Description of the studio series

The Circular Prototyping studio offers students a comprehensive understanding of architecture within the context of environmental sustainability. The curriculum centers on the principles of circular building practices, with a specific focus on building materials and construction techniques that substantially mitigate environmental impact. These principles are investigated within a design-build studio format, equipping students with vital tools to guide form-finding processes and facilitate critical evaluation of sustainability measures as an integral part of the design process. The design explorations also include climate adaption as consideration of local weather and climate conditions, spanning the historical context, present circumstances, and future climate scenarios. These projections, in parallel with strategies to reduce negative impact, establish a meaningful link between present design choices and their alignment with the long-term UN Sustainability Goals (SDGs).

An essential aspect of the curriculum involves introducing students to the application of lifecycle methodology and environmental assessment (LCA) as a decision-making tool. LCA enables students to analyse the environmental impacts associated with linear versus circular practices, fossil versus renewable resources, and provides insight into policy considerations to facilitate sustainable outcome. As part of the semester work, each student will produce an individual paper reflecting on findings from the design-build process, with particular emphasis on circular potentials and concerns. These papers will be assessed alongside design contributions and building activities to enhance learning experience in circular practices and proficiency in lifecycle methodology.  

The studio´s core activities revolve around collaborative design-build projects that mirrors architectural practice. The hands-on experience with building allows students to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical manner and foster a deeper understanding of possibilities and challenges at hand as we move forward into a future with circular economy and ecological awareness. Each studio semester focuses on in-depth investigations of different materials or components in relation to their environmental potentials. For the spring semester 2024, our partners include Sperlebakken, a creative space for arts, crafts and ecological food production, and FutureBuilt, a publically owned initiative aiming at climate neutrality in the building industry aligned with the UN SDG´s. The project is situated in Luster, within Vestland county, and its primary objective to design a cluster of lodges dedicated to an artist in residence program. The specific material of interest is clay, a traditionally renowned bio-based material that has garnered increasing attention in the industry due to its notable environmental capabilities as well as its positive effect on indoor climate and health. Throughout the semester, students will conduct comprehensive investigations encompassing site analysis, climate considerations, material studies, and building techniques, progressing from conceptual ideas to full-scale prototyping of a lodge unit at Sperlebakken in May.