Building technology

Tutor
Tutor website: Angelique Haver

Title
Building technology

Participation
Individual

Context
The scale of the detail and the building.
How are structures put together? A brief introduction to building technology, theory, construction and mechanics.

Some students already have a lot of technical knowledge, others need to start with the basics. This subject provides that basis. What is a wall, technically speaking? What is a foundation, a door, a window? How do you ensure that a structure is resistant to wind and water?

Credits
5 ECTS points

Educational philosophy
Technology is not an end but a means. An essential means: without mastery of the technology you cannot make what you have in mind. The goal of this program is to familiarise students with different construction techniques, so that they can better develop their own ideas, and be able to defend it in future.

The goal is not to know everything there is to know. As an architect/designer you will usually have a general understanding, and know a little about many things. The student’s general design philosophy will always be the starting point.

Methodology
The classes consist partly of short lectures about technique, and partly of practical assignments.

In another class that runs concurrently, students will be given a design assignment. In technical studies they will work out the construction details of their designs.

Assignments
Often a relatively simple structure with a clear function is chosen as a design assignment for this class:
– Design a bridge.
– Design a house for one person.
– Design a bird observatory.