The BUILDING TECHNOLOGY STUDIO is a studio based on the design activity and in which the student acquires the ability to control and coordinate inside the design process building technologies, structural elements and building physics behavior.In particular it comprehends three interconnected sections: Architecture Technology, Structural Design and Building Physics. The Technology section will mainly relate with construction techniques, materials, spaces, performances and values that represent an actual resource which must be carefully and thoroughly evaluated in the design process. The Structural Design section will focus on the criteria leading to the selection of the best structural solution (materials, structural scheme, construction techniques) with respect to the different design requirements. The Building Physics section will deal with the conditions and performance requirements in buildings and the energy-efficient technologies and design strategies that are essential for designing sustainable, comfortable and architectural sensitive buildings.

Advanced design tools assume a central role in the contemporary practice of architecture, both in the design and construction phases, expanding design potentiality and increasing control and precision over the arising complexity of the design process. Through digital design workflow, nowadays recognized as an international standard, the virtual model becomes an ideal playground where to perform design conceptualization and refinement within an iterative process of modelling, simulation and optimization. In this scenario it is fundamental to develop a holistic approach to technology in which innovative tools, fabrication techniques and emergent technologies are synergically conceived and applied to inform consistent design outputs, from the early stages to the definition of construction and performative characteristics of the architectural systems.

Main educational targets

The work into the laboratory aims students to synthesize information acquired along the semester and during the previous courses and laboratories in a comprehensive project. Students are introduced to verify and apply into the project former acquired abilities (technology, history, architectural composition, analysis of physical and social context, study of program requirements) and new pieces of information acquired during the in the course (architecture technology, structural design and building physics). The target of teaching is to achieve for every student a personal capability to approach technologies and innovative techniques as a tool that should be used into the architectural project considered as a unique ensemble.

The course consists in lectures and workshop activity.

The steps of the work will be the followings: concept design, preliminary design, detailed design.

Teaching methods

Lectures, workshops, invited guests, visit on site

the final evaluation will follow the following criteria:

1 Knowledge and understanding 2 Applying knowledge and understanding 3 Making judgements 4 Communication skills 5 Learning skills

The final evaluation will be the assessment (group ) of the activities performed in the IT workshop, project workshop or experimental workshop

Students will be evaluated on their project during the semester according to three design phases.

Intermediate evaluations will partially contribute to the final assessment together with a final exam where definitive projects will be presented and discussed in reference with the topics tackled during the studio.