UJ FADA Faculty Brochure 2022

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Requirements:
— Your reference number (which is on your invitation letter), telephone number and the wording “DEPARTMENT OF
ARCHITECTURE” must appear on the cover in neat block letters.
— The portfolio cover is part of the creative expression and should be designed as a reflection of the applicant and
their work.
The following documentation must accompany your portfolio:
— A handwritten or preferably typed A4 page declaring that the work you have submitted is wholly and truly yours.
Then have this stamped and signed by a commissioner of oaths, for example at the police station.
— A certified copy of the applicant’s most recent school results and other studies
— A letter from a firm of architects confirming that the applicant has spent a full day in their office and has
discussed a career in architecture with one of the senior members of the firm.
— Include five other pieces of work (over and above the projects below) that demonstrate your creative ability. This
could include photographs, essays, poetry, paintings, dance, sculpture, pottery, handicraft, etc. In the case of
items such as pottery, sculpture or activities such as dance, include a clear copy of a photograph (do not include
the original item). You should preferably include a diverse array of work.
Project 01: Sketch
Objective: Make an A5 size
sketch book containing a
minimum of 30 pages (you
may have more pages than
that). It can have lines, but
preferably no lines. Fill the
book as quickly as possible
over a few days with
drawings of any spaces
and objects around you.
They must not be perfect
but they must capture the
feeling of what you are
drawing. Each page must
be filled from edge to edge.
Medium: A5 Sketch book.
Pencil, pen, charcoal. The
book can be handmade, i.e.
the pages can be stapled,
glued, strung or clipped.
Helpful Hint: You can draw
your bedroom in different
perspectives or views,
your house, your street,
neighbourhood. You can
draw the whole object, or
space or parts of it only.
The trick is to draw what
you see and capture the
light, shadow and the
texture of everything.
The drawing must have
emotion. Do not use a light,
medium, use heavy or dark
mediums.
Assessment: Here we are
testing to see how well you
translate real life into quick
sketches.
Project 02: Make
Create a lamp shade not
more than shade 30cm
in big in any direction.
Do not include the legs
of the lamp, light bulbs
or electrical – only the
lamp shade. It must be
foldable and flattened into
your portfolio. The shape
of the lamp shade and
the cut outs into material
of the lamp shade must
resemble a dream that you
had. So if your dream was
hazy, floaty, light, dark,
crazy, then those emotions
must be represented and
captured in the shape of
the lamp and the cut outs
of the shade. Include an A4
drawing of the lamp and
the lamp shade. Draw the
different sides of the lamp
and state what the emotion
of the dream was on this
drawing.
When we receive it, we will
open the lampshade and
we will use a cell phone
torch on the inside to test
and see if the light that
shines through the lamp
shaded and the cut outs
represent the emotion of
your dream.
Medium: It must be
recycled material. Choose
a minimum of two different
used, food packaging
materials from you
household kitchen eg. egg
carton, milk box, potato
bag, sweet wrapper, etc.
Helpful Hint: Pay attention
to how much light shines
through the material,
how the materials are
joined and connected. Be
innovative. You may use
colour and patterning.
Assessment: Here we
are testing to see how
complex your geometric
understanding of three
dimensional form is, how
well you translate concepts
of emotion into a shape
and pattern as well as your
creative use of materials
Project 03: Visit
Visit a public building of
your choice (not a shopping
centre, malls or casino –
these are private buildings)
it can be a church, mosque,
synagogue, community
centre, municipal or council
building. Over a series
of pages draw different
part of the building and
with notes describe the
materials, the steps, the
overhang, the roof, the
windows, the doors, etc. Try
to demonstrate how much
you know about building
materials and technology.
Medium: Hand-drawn
only (no computer-aided
drawings). You may use any
medium of your choice eg.
pen, water colour, pencil,
charcoal, ink, pastel etc. or
a combination.
Helpful Hint: It can be
perspective drawings. It
can include plans, sections,
elevations and details.
You may include your own
drawn You are encouraged
to use multiple/ mixed
mediums as well as
incorporate photography
and collage into the
finished product.
Assessment: Here we
are testing to see if you
understand elements and
materials of buildings.
Project 04: Research
+ Writing
Research any African,
South American or Indian
Architect or Architectural
Practice who inspires
you and practices public
architecture (not private
houses, shopping centres,
malls or casinos – these
are private buildings) it
can be a public housing,
transport buildings,
churches, mosques,
synagogues, community
centres, educational
buildings like schools,
municipal or council
buildings. Choose one of
their buildings. Then write
In a two-page essay and
elaborate on why your
choice of project motivates
you to study architecture.
At the bottom of the page
state which book or website
you got your information
from. This must be written
in your own words.
Medium: Two pages of
A4 paper hand written,
preferably typed with
photos of the project.
Helpful Hint: Some of the
guiding questions that can
guide your answers are,
what sets this architect or
their architecture apart
from other architects?, how
did the architect arrange
the building? Ie. Is it a long,
tall, scattered, unified,
multiple cubes, one large
shape? and why do you
think it is that shape? what
materials or technology
does the architect us and
why do you think they used
it? How do you approach
the entrance? How does
the building sit on the
ground? Ie. On the ground,
snug, floating, inside the
earth? Do not copy and
paste the words from the
internet- this is called
plagiarism which will
result in disqualification of
your project. The selected
building can also be in your
own city or town. You may
use the internet.
Assessment: Here we are
testing you research skills.
How well can you research,
what lengths would you
go to find out information.
Then we also want to see
what kind of architecture
you enjoy.
Bonus Project***
Project 05: Video
(This project is optional and
if you have the resources
to do it. If you cannot
submit this video, it will not
disqualify you, you will still
be included in selection
process, it just helps us to
know who you are.)
Create 20 to 30 second
video of yourself. State
your name, surname and
where you are from. Then
show us all of the projects
you did for this portfolio
submission on the video.
Medium: Video. The video
can either be sent to us
in a direct message on
Facebook @DOArchi or
tag us on Instagram on
@doa_uj.
Helpful Hint: Keep it simple
and clear.
Assessment: Here we are
testing to see how well you
present your ideas clearly
and simply.
Portfolio
Requirements
Architecture
Degree and
Diploma
Contact Details
Department of Architecture
Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA)
University of Johannesburg
Auckland Park Bunting Road Campus
Johannesburg
FADA Information Centre
011 559 1115/1098 /
or
Definition: A 'portfolio' is a collection of the applicant’s creative work, held in a protective waterproof covering,
such as cardboard or rigid plastic sheets. Covers must not be larger than 594mm x 420mm (A2 size).