Course program
PART 1 - BUILDING CONSTRUCTION
• Introduction to building construction systems
• Architecture and structural support: stereotomy and tectonics
• Building components analysis
• Foundations
• Wood construction
• Steel frame construction
• Concrete construction
PART 2 - CLIMATE AND ARCHITECTURE
• Place and climate: the architectural potential of climate
• Human body and human comfort
• Adaptation and control: traditional climate-adapted architecture
• Climate themes 1: hot and cold
• Climate themes 2: humidity and precipitation
• Climate themes 3: wind and ventilation.
Prerequisites
Essential prerequisites are those covered in Elements of architecture history, and Descriptive geometry and architecture drawing courses. Good mastery of the graphic representation techniques, and architectural drawing through digital tools is required.
Books
Torben Dahl, Climate and Architecture. Routledge, 2010
Allen, Edward, and David Swoboda. How Buildings Work: The Natural Order of Architecture. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Allen, Edward, and Joseph Iano. Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2003.
Sofie Pelsmakers, The Environmental Design Pocketbook, RIBA Publishing; 2 edition (1 Jan. 2015)
Deplazes, Andrea. Constructing Architecture. Basel, Switzerland: Birkhäuser, 2006.
Ching, Francis D. K., and Cassandra Adams. Building Construction Illustrated. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 2000.
Specialized journals: Detail, Arketipo, The Plan, El Croquis, The Architectural Review.
Teaching mode
Learning activities are as follows:
• lectures and practical seminars;
• design studio with tutoring;
• assignments on practical applications of theoretical contents.
The Design Studio implies regular participation that will lead to an individual assessment.
The activities will be monitored through interim project evaluations (milestones). At each milestone, works are presented to all Studio members (tutors and students, invited external critics).
At the end of the semester, the projects will be collectively presented and discussed during the final critics.
Frequency
In-person.
Exam mode
The exam consists of a compulsory oral exam. Individual assignments, design studio project and theoretical contents of lectures and seminars will be discussed.
Grading criteria:
50% Design studio (completeness and quality)
50% Theoretical part (lectures, seminars and readings)
Lesson mode
Learning activities are as follows:
• lectures and practical seminars;
• design studio with tutoring;
• assignments on practical applications of theoretical contents.
The Design Studio implies regular participation that will lead to an individual assessment.
The activities will be monitored through interim project evaluations (milestones). At each milestone, works are presented to all Studio members (tutors and students, invited external critics).
At the end of the semester, the projects will be collectively presented and discussed during the final critics.
