This course explores the special concerns of designing within historic buildings. Lectures and field trips cover the regulatory, practical and aesthetic issues that involve museum period rooms, historic sites and adaptive re-use projects. Topics include restoring components, installing new elements of historic value and investigating maintenance methods. Opportunities offered by New York City in high-rise building design and historic preservation are explored, and technical subjects such as professional service contracts, budgeting, scheduling, acoustics and compliance with building codes are included. Both hard and soft goods are covered.
Special attention is given to ergonomic considerations.
Students obtain, fully develop and analyze data and design criteria for a substantial project involving diverse populations. This advanced studio requires students to incorporate the skills and knowledge gained throughout their studies and create a comprehensive project, including presentation drawings, models, material and furniture boards, detail drawings and specifications. Students select a project related to their individual interests for approval by faculty. All students must bring a project proposal and site photographs to the first class.