Course Name: Architectural Design Studio I (ARC 201)
Academic Year: 2024-2025
Instructor: Mr. Ruben Castillero Mortera (M.Arch)
ARC301 is the fourth design studio in the architecture program, focusing on the exploration and design of high-rise buildings within dense urban contexts. The course aims to develop students’ ability to integrate architectural concepts with advanced structural systems, building technologies, and environmental strategies. Emphasis is placed on developing a comprehensive design approach that connects human experience, spatial organization, and urban form. By the end of the studio, students are expected to produce a coherent high-rise project that demonstrates both conceptual depth and technical resolution.
The High-Rise Building assignment challenges students to design a vertical, mixed-use tower that responds to Phnom Penh’s urban density, tropical climate, and cultural identity. Students must integrate structure, circulation, and environmental strategies while balancing aesthetics and function. The project emphasizes spatial organization, façade design, and urban connectivity, encouraging innovative architectural solutions that reflect sustainability, livability, and the evolving skyline of contemporary Cambodia.
