Overview

This unit immerses students in lightweight and sustainable architectural design theory, investigation and execution. Students apply fundamental engineering knowledge in combination with newly acquired specialist engineering skills to respond to a realistic architectural engineering design brief. Students investigate precedents, explore design variants, prototype ideas and execute their own scheme design. This process adopts a studio-based approach whereby students will present, debate and defend their proposals with guest critics and expert industry feedback and guidance. Students are expected to synthesise considerations in design, engineering and sustainability to deliver architectural engineering solutions which are elegant, feasible and context-aware.

Requisites

Prerequisites
MEE20004 Structural Mechanics
DDD10006 Introductory Design Studio

Rules

Pre-requisite
MEE20004 Structural Mechanics
OR
DDD10006 Introductory Design Studio

Equivalent
ARC10002 Architectural Engineering Studio 1

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Identify and evaluate relevant and existing technologies, simulation techniques and architectural precedents relevant to the studio brief. (S1, K2, K3, A6)
  • Develop suitable technological, computational & artistic skills. (K1, K3)
  • Identify, discuss, and generate solutions to lightweight architectural engineering and design problems using sustainable solutions and prioritise these solutions in terms of social, architectural and environmental factors (K1, K2, K3, K4, K6, S1, S2, S3, A3, A4, A6)
  • Discuss, interpret and synthesise your solutions in a studio-based process with guest critics, peer-review and reflective processes (K2, K3, K5, S1, S2, S3, S4, A1, A2, A3, A4, A6)
  • Communicate solutions via drawings, digital and physical models and oral presentations (A2, A4, S4)

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Studio
2.00 12 weeks 24
On-campus
Studio
2.00 12 weeks 24
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning
4.33 12 weeks 52
Unspecified Activities
Various
4.17 12 weeks 50
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Final FolioIndividual 55 - 65% 1,2,3,4,5 
PortfolioIndividual 5 - 15% 
ProjectIndividual 15 - 25% 1,2,3,4,5 
ProjectIndividual 15 - 25% 2,5 

Content

  • Precedent studies into lightweight architectural engineering design
  • Engineering theory of lightweight structures including analytical and computational methods for their design and engineering evaluation
  • Development of architectural engineering design solutions by navigating multiple and challenging constraints
  • Analysis of materials, structural design and sustainability
  • Application of newly acquired skillset for the digital and physical form-finding of lightweight structures
  • Preparation, documentation and presentation of architectural concepts, models and drawings via
  • Interaction and engagement with industry
  • Developing professional communication skills

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.