Lesson video

Hello, everyone, how are you today? I hope you're feeling really good.

My name is Miss Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I feel really pleased about that 'cause I love teaching art, and also because today we're looking at architects, in particular architects who build communities.

That's the title of our lesson.

I hope that sounds interesting and intriguing to you.

Our lesson comes from the unit of work: an overview of design.

So if you're feeling ready with some focus, energy, and enthusiasm, we'll begin our lesson now.

The outcome for today's lesson is, I can create a poly block print inspired by patterns in architecture.

We have some keywords in our lesson.

Lets go through them.

Architecture, architect, pattern, and poly block.

What do these words mean? Well, architecture is the art and science of designing and constructing buildings.

An architect is a person who designs and constructs buildings.

Pattern: a design in which lines, shapes, forms or colors are repeated.

And poly block: a soft white foam board that can be carved into to create prints.

These are our keywords: architecture, architect, pattern, and poly block.

Let's look out for them, let's listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Our lesson is called, Architects who build communities, and it has two learning cycles.

Architecture to congregate in, and patterns in architecture.

Let's begin by exploring architecture to congregate in.

And outcomes for today's lesson might look like this.

How interesting, how colorful, how bold.

I think these are looking great.

I hope that's piqued your curiosity.

Sam, Sofia, and Jacob are discussing what an architect is.

Before we hear from them, what do you think an architect is? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Sam says that, "An architect is someone who designs buildings." Sofia says, "Yes, but they can also design other structures, like bridges." And Jacob says, "I know it takes a long time to train: seven years!" Wow, that's some commitment.

Do you agree with what Sam, Sofia, and Jacob are saying? Pause here and share with someone whether you agree or if you disagree.

Thanks for sharing.

An architect designs buildings and helps to plan how they will be built.

The word comes from the Greek word, arkhitekton.

Arkhi, meaning chief, and tekton, meaning builder.

So together we have the chief builder, is the architect.

Check for understanding.

The word architect originally comes from Greek and means: Chief designer, chief artist, or chief builder? Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer C, chief builder.

Architecture is the art and science of designing, planning and building structures.

Buildings can be many shapes and sizes.

They can be monumental, like the Great Wall of China, or more modest, like a small shed.

Check for understanding, true or false? Architecture is the art and science of designing, planning and structures.

Pause the video, and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected true, and now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this: The Great Wall of China is an example of ancient architecture.

Architecture is the art of designing structures, not just buildings.

Sam and Jacob are discussing pieces of architecture local to where they live: Jacob, "In my town, a new community center has opened that hosts different classes and events." And Sam: "We have a really big library where lots of people meet and go to read." I love that.

A big fan of libraries.

What examples of architecture are there where you live? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

Architects from across history have designed architecture to provide public spaces for people to congregate in: The Roman Colosseum, built between 70 and 80 CE in Rome, Italy, was an amphitheater used for public displays, such as gladiator fights, battle reenactments, and mythological dramas.

The Palace of Westminster, built in 1870 in London, often called the Houses of Parliament, was designed by Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Welby Pugin is the meeting place of the UK Parliament.

Theaster Gates is an artist and architect who came from an area in Chicago in the United States.

He wanted to use his success as an artist to reinvest in his neighborhood through the Dorchester Art and Housing Collaborative.

This arts project designed and build affordable housing and community and arts centers.

Gates wanted to design architecture where people come together, to congregate and share stories, read and express themselves.

Other architects who design spaces for people to congregate are: Tamara Eagle Bull designed the Gila River Indian Community Governance Center to honor Indigenous values and traditions and serve as the central hub for the Community's tribal government.

Kazuyo Sejima's floating design center in Puyuan, China, uses lightweight steel structures to create a lattice-shaped dome.

It functions as a venue for exhibitions, gatherings and cultural events.

Sharon Davis designed the Women's Opportunity Center in Rwanda, empowering 300 women to develop income skills while offering sanctuary and hope.

Check for understanding.

Where does Theaster Gates come from? A, an area in San Francisco, B, an area in Chicago, or C, an area in New York.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer B, an area in Chicago.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to identify a piece of community architecture to design.

So first of all, create a mind map of the architecture in your local area that allows people to congregate in.

You could consider: Religious buildings, for example, a local mosque.

Recreational buildings, for example, a local cinema.

Municipal buildings, for example, a local council building.

Pause here while you complete the first part of your task, creating a mind map of the architecture in your local area that allows people to congregate in.

It's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with creating that mind map of the architecture in your local area? Let's have a look at some local community buildings.

You may have created something like this: A synagogue, theater, restaurants, school, shopping center, library.

What a great collection of local community buildings.

And now, I'd like you to identify a piece of community architecture to design.

So choose one of the identified pieces of architecture or choose a piece of architecture that is not yet in your local area that you think would encourage people to meet and congregate in.

Discuss these questions: Why did you choose this piece of architecture? What do you like about it? How could it be improved? Pause here while you have a go at this next part of your task where you choose a piece of architecture and answer some questions about it.

I'll see you when you finished.

It's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with choosing a piece of architecture and answering those questions? Here's Sam: "I chose the library, as I love reading," hooray, me too! "And the sense of calm the building has.

I really like the form of the building as it is a series of repeated blocks that is reminiscent of books piled on top of each other.

I would want to add more decorative detailing to the exterior of the building." It's a lovely idea, Sam.

And if you'd like to find out more about another inspiring library, I would check out the library in Helsinki, which is called Oodi, and it's a very very special place.

It's on one hand a library, but at the same time, it's so much more than a library.

And a very beautifully designed building.

And now we're on to our next learning cycle, patterns in architecture.

Some architecture combines different patterns, and we can see here on the screen, some patterns in Moroccan architecture, and patterns in Islamic architecture.

Pause here and share with someone what some of the things you noticed about the details in these patterns.

Thanks for sharing.

Perhaps you noticed the mosaic, perhaps you noticed some geometric designs, and some Arabic script.

When designing spaces for people to congregate in, architects can be inspired by their heritage and culture.

They may be inspired by the patterns and forms that are part of their heritage or that occur in their culture.

A pattern is a repeated decorative design.

Check for understanding and complete the sentence: Pattern is a.

decorative design.

Pause here and share with someone.

What's the missing word in this sentence? Well done if you filled in the gap with the word, repeated.

Indeed, pattern is a repeated decorative design.

Architects who use pattern in their designs include: Shahed Saleem added Islamic patterns to the outside of the Alhikmah mosque in Aberdeen, Scotland.

The patterns are carved into concrete panels with handmade, vibrant ceramic star tiles crafted by artist Lubna Chowdhary.

Dylan Brady's use of repeating geometric patterns on the outside of the Pixel Building not only creates a striking visual identity, but also helps optimize natural light and ventilation, reducing energy consumption and enhancing sustainability.

Pattern can also be achieved in architecture through the different forms and structures used to create the building.

Kate Macintosh designed the London social housing project, Dawson Heights.

The forms used to create the building give it the appearance of a cruise ship floating on the horizon at night.

Chamberlin, Powell and Bon designed the Barbican Center in London.

The architecture features repetition and strong grid patterns, that integrate urban living with green spaces.

It's a very beautiful building.

I've been to visit a friend who lives in the Barbican Center, and I really enjoyed the green spaces and the flowing water all about.

Check for understanding.

What did Shahed Saleem add to the outside of his design in Aberdeen? A, Arabic patterns, B, Celtic patterns, or C, Islamic patterns? Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed, it was Islamic patterns that were added to the outside of his design in Aberdeen.

Printing is an effective way to capture patterns used in the form and structure of buildings as well as patterns added as decoration.

What patterns can you see in the form and structure of this print? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

What patterns have been added as decoration in these prints of buildings? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing the patterns you can see.

To create a print to capture the patterns on buildings, a sketch can first be created.

In this example, the artist has sketched repeated horizontal forms placed at equal intervals on a vertical structure to create an interesting pattern.

A section can then be drawn onto poly block using a biro.

Loving those clean lines.

Poly block is made from polystyrene or styrofoam and is easy to carve into.

Once drawn, the shape can then be cut out of the poly block using scissors.

Check for understanding.

What is an effective material to use for printmaking? A, clay block, B, poly block, C, foam block.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer B, poly block is a really effective material to use for printmaking.

Patterns can then be added as decoration using a biro.

The patterns created by the biro will leave indentations in the poly block.

Paint does not sit in these indentations but on the raised, flat surface, creating a print.

There are four steps to follow during the printing process: A roller is covered with plenty of ink.

The roller is then used to cover the polyblock with the ink.

Paper is placed over the polyblock and a weight can be used to press it firmly together.

The paper is removed and a mirror print is revealed.

It's such a wonderful moment, a moment of revelation.

And now it's time for you to have that moment of revelation yourselves as you create a print of a piece of community architecture using pattern.

So first of all, use the piece of architecture from Task A that you identified and re-design the form and structure.

You should: Use sketching to draw it.

Consider the different patterns you would like to use to create the form and structure.

Pause here while you have a go at this part of your task.

And I'll see you when you're finished.

Great to be back with you.

How did you get on with using the piece of architecture from Task A that you identified and re-designing the form and structure? Here's Sam: "For my library, I have added in more layered blocks and created a symmetrical pattern by adding a vertical structure so the blocks can be a mirror image of each other.

I wanted to do this to make it look more like a bookcase." I love your thinking, Sam.

And next, I'd like you to add decorative patterns to your design that reflect your culture and background.

Create a mind map of three to six things that reflect your culture and background.

Consider: language or ethnicity, hobbies and interests, family traditions, environment and surroundings.

So pause here while you add decorative patterns to your design and create a mind map of a few things that reflect your culture and background.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Great to be back with you.

How did you get on with creating that mind map of three to six things that reflect your culture and background? Perhaps something like this? A hobby: playing the piano, national flowers: plum blossom, rose.

Sky scrapers, English, Mandarin.

Kilt pattern, flag shapes: circle, triangles, rectangles.

And next, I'd like you to add these decorative patterns to your design.

You might want to add interestingly-shaped windows or tiles, roof patterns or shutters.

Outside decoration to the front of your building.

So pause here while you have a go at this part of your task.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with adding decorative patterns to your design? Here's Sam: "I've added lots of lines into my tall tower-inspired reading room.

It would remind me of both the surface of dark wood of library shelves and also graffiti on concrete." Love that mixture.

And next, I'd like you to prepare your poly block.

You should: Use a biro to transfer the outline of your sketch to the poly block.

Use scissors to cut your shape out.

Use a biro to add your decorative patterns.

Pause here while you have a go at this part of your task.

Great to be back with you.

How did you get on? You may have created something wonderful like this.

Here's Sam: "This building also reflects a tower block as I have family that live high up.

I made some bits darker with pattern to show all the levels." And next, I'd like you to print your design: Cover a roller with paint.

Roll the ink onto the poly block.

Press paper over the poly block, and then remove the paper, and reveal your print.

Pause here while you have a go at this part of your task, printing your design.

It's great to be back with you.

How did you get on? You may have printed something like this.

Oh my, don't they look wonderful.

In our lesson: architects who build communities, we've covered the following: Architecture is the art and science of designing, planning and building structures.

Architects from across history have designed architecture to proved public spaces for people to congregate in.

Architects may be inspired by the patterns and forms that are part of their heritage or that occur in their culture.

Poly block printing is an effective way to capture patterns used in the form and structure of buildings as well as patterns added as decoration.

Well done, everyone, for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to explore architecture and, especially, architecture that brings people together.

I'm all for that, and I loved how you explored public spaces and the kind of space that you would like to create, and then, of course, getting down to your own poly block printing.

And I hope you enjoyed that moment when your print was revealed.

I really enjoyed this lesson, and I hope you did too, and I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.