Architecture 407

Intent: to learn many different methods of modeling, rendering, and animating while closely examining architectural space, materials, and temporal experiences

Architecture 407 is a semester long course. Some students take the prerequisite Architecture 207a and 207b, others take it without and are either highly self-motivated and quick to learn or have had other computer experience.

Architecture 407 stresses color and texture; form and modeling; and time and animation over three platforms (Mac, PC, and SGI) and several programs (form.Z, RenderZone, ModelShop, and upFRONT on the Mac, AutoCAD and 3D Studio on the PC; and Wavefront's Advanced Visualizer and Lightscape on the SGI) The theme of the course has changed over the semesters.

Typical lectures in the class include in-depth discussions of three dimensional modeling; rendering and image enhancement techniques; color theory; scanning; html and vrml; and animation. The assignments include modeling, rendering, and animation on all three hardware platforms with an emphasis on forms that are more difficult to produce and photorealistic rendering and lighting. The students produce Web pages that explain their project and the process they went through to develop it.

In Fall 1996, the class explored the as yet unbuilt California Museum of Science and Technology. There were lectures by the museum curators about the building and exhibits and a field trip to the building under construction. The students modeled and rendered the exhibit spaces and the building in context. Eventually the museum hopes to use this data to produce an interactive exhibit that allows museum goers to fly among the three dimensional model.

Often students use this course as a gateway to other specialized courses in computer graphics taught by visiting lecturers on high-end rendering and animation and virtual reality. This course is also used as an incubator of ideas. For example, the Web based assignment started in this course and trickled down to Architecture 207b as html became more heavily used.