Course syllabus for Housing inventions 2

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-16 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameBoende: utveckling och innovation 2
  • CodeACE505
  • Credits15 Credits
  • OwnerMPARC
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyArchitecture
  • ThemeArchitectural design project 15 c
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 05121
  • Maximum participants20
  • Minimum participants8
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0123 Project 15 c
Grading: TH		 15 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

At least 30 c, including at least one design studio, in the master’s programme Architecture and urban design (MPARC), or the equivalent.

Aim

The aim of the course is to advance and to deepen the insight into residential and housing architectural design. The focus is put on conceptual rethinking of contemporary housing architecture that will be applied to a limited project set in Göteborg and/or in another context.

Close cooperation is established with local housing companies like HSB, AB Framtiden, SABO and the city planning offices in order to develop a joint climate of experimental invention in a search for new relevant architectural qualities of residence. The studio is part of the work in the Center for Housing Architecture (CBA) at Chalmers and studio deliveries will be presented in seminars and lectures as part of the CBA activities.

The course is the second of two freestanding courses related to Housing inventions. They can be taken separately, but also possible to take both.

The progression of the two master courses comprises a shift of scale and complexity regarding building size and building program, and increased design demands concerning the building volume, from a defined local plan in the first course (Housing inventions 1) to developing the housing volume as part of an urban setting in the subsequent course (Housing inventions 2). Housing inventions 2 also includes the student’s reflection of process- and design experiences from Housing inventions 1 to contribute to an enhanced design process (if this course has been taken).

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Knowledge and understanding

  • Demonstrate knowledge of emergent issues affecting professional practice and social/ environmental sustainability relevant for housing design.

Competence and skills

  • Demonstrate a widened perspective of the urban dwelling and use this as an essential tool in housing research and housing design.
  • Apply widened insights on experimental and innovative best practices in the European context to future housing designs to foster innovation.
  • Perform advanced architectural analysis on housing situations and produce adequate solutions to emerging new potential future demands on the housing market.
  • Creatively and critically design Housing Projects that takes its starting point in a sustainable development from environmental, social and economic aspects.
  • Design Housing Projects integrated with the surrounding environment and urban setting, and demonstrate capacity to interact with real stakeholders and clients.
  • Demonstrate the capacity for teamwork and to communicate to different stakeholders and colleagues, via presentations, using the entire repertoire of architectural media and methods, to present the reasoning and work conclusions

Judgement and approach

  • Interpret, question and develop given prerequisites based on achieved knowledge and experience, and to show intention, commitment, and ability to identify needs for further knowledge and undertake on-going development of the students’ own skills.
  • Demonstrate the ability to adopt a holistic view in making judgements and appraisals informed by the relevant disciplinary, social, and ethical aspects on current societal factors influencing residential design and to integrate the needs of diverse user groups as a fundament for proposals of long-term and high aesthetic quality.

Content

The course contains the following compulsory elements.
  • The Design Project, containing design-work in the teams and scheduled tutoring.
  • Lectures and studio meetings.
  • Scheduled self-studies/individual studies.
  • Presentations.
  • Literary assignments.
  • Workshops, laborations, etc.

Organisation

The course starts out from actual challenges for sustainable futures within the housing planning and housing design field, presented and digested through lectures, literature, and seminars. After this introduction the course operates through one investigation phase and one project phase. The investigation phase includes elaborative workshops where the students through iterative exercises construct a design framework from theoretical studies and investigation of relevant reference projects. The project phase is focused on the design of a housing project in a realistic geographical urban context where the students answer to some of the addressed challenges testing and evaluating their design framework. The design process is also guided by a dialogue with an external part (community or else) that sets additional preconditions for the design task. A study trip to see relevant objects is implemented.

Literature

A list of literature will be provided before the beginning of the course.

Examination including compulsory elements

All compulsory elements are described in Content, above. To obtain the grade passed, the compulsory elements are required all deliverables must be handed in. Absence from compulsory elements will be evaluated in each individual case and additional assignments may be required.

Assessment is made according to the following:

Failed (F): The project is clearly unviable. Significant parts of the requested material are missing in the project report and presentations.
Grade 3: The project is carried out at an acceptable level and is feasible. No parts are missing (additions can be discussed).
Grade 4: The project is well executed and well feasible. All parts of the project report and presentations are included and are well implemented.
Grade 5: The project is very well executed and very well feasible. All parts of the project report and presentations are included and are very well implemented.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.