The paper presents a comparative study of an intensive one-week workshop offered by the authors at the university for students of Bachelor of Architecture. The workshop, conducted once a semester and inclusive of students from all semesters, facilitates a unique learning environment where students collaboratively engage in problem-solving and finding opportunities in design, form generation, and construction using the given material. The paper discusses two explorations—the first one is a whole-to-part design with Ferrocement—focusing on surface active forms such as shell structures, ribbed structures, surface tessellations, and folded plates. The second one is a part to whole exploration in deployability—with an additional focus on formulating modular designs and repetition for scalability. The integration of design, structure, and material is a central theme throughout the workshop, aiming to equip students with a comprehensive toolkit for problem-solving and design innovation. By fostering creativity and encouraging interaction among students from different semesters, the workshop promotes a holistic approach to architectural design education. The paper concludes by highlighting the significance of such immersive learning experiences in uncovering opportunities for improvement and innovation in the dynamic intersection of design, material, and technique.