Yuchen Wang

I have learned a lot From this ADR course through this year, The project is no longer a single building or design, We need to find the main purpose and merge all kinds of theories, methodologies to fulfill that. As an architect in this era, we need the ability to address more subtle problems in the increasing complex circumstances, the project we have touched is a key to this kind of world that is no clear boundaries and existing rules in a single field, all in one system and everything interact with each other, and we are about to find the new rule.

Huicong Meng

Systematic thinking helps everyone to participate in the design project. Moreover, systematic thinking is conducive to bringing people from different disciplines together to cooperate. Among them, we have done Gigamap and Co-design many times. In addition, in my specific Prototype research, I also learned a lot of meaningful content. In project research, I realized that future design projects should pay more attention to environmental issues. Especially in our research, we did some research on the number of species. However, we found that environmental problems are becoming more and more serious. I think that future design projects should pay more and more attention to the impact on the environment, and the use of materials is also very important.

Meihui Wang

Is architectural design only for human service? Before I took ADR, I had been thinking about this question. After a whole year’s study, I found that the service object of architectural design could be the whole ecosystem or a kind of biological species. At the same time, architectural design is not limited to one style. Amsterdam’s various boathouses or bat boxes in trees can also be a form of architecture. There are still many aspects of architectural design for me to learn and explore. This course opened my limited thinking and told me that architectural design is a lifelong subject.

Yuan Zhao

What do I learn from the Synergetic Landscape Design Unit?

  • The understanding of systemic design approach.

The main point is the shifting from the objects to the interactions among objects for the design aims. Systemic design aims to deal with the complexity of the real world by discovering the dynamic interactions hidden behind the representation and trying to coordinate the system to a state of harmony.

  • The critical thinking of the current architectural design philosophy and methods.

If we rethink the current architectural design philosophy and methods and ask ourselves a question: “what is the fundamental methodology of design?”, The answer would be: “simplification”. This simplification leads to a linear design process and simplify the reality, which neglects a lot of conflicts and thus creates even more conflicts when the design is done. Systemic design could act as a complementary methodology to the current design approach, or turning the current philosophy completely.

  • The systemic method — GIGA-map.

GIGA-map is a useful tool for visualizing and discovering the interactions in one specific system.There is a wide range of area where GIGA-map can act effectively, such as: research, learning,imagination,management,planning,innovation,etc.

  • The new interpretation of “PROTOTYPE”.

During the design process I also had a new interpretation for “PROTOTYPE”, which is not just some beautiful structure design to entertain people’s visual scene, but something that we put into the system we have found and build before and test whether it generate new influence to the existing system or even create some positive effects to the system and improve related environment.

Danjian Wang

The experience of studying in MAAD for one year has promoted me in several aspects. Especially in my unit, I have learned how to work as a team with my colleagues. The project of our unit is to generate synergetic landscapes by installing several prototypes. All the team members should stick to a same goal. By supporting each other, we have designed several individual prototypes. And through codesign process, all the prototype could work in one system. Excellent team work makes our project develop in a positive direction.

Yutao Feng

In this year‘s study, I have learned a lot from this course. First of all, our landscape design projects have been exposed to non-anthropocentric architecture, which enables me to think more directly about the theme of sustainable development from another perspective. In addition, I came into contact with systemic design in this course, which is of great help to group collaboration and Co-design across human and non-human communities. In addition, the prototype design over and over again also enabled me to have a deeper understanding of the actual practice and feasibility of the design.