11207 Architectural Design and Construction

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2021 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: Architecture
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 11206 Introduction to Construction and Structural Synthesis
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Recommended studies:

11206 Introduction to Construction and Structural Synthesis

Description

This subject introduces students to principles and techniques of architectural detailing. Students learn how to represent construction materials, building components and the connections between them in orthographic drawings and physical models and begin to develop the ability to produce technically proficient details of assembly. Students develop an understanding of architectural detailing as an extension of the design process and develop an appreciation of the significance of architectural detailing to the formal aesthetics of architecture.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1.	Understand the visual and contextual qualities of the structural system, construction elements, materials and building components.
2.	Demonstrate an ability to investigate and evaluate construction elements, material and building components based on an understanding of their physical properties, technical performance and the requirements of building standards.
3.	Analyse the relationship between structure, construction and design intention and the significance of architectural detailing to the formal aesthetics of architecture.
4.	Articulate the purpose, role and characteristics of technical documentation and specifications.
5.	Produce relatively accurate and technically proficient details of assembly.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

Undertake a critically directed, self-aware mode of disciplinary thinking (A.2)
Constructively contribute to peer learning by communicating through various modes of oral, written and graphic communication (C.2)
Develop innovative approaches by challenging disciplinary conventions (I.1)
Test technique-led architectural design processes against a range of architectural concerns (P.1)
Apply a sophisticated understanding of architectural scale to aid the development of an architectural proposition (P.2)
Respond to a comprehensive brief within the disciplinary context (P.3)
Evidence a three-dimensional understanding of spatial sequence and organisation (P.4)
Integrate an understanding of a relationship between form, materiality, structure and construction within design thinking (P.5)
Evidence disciplinary knowledge through the application of physical and/or digital mediums (P.6)
Source, evaluate and/or utilise accepted, disciplinary specific, academic frameworks (R.2)

Teaching and learning strategies

Weekly active 3-hour tutorial sessions, and lecture/seminar sessions to set up students for the tutorial exercises.

Tutorial sessions will be hands-on to assist you to better understand and apply concepts introduced in the lectures. You are expected to attend all tutorial and lecture sessions. During tutorials, you will complete a range of exercises that will develop your expertise as an architectural detailer but will also build towards the main assessment item for the subject. Sessions will incorporate a range of teaching and learning strategies including case studies, theoretical content, project-based exercises, short student presentations, simulations of professional practice, and collaborative work. These will be complemented by independent student study and self-reflection on the relationship of theory to practical experiences in the classroom. You are expected to come well equipped to every tutorial. Bring a portable drawing board with drafting equipment, as well as a scale ruler, pencils, pens, drawing papers, model building materials, etc. In some of the later weeks you can use a laptop computer with drafting software.

The tutorial sessions will always be working sessions, focus on your Assessment task in the weeks preceding the submission, in which students will review each other's work in teams as well as speak with the tutor about the project development.

Lectures will involve interlocutors from industry, practice and academia exploring the content and processes of architectural detailing across a range of construction systems.

The combination of tutorials and lectures will frame a practice-based approach to detailing, and to researching construction systems for each design scenario. The curriculum and process you will undergo will prepare you for the processes used in professional practice, in particular, drawing on precedent and standard systems of construction, and extrapolating and transforming them for each of your scenarios. This curriculum relates directly to specific Performance Criteria (PC) in the National Competency Standards in Architecture (NCSA). See http://www.aaca.org.au/publications/ These criteria's relate to accreditation and your future ability to register as an architect with the Architects' Registration Board (ARB).

ONLINE

The readings and online tutorial exercises will be hosted on UTS Online. A digital copy of assessment will be submitted to UTS online.

FEEDBACK

The subject provides a range of formative feedback strategies.

1. Weekly tutorials are the site of the bulk of your formative feedback. Feedback will be provided in the form of verbal discussion with your tutor and with your peers. You should ensure you engage in the discussions in tutorials to maximise your commitment to this mode of feedback. It is your responsibility to record any feedback given during meetings. This will assist with iterative development.

2. The subject is designed around the progressive development of a final design project. In this sense, every weekly studio session helps you progressively develop your project. It is therefore vital you complete the work outlined in the Subject Outline, and Weekly Handouts to receive useful formative Feedback. Once again, all documents can be accessed via UTS Online.

3. All assessments will be graded in ReView.

Please refer to the DAB Generic Subject Outline document for attendance requirements.

Content (topics)

Content areas will include:

Understanding the capabilities of different materials
Introduction to architectural detailing techniques such as the articulation of primary/secondary structure, layering, junctions, connections between materials etc
Introduction to architectural detailing principles in terms of touching the ground, turning the corner, thin edges and fine lines
Understanding the building envelope in terms of water
Understanding of technical documentation and specification conventions and practices
Understanding construction detailing and documentation as an extension of the architectural design process

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Material Compositions

Intent:

This assessment task develops a sound and operative knowledge of common construction systems. Building on in-class tutorial exercises with research and analysis, a range of drawing and modelling techniques will be used to demonstrate an awareness of disciplinary conventions and the application of appropriate details and technology.

This task will provide an understanding of construction techniques which are fundamental in the knowledge of building systems relevant to a civic scale structure and the relevant standards associated with this typology. The skills demonstrated by this task are relevant to the discipline in that they are foundational knowledge for the assembly, technical detailing and documentation of an architectural proposal.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2, 3 and 5

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

A.2, P.4, P.6 and R.2

Type:

Project

Groupwork:

Individual

Weight:

25%

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Drawings demonstrate a reasoned understanding of construction systems and methods and the requirements of building standards for technical performance.	25	1	P.4
Annotations on the drawings convey the significant features of the chosen details and clarify an understanding of the visual, contextual and extended architectural qualities of the structural system, construction methods and materials employed.	25	2	A.2
Drawings demonstrate a useful knowledge of technical details attained through both an engagement with subject content (lectures and tutorials) and self-directed case study research.	25	3	R.2
Drawings demonstrate a professional implementation of drawing standards and representational techniques to effectively communicate construction hierarchies and logical assembly sequences.	25	5	P.6

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Construction Detailing

Intent:

This assessment task further develops the skills attained in Assessment Task 1 by contextualising the construction system and structural elements within a given set of building components relating to a design proposal. This task will demonstrate an understanding of technical detailing knowledge and materiality through the development of construction details for a design proposition.

The skills demonstrated by this task are relevant to the discipline in terms of aligning industry knowledge of relevant construction standards with appropriate drawing techniques required to communicate more detailed construction systems. This task synthesizes design intent, structure and materials in a way that is reflected in practice and it demonstrates an ability to work with accuracy and technical proficiency in architectural resolution.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

A.2, C.2, I.1, P.5 and R.2

Type:

Project

Groupwork:

Individual

Weight:

45%

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Documents an active engagement and consistent participation in the weekly tutorial workshops and evidences an incremental development of the work through out-of-session production.	20	2	C.2
The material and qualitative attributes of the proposal are supported by visualisation techniques and technical annotations	20	4	A.2
Body of work demonstrates relevant researched and applied knowledge through realisation of proficient details of assembly.	20	3	R.2
Drawings demonstrate a reasoned understanding of construction systems and methods and the requirements of building standards for technical performance.	20	5	P.5
Drawings demonstrate a creative implementation of drawing standards and representation techniques to effectively communicate the construction hierarchies and assembly logics of the proposal.	20	1	I.1

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: In-Class Examination

Intent:

At the completion of this assessment task students will demonstrate the ability to:

Subject Learning Objective (SLO) 1: 1. Understand the visual and contextual qualities of the structural system, construction elements, materials and building components;

Subject Learning Objective (SLO) 2: Investigate and evaluate construction elements, materials and building components based on an understanding of their physical properties, technical performance and the requirements of building standards;

Subject Learning Objective (SLO) 4: Understand the role and characteristics of technical documentation and specifications;

Subject Learning Objective (SLO) 5: Produce relatively accurate and technically proficient details of assembly.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2, 4 and 5

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

A.2, P.1, P.2 and P.3

Type:

Quiz/test

Groupwork:

Individual

Weight:

30%

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Written and drawn answers demonstrate understanding of structural systems, construction methods and the requirements of building standards for technical performance	30	2	P.1
Annotations on the drawings convey the significant features of the chosen details and clarify your understanding of the visual and contextual qualities of the structural system, construction methods and materials.	10	1	A.2
Written and drawn answers demonstrate knowledge of technically proficient details of assembly	30	5	P.2
Written and drawn answers apply communication techniques, knowledge and understanding to practical applications in architecture	30	4	P.3

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

The Faculty of DAB expects students to attend at least 80% of the scheduled contact hours for each enrolled subject. Achievement of subject aims is difficult if classes are not attended. Where assessment tasks are to be presented personally in class, attendance is mandatory.

Pursuant to “UTS Rule 3.8.2”, students who do not satisfy attendance requirements, may be refused permission by the Responsible Academic Officer to be considered for assessment for this subject.

Please be aware, that any subject specific attendance requirements are located in the “Minimum Requirement” field of the subject outlines.

Required texts

Refer to the assessment handouts for an annotated bibliography of texts.

These will be made available through the UTS library. Key reference books will be placed in the library open reserve or made available through electronic reserve from the library website to ensure that all students undertaking this subject have access to them. Students are encouraged to use UTS library and other public libraries in Sydney.

Recommended texts

Allen, Edward, Architectural Detailing: function, constructability, aesthetics (Second Edition), Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, c2007

Allen, Edward, Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods (Third Edition), New York, John Wiley & Sons, 1999)

Australian Building Codes Board, National Construction Code: Building Code of Australia Volumes One and Two

Australian Standards Online

Bell, Victoria & Rand, Patrick, Materials for Architectural Design, London, Laurence King, 2006

Bonaldi, Rico, Detailing for water: Why do buildings leak?, Melbourne, Royal Australian Institute of Architects, 2007

Ching, Francis D K & Adams, Cassandra, Building Construction Illustrated (3rd ed), New York, John Wiley & Sons, 2001

Dawson, Susan, Architects Working Details 6, London, Emap Construct, 1999

Dawson, Susan, Architects Working Details 7, London, Emap Construct, 2000

Deplazes, Andrea (ed), Constructing Architecture: Materials, Processes, Structures, A Handbook, Basel, Birkhäuser, 2005

Details in Architecture: Creative Detailing by some of the World’s Leading Architects, Mulgrave, Vic, Images Publishing, 1999 – 2003

Emmitt, Stephen, Olie, J, & Schmid, P, Principles of Architectural Detailing, Oxford, Blackwell Publishing, 2004

Knaak, U., Klein, T., Bilow, M., Aeur, T. Facades: Principles of Construction. Basel: Birkhauser, 2014.

Other resources

We encourage you at attend the Public Lecture Series on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm in the Level 5 Architecture Foyer. Please refer to SOA FORUM notifications and the utsarchitecture Instagram for further detail