Introductory Architecture Studio: House, Housing

Undergraduate / Graduate

This introductory studio focuses on "missing middle" housing as an entry point to architectural design. Focusing on infill development in Chicago neighborhoods, students will explore existing housing typologies, research national and international precedents, and ultimately develop their own proposals for repeatable housing models that serve future needs. Through cumulative short design exercises, students study how housing typologies can respond to social and cultural context, increase density, and produce connectivity and community. The course introduces fundamental design concepts, including scale, circulation, structure and materiality. It also explores, through readings and discussions, innovation in these topics at a global scale. Students will also explore how regulation influences design, including zoning and the Chicago Building Code. Students will participate in field trips to notable Chicago residential projects, meet with practitioners, builders, and developers. Emphasizing both pragmatism and speculative design, the course centers housing as a lens through which to understand architecture's role in both shaping cities and everyday life.