In the assignment known as ‘JACK- in-the-box’ the aim is to foster col- laborative situations through man- aging a complex architectural issue. The aim is to conduct an integrat- ed teaching course that extends from an introductory outline pro- cess through to the project devel- opment phase and finally to pre- sentation and montage techniques. Often a course of this nature is un- fortunately very difficult to operate in practice within an architectural degree course. It is, however, abso- lutely essential for students to expe- rience the role of a practising archi- tect. In our experience, this type of assignment provides students with a defining experience, which can cause students either to confirm or
to question the rightness of choos- ing a degree course in architecture.
In the assignment students design and produce a full scale spatial con- struction. The construction creates a framework around a communi- cative situation between two peo- ple. The assignment is carried out in groups of four to five students.
It introduces students to a synthe- sised working method, in which a number of form-generating pa- rameters determine the final result. This technique of working is well- known in architectural practice and is therefore critical to introduce stu- dents at an early stage of the course. It is characteristic of the synthesised working method that involves a great deal of communication while at the same time challenging the students in their ability to handle issues with a substantial degree of complexity.