Master of Architecture Studio in Critical Practice Pale Blue Dot

This paper explores the pedagogical approach and outcomes of the Pale Blue Dot Studio in Critical Practice in the Department of Architectural Science at Toronto Metropolitan University. The studio aims to develop a critical approach to architecture by engaging with sustainability, the impacts of new technologies, and responses to local and global conditions. The paper discusses how the studio addressed the social and political disruptions of the last few years, coupled with the realities of climate change, to reevaluate the role of architects and architectural practice in society. It emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the exploration of architecture as a potential agent of change. The paper presents design-led research through the three phases of the studio, highlighting the research and analysis conducted by students, the material investigation through maquette exercises, and the design interventions that address architecture’s pressing challenges. Examples of final proposals include “Adaptation in the Flux of Chaos,” which explores strategies for adapting to climate change in Morocco, and “Post-Anthropolis: Detroit Edition,” which reimagines how post-industrial cities can incorporate non-human entities in a harmonious relationship with humans and built forms. The projects demonstrate innovative approaches that exceed normative practice and propose adaptive and resilient solutions. The paper concludes by reflecting on the studio’s outcomes and the transformative potential of architecture in shaping a sustainable future– Overall, the studio fosters a critical and innovative approach to design, encouraging students to see architecture as an evolving and discursive inquiry rather than a finite solution to predetermined parameter.

https://doi.org/10.35483/ACSA.Teach.2023.67

Volume Editors
Massimo Santanicchia

ISBN
978-1-944214-44-9