Subject Description
Architecture Science and Technology is the first out of three courses on Building Technology in the Architecture and Sustainable Design core curriculum. It targets undergraduate students in architecture and aims to equip them with essential knowledge on the performance of buildings to shelter in different climates, on building systems and respective construction systems, on structural integrity and conscious material choices.
Architecture Science and Technology equips undergraduate architecture students with essential knowledge on building technologies and a sensitivity for good workmanship. Like craftsmen need to profoundly understand the material and tools they are engaging with, architects have to develop and refine the integration of structural logic, construction methods and tectonic articulation. A sequence of consecutive lab projects allows participants to navigate between measurable and intuitive modifications, identify the forces that act on a building and synthesise the complex demands of a design by developing detailed information construction proposals. The goal is to utilise and critically reflect on technology, by exploring the performance of buildings in different climates, categorising building systems and respective construction systems, examining structural integrity and formulating conscious material choices. The course addresses decarbonisation as a pressing challenge in the built environment and establishes an informed discourse on design choices and the relation of buildings with their environment.
2020 RenewFibre Asia Architecture Science & Technology Award
Award Winning Project
Team 3 – Christopher Ooi, Moorthy Priya Dharshni, Peter David, Rachel Cheah Jiawen
Go to all 2020 Student Projects
Content Overview
Go to Technology and Design
Go to Sustainable Design
Go to Toolkits
Course Sequence
The course is organised into five themes that group issues and topics. On a weekly basis, the schedule is organised around a lecture and a lab session, which is split into two groups. Topics are introduced in a sequential and cumulative manner and the concurring assignments reference them.
Course Details
| Number | 20.201 |
| Pillar | ASD |
| Subject | Core |
| Grading | A+ to F |
| Credits | 9 |
| Prerequisites | N.A. |
| Workload | 2-3-4 |
Learning Objectives
- Learn and apply strategies that are relevant for the climatic performance of buildings
- Acquire a conceptual knowledge on structural systems, manipulate their configurations and assess the magnitude of forces
- Acquire the basic knowledge on construction systems, respective materials and the application in different building systems
- Assess the environmental impacts of materials in relation to their structural and thermal characteristics
- Synthesise the acquired knowledge, design a small building, develop a feasible structural system and deliver the appropriate technical drawings
Measurable Outcomes
- Formulate a building configuration that meets the criteria of various climatic conditions
- Assemble a structural system for the generated building form
- Assess different building components in regard to their environmental impact
- Produce iterations to compare the impact of different design choices on the performance
- Demonstrate the integration of the different aspects in a building project
Assessment Criteria
Each final grade will be calculated on the basis of timely and complete submission of assignments, examinations, projects (including in-class presentations), attendance and participation. The weighting of the elements that constitute the grade are as follows
| Individual assignments | 16% (4% for assignments 1A, 2A, 3 and 4A) |
| Midterm exam | 32% |
| End of term survey | 2% (completion of end-of-term-survey) |
| Group assignments | 30% (10% for assignment 1B; 12% for 2B, 8% for 4B) |
| Term project (group) | 20% |
| Attendance | mandatory |
| *Individual assignments | 4% |
| 2% | Completeness |
| 2% | Quality of submission and documentation, timely delivery |
| **Group assignments | 8, 10, 12% respectively |
| Equal % (e.g.4 out of 12) | Design and inventiveness |
| Equal % | Technical solution |
| Equal % | Quality of submission and documentation, timely delivery |
Weekly Schedule
| Monday | Lecture | 2.30 to 4.30pm |
| Tuesday | Lab session 1 | 10.30am to 1.30pm |
| Lab session 2 | 3.30 to 6.30pm |
Course Policies
Coursework submitted within seven days after the deadline will have a 50% penalty on the score, thereafter will have a 100% penalty. Students may only miss formal assessments (quizzes, exams) due to the following reasons: (1) medical leave, (2) family emergencies, (3) other matters beyond their control, with documentary proof.
During class sessions all personal communication devices should be switched to silent mode. The use of social media unrelated to classroom activities (such as for private mail, instant messaging, surfing the internet, reading the news, or playing games) is considered inappropriate and distracting to other people.
Copying from someone else’s assignments or other class content is considered cheating and is not tolerated in this class. Signing an attendance sheet in place of another student is also considered cheating. You are expected to attend all classroom sessions.
Please remember that attempting to dishonestly influence or manipulate an academic evaluation, grade, or record is considered a breach of course rules and will be taken very seriously by the instructors, leading to undesirable results for the students conducting these actions.
For all submitted material, scholarly citations must be used for all printed and digital sources. Consult Chicago Manual of Style or Modern Language Association.
Instructor
Michael Budig
Assistant Professor
Michael Budig is Assistant Professor in Architecture at SUTD, director of REAL Lab for Research in Renewable and Regenerative Architecture and director of REALise Studio. His research is driven by computational design and fabrication, and the desire to provide innovative solutions for decarbonisation, digitalisation and changing demographics in the built environment.
