Lecture: Basics I - Building Blocks for Architectural Design

The course in Building Theory examines the defining elements of buildings and various building typologies. The course is primarily intended for architecture students, but is also specifically designed for students of urban planning and landscape architecture.

In the winter semester, the course covers fundamental topics that form the building blocks of spatial choreography and are of central importance for the planning and design of buildings and open spaces. These include, among others, measurement systems and proportions, anthropometry and ergonomics, horizontal and vertical circulation—entrances and stairs—light, color, acoustics, hygiene, parking, regulations, and safety.

In the summer semester, students can choose between the advanced lecture series “Basics II” and the seminar “Accessible Design and Fire Safety.” “Basics II” examines various building typologies, such as educational, workplace, cultural, and residential facilities. The focus is on urban planning frameworks, functional requirements, and structural and construction characteristics. To this end, examples from architectural history and the current landscape are presented and discussed. The goal is to provide, in addition to the necessary foundational knowledge, an understanding of functional issues and typological relationships, to highlight potential for architectural design, and thereby to lay the groundwork for independent, conceptual action. The seminar <Accessible Construction and Fire Protection> provides an initial insight into two complex subject areas that have a significant influence on the functionality and quality of life of the built environment.

Prerequisites: none / Suitability: a s l / Schedule :weekly / Reading list: see first session and bulletin board /

Course credit 3 cp: student-prepared lecture notes

Maya Reiner (University Professor, Dipl.-Ing., M.Arch.)

This course is offered regularly during the winter semester.