Required research seminar which studies the world of ideas which have contributed to the development of an architectural theory centered on the workings of Architectural Matter. Particular modes of thinking, argumentation and fabrication which promote a committed study of the natural elements is encouraged in formulating an understanding of the critical and pivotal role which matter and materials play in the development of architectural projects. The physical constraints of the art of building are the focus of student research as the seminar investigates and articulates the ways in which the body of architecture exists between the theoretical poles of construction and representation; fabrication and media.
Seminar aimed at the study of ideas, polemics and manifestoes which have contributed to the valorization of technology in the modern era. It seeks to develop a rigorous understanding of the forces that have shaped the technological character of modern architecture and it critically assesses the human forces which have bound the work of architecture to the realms of applied science and instrumentality. The course investigates specific advances in architectural technology all the while examining the ethical dimension of these technological applications. In this regard, it will research the cultural, political and economic forces which have underpinned the technological revolution of the 20th century and fashion a critical assessment of how architectural practice has responded to its imperative.
Construction Technology and Design Integration I is a foundation course in architectural technology which introduces students to the important relationship which exists between architectural design and the art of building. The success of any architectural design is predicated on the success of its construction practices, processes and methods. The architect’s competent and innovative choices in regards a building’s site, its materials, its engineering systems and assembly techniques constitute the art of building. And acquiring the knowledge to make such choices is the goal of this course.
Architectural technology is considered both a physical means of building and the critical context within which we build; that is, the world of ideas within which construction decisions are evaluated. In order to establish this context, students will be introduced to the historical, ontological, ethical and aesthetic dimensions of building. In this regard, issues of sustainabilty will play an important role throughout the course’s development. The art of building is presented typologically according to materials and methods. Typical building materials will be studied, such as concrete, steel, wood and glass, as will their methods of assembly, joinery, fabrication and building integration.
Innovative materials such as plastics, polymers, films and gels, which are changing the very nature of construction, will also be investigated, offering students a view to technologically determined and engineered materials.