)
- 4-8 abstract sketches inspired by Woods’ linework and structural chaos
- 2–4 refined sketches that could become a tower concept
Stage 4 — Digital Abstraction in Krita
Goal: Translate hand sketches into digital abstract studies.
Students:
- Import their best sketches
- Rebuild them using shapes, layers, masks, and brushes
- Explore colour, contrast, and structural emphasis
- Produce 2–4 digital abstractions
Stage 5 — Card Stock Massing Model
Goal: Move from 2D abstraction to 3D form.
Students choose one of their strongest sketches and build:
- A rough card stock massing model
- Emphasizing major volumes, voids, and structural gestures
- No fine details—just form, balance, and silhouette
Focus: physical spatial reasoning.
Stage 6 — Blender Blocking Model
Goal: Translate the physical model into a digital 3D blocking study.
Students:
- Block out major forms using cubes, cylinders, planes
- Avoid details—focus on proportion and structure
- Experiment with lighting and camera angles
- Save incremental versions to show progression
Stage 7 — Final Blender Render
Goal: Produce a polished conceptual image of the tower.
Students:
- Refine geometry
- Add simple materials
- Set up lighting for dramatic effect
- Render at high resolution
- Export final images
SIDEBAR
Advanced Design Exercises
Please Start With The Lessons Below: Exploring Volumetric Forms, Making Connections to our Research
|
|
|
In Class Activities: Generating Abstract Forms from our Research
(Note: This is for Students who are thinking of pursuing to continue their Education at a post-secondary Architecture University)
(Note: This is for Students who are thinking of pursuing to continue their Education at a post-secondary Architecture University)
|
|
|
|
