Course syllabus for Complex buildings

Course syllabus adopted 2025-02-09 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameKomplexa byggnader
  • CodeACE660
  • Credits10.5 Credits
  • OwnerTKARK
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyArchitecture
  • ThemeArchitectural design project 7.5 c,Environment 1.5 c
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingUG - Pass, Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 45136
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0125 Project 7.5 c
Grading: UG		 7.5 c
0225 Written and oral assignments, part A 1.5 c
Grading: UG		 1.5 c
0325 Written and oral assignments, part B 1.5 c
Grading: UG		 1.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first 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

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
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

  • Housing in an urban context, or equivalent
  • Architectural technology: Theme concrete, or equivalent
  • Architectural technology: Theme structural design and construction, or equivalent
The course is part of the learning sequence Design and deepens knowledge on spatial design and the materials and technical systems of architecture that were covered in the above courses.

Aim

The course aims to develop the student's ability to design a building in a real site and with a given building program where rooms for activities, building technology and technology for climate control interact to form a system that is organized into an artistic and sustainable entity.

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

  1. analyse a building, a reference project, where space, building technology and technology for climate control work together to form an architectural entity, and report on the connection to their own project work.
  2. design a building where rooms, building technology and technology for climate control work together to form an architectural entity.
  3. design some visually and technically important building details.
  4. present a conscious approach to the relationship between the spatiality of architecture and its technical systems, and to the relationship between a building's exterior and interior.
  5. design a building with a pleasant indoor environment where light, views, systems for solar shading, energy and heat are balanced into a sustainable entity, and use quantitative and qualitative analysis methods to defend the chosen solution. (sustainable development)
  6. study and present the project in clear conventional drawings and in a perspective section or a physical model, where spatiality and technical systems are integrated (design and representation media)
  7. orally and in dialogue with critics, present and discuss the results of the assignment and possible further developments
  8. critically review, evaluate and constructively comment on another student project regarding issues and results (orally and/or in text).

Content

The course consists of three modules.

Project work 7.5 credits
The first module consists of a design project focused on the design of a new building with a composite building function program in a given location. The course develops knowledge and skills gained previously in the Bachelor programme. The development is mainly due to the introduction of greater complexity, partly in terms of the interaction between rooms and technical systems for bearing and comfortable indoor climate, and partly in terms of the connection between the interior and exterior of buildings.


Sustainable Development 1.5 credits
The second module is about designing a comfortable indoor environment where light, views, energy and heat are balanced into a sustainable entity. Understanding of the interaction of windows, solar shading, possible greenery, frame, energy and ventilation systems and their impact on room and façade design is central. The insights result in a designed synthesis in the design project.
The module also deals with material selection based on a life cycle perspective where the origin, manufacture and function of the materials interact with their cultural significance, the location of the project and aesthetic expressions.


Design and Representational Media 1.5 credits
In the third module, skills in drawing work are developed, where the design project is both studied and presented in clear drawings based on lines - the convention of the architectural profession. The project is further studied in either a perspective section or a physical model where the synthesis of spatiality and technical systems is presented.

Organisation

The course has project based teaching where students learn from each other in the drawing room in combination with supervision by teachers.

The work with reference projects takes place in groups. The project work is individual.

The course ends with a reflection session where experiences from the course are collected in a portfolio.

Literature

Constructing architecture, Andrea Deplazes (editor)

Any additional literature will be adapted to the project assignment and will be announced at the start of the course.

Examination including compulsory elements

Examination takes place through
  • Continuous examination of design projects corresponding to 7.5 credits and examines mainly intended learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, 6, 7
  • Written and oral assignments, part A, on sustainable development, which corresponds to 1.5 credits and examines mainly learning outcome 4
  • Written and oral assignments, part B, on performance and representation media, corresponding to 1.5 credits and examines mainly learning outcome 5
  • Active participation in the course and active attendance at compulsory moments
Continuous examination means that examination takes place through several presentation sessions with clear submission requirements that are announced at the start of the course. Also, compulsory moments are announced at the start of the course.

Students who do not pass the course after the regular examination shall be given the opportunity to be examined by supplementary examination after the end of the course if the examiner deems it possible. If the student still cannot pass the course after two attempts at supplementation, the student may retake the course. Assessment of supplementary examinations takes place during Chalmers' re-examination periods.

It is the student's responsibility to check reported study results in Ladok after each study period and to contact the course examiner for instructions on supplementation if the result is missing.

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 about disability study support.