Architectural Design Critique in Multi-User Online Virtual Environments

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Architectural Design Critique in Multi-User
Online Virtual Environments (ARCHI-MOVEMENTS).
Dr. Ahmad Okeil Department of
Architecture United Arab Emirates
University Email a.okeil_at_uaeu.ac.ae
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Abstract The fact that design is an argumentative
process makes studio critiques the main tools in
design instruction. They may be arranged as
group critiques to make students participate more
actively in the design process, to create a
better medium for dialogue and to give
opportunity to students to see many alternative
solutions for the same design problem which makes
them aware that there is not a single solution to
a design problem. In this way students can hear
more critiques from different points of view both
on their own works and the others. Studio
education is mainly based on communication
between students and instructor, and students and
students, on one hand, and on the other, on
critical inquiry and criticism. Since students
compete for grades and status they may be afraid
to expose their fledging ideas. As a result they
miss out opportunities their peers provide for
expanding the way they view problems. To
overcome this default situation experienced in
existing studio communities, a student-centered
education tool based on dialogue instead of
monologue named ARCHI-MOVEMENTS was developed to
provide in conjunction with existing design
studios an alternative context for supporting
interaction.   ARCHI-MOVEMENTS provides a design
environment to support participants engaged in
the design process by using online face-to-face
interaction to bring tacit knowledge of problems
from different participants and perspectives to a
shared understanding and to enhance the movement
from conceptual thinking to concrete
representations of better architectural designs.
It helps students in learning necessary skills to
convey their ideas graphically and verbally,
allows for self-expression, self-confidence,
creative work and imagination using casual social
interactions. It motivates learning through
discovery by collaborative engagement of students
and instructors in the learning process.
Brainstorming sessions would ensure that certain
interpretations of a problem and certain design
alternatives were made available to those who
would not have otherwise thought of them.
Using ThePalaceServer software, a multi-user
online graphical chatting virtual environment is
created in which students of Architecture can
exhibit and present their architectural design
work online and receive comments and critique
from peers, instructors and critics worldwide.
Projects are presented in different formats such
as (.DWF) for viewing vector technical drawings,
(.jpg and .gif) for viewing raster images,
(.wrl) for navigating through three dimensional
models, (.avi) for viewing animations, (.mov)
for navigating through quicktime virtual reality
panoramic movies, and (.html, and .doc) for
viewing text documents. Each student after
developing his/her own graphical chatting virtual
environment can take his guests in a virtual tour
through his/her design project explaining why
he/she designed different architectural spaces
the way they appear and what goals did he/she
achieve by his/her design concept. Guests, after
(or during) taking the virtual tour, may verbally
comment on the design aspects in real time
showing what they like or dislike about the
design. Invited critics may lead designers to
design rationale that is relevant to their task
at hand using sketches on a digital whiteboard.
The discussion between all participants in this
virtual experience and acquired information can
be stored in databases as it is produced during
sessions for later analysis and consideration by
the student and/or instructor. The same setup
could be used by (student/instructor/peers/critics
) at the design development phase and by the
(student/remotely-located-jury-members) in the
final evaluation and grading phase.
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Summary of an online session. Best seen on 1024 x
768 screen resolution Design Project
Muna E Suweidi Physical Studio Instructors Dr.
A.Okeil, Dr. H.Gabr Archi-movements Dr. A. Okeil
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