CoOL Studio: using simple tools to expand the discursive space of the design studio

Collaborative On-line Studio for Architecture (CoOL Studio) was aimed at aiding the architecture studio by: (1) supporting input by distant critics; (2) providing access to on-line cases and reference materials; (3) encouraging students to be clear and articulate about their projects; (4) supporting collaboration among students. The project employed a Collaborative Website (CoWeb), which allowed easy creation and modification of webpages without any security measures. Students posted their designs at several points during the term and six distant expert consultants provided critiques. This project demonstrates that a relatively simple representation tool, one that allowed students and critics to interact on editable webpages, can usefully open up the design space of the architecture studio. However, care is needed in understanding how computer tools relate to the tasks and rituals of interaction that go on in everyday architecture studio pedagogy.