Course syllabus for Architecture and optimized structures

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-14 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameArkitektur och optimerade strukturer
  • CodeARK297
  • Credits6 Credits
  • OwnerTKATK
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyArchitecture and Engineering
  • ThemeArchitectural design project 6 c
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingUG - Pass, Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 46114
  • Maximum participants50
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0118 Project 1.5 c
Grading: UG
1.5 c
0218 Project 4.5 c
Grading: UG
1.5 c3 c

In programmes

Examiner

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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

At least 30 credits design projects from the main field of Architecture and Engineering, or equivalent.

Aim

The course aims to develop the student's capacity for independent architectural design comprising spatial design in combination with a material efficient load-bearing structure. This includes being able to identify and process design-related issues, develop the ability to empathize in the interaction between man and the spatial design and to evaluate the own work.

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

- Demonstrate a proposal for a complex building in an urban context or a landscape, and with a focus on how the characteristics of material and load-bearing structure provide space and form.
Through the proposal, the student should be able to:
- Demonstrate ability to develop structural and spatial concepts in different representation forms.
- Demonstrate ability to document an explorative and critically reflective work process.
- Demonstrate the ability to evaluate the own work based on given criteria.

Content

The challenge of the course is to design a complex building in a given urban space or a landscape, where space and a material optimized load-bearing structure is organized to ensure efficient and expressive architecture. Included in the design process is to relate to a repertoire of past and contemporary buildings where space and volume interact with optimal load-bearing structures. The design is developed through working models and sketches supported by analyzes of forces and stress distributions as well as of human movements and experiences. Included is also reflection on chosen and not chosen design approaches during the design process.

Organisation

Exploratory trials are conducted in groups, while the architectural design is carried out individually. A set of formative critics supports the design process. Also the final critique is formative and is followed by an adjustment of the proposal and a presentation in portfolio format.

Literature

Literature will be announced.

Examination including compulsory elements

To pass requires an approved portfolio, active participation in formative critics, a reflective description of the process and evaluation of the design proposal.

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.