Start semester
40 621 Multistory Buildings
Passed bachelor level courses in architecture
The most important issue about making architecture sustainable is to design and build buildings capable to adapt to changing users and programs over time. That is not always the case nowadays.
Lots of buildings are being demolished because of lack of adaptability to new users and programs. Practicing architects with their clients should always consider a holistic building design that takes care of durable solutions so that a building can last as long as possible framing the activity of different users to different times.
This Multistory building course will therefore focus on the architectural potential of various structures as a framework for good architectural spaces with general usability over time. An important aim for the course is to explore, study and play with the architectural potential of the loadbearing structure of a building in terms of materiality, design and how the structure can play an active role in framing good spaces for different use.
Another issue is to study and explore is the impact of a building's internal vertical infrastructure with concerns to building structure, multi-story spaces for stairs, lifts and shafts for service and technical equipment.
The building envelope do for sure also play an important role for a holistic architectural quality concerning daylight, indoor climate, materiality and how the architecture of a building fits into the actual surroundings. The climate shell will always deal with rough impact due to weather conditions and need special investigation and care in an architectural design process.
The first part of the semester will deal with investigation and research of actual structural materials and configuration of loadbearing elements for multistory buildings. These studies will include interesting historical examples, projects from architectural competitions and student projects.
The students will also investigate possible structural configurations in physical ( and digital? )model studies
The second part of the semester the students will choose an actual plot and further investigate architectural ideas for a holistic multistory building in or near Oslo, and prove through sketches the adaptability for different users and programs(living or working). The students have to choose specific topics that their own project will specially concentrate on.
Knowledge about:
- how to explore, create and organize good architectural space for different programs in a given context.
- how to deal with different structural materials and loadbearing principles
- different principles for organization and design of vertical communication space
- different building envelopes physical structure and materiality
Skills:
Being able to discuss, consider and explore:
- spatial and tactile qualities within a holistic architectural concept.
- various structural materiality and principles impact on architectural quality customized for different use and program for a building over time.
- architectural qualities and possibilities of different organization and design of vertical communication space
- a building envelope design
- architectural expression and materiality in relation to an actual location context.
Being able to document and present a conclusive and comprehensive and sustainable architectural project on an actual plot through excellent illustrations and a physical model.
General competence:
Being able to apply the acquired knowledge about structures, vertical communication spaces and building envelope into a sustainable building project with great architectural qualities usable for different programs. Get skills in discussing, evaluating and exploring the actual architectural topics.
The studio will be carried through with a main emphasis on architectural projects to be completed in groups or individually. Project material is expected to be detailed using digital tools, as well as small and largescale models. Preliminary sketching and development of ideas is to be done using analogue tools.
Otherwise, the course includes various activities:
• initial subtasks on current topics
• theme-oriented lectures
• private and group input / lectures and discussions
• inspection of relevant local projects
• a foreign excursion
• reviews every second week
Students will be working on the main semester project in groups of 2. When signing up for the course, it is possible to give a message about which fellow student you already have planned to work together with by sending an e-mail to the administration; Reier.Moll.Schoder@adm.aho.no
| Mandatory coursework | Courseworks required | Presence required | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annet - spesifiser i kommentarfeltet | Required | A general attendance of minimum 80% is required. - Attendance at lectures is required. - Participation in individual or group supervision is required, adapted to individual needs. - Participation in workshops and reviews is required to pass. - Development, presentation, and review of a completed project design is required to pass. Students are evaluated to pass or fail, according to Regulations for Master’s Degree Programmes at AHO. International grading is provided for exchange students who require this. |
| Form of assessment | Grouping | Grading scale | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project assignment | Individual | Pass / fail | The student must attend all project reviews. Final project presentations will be assessed as passed/failed by an internal and external examiner after a final review. There will be made a written evaluation. |
| Workload activity | Comment |
|---|---|
| Lectures | Mandatory attendance at all project reviews and active participation in discussions around the course different topics at lectures and other arragements |