OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide students with an understanding of the complexity involved in architectural design and construction, guiding them through a hands-on learning process that enables them to experiment with and apply the various phases of project development, up to the executive level. The design activity progresses from the feasibility study scale to the detail and construction joint scale (1:10 – 1:5), focusing on a building in which structural systems, construction techniques, components, and elements—studied during the Technical Architecture course—are analyzed and integrated.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The  Laboratory Module for the Building Engineering Curriculum aims to provide students with in-depth knowledge of construction aspects in architecture, also in relation to recent developments in building materials technology and construction components.
The intended learning outcomes of the course are:
- Approach to architectural design through its technical components;
- Use of drawing as a tool for analyzing design solutions;
- Knowledge of the properties of the main construction materials;
- Design of construction elements.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course "Technical Architecture Laboratory", in continuity with the contents covered in the Technical Architecture course, has the following learning objectives:
- To apply the acquired knowledge to a real architectural project, through a technical approach supported by the sensitivity of architectural design;
- To use drawing as a tool for analyzing and verifying design solutions;
- To represent the project using vector-based digital tools;
- To produce graphic drawings ranging from the 1:200 scale to the 1:5 scale, covering both the main construction aspects of the building and detailed executive elements.

TEACHING METHODS

During the laboratory, students will develop the design of a low-complexity building, addressing both functional and distributive aspects, as well as technical issues, in relation to the overall formal outcome.
 Students will work in groups, each assigned a specific project to develop over the course of the semester.
 The project will be entirely developed in a digital environment, using CAD modeling software (such as AutoCAD), which is available free of charge to students enrolled at the University of Genoa.
 Weekly reviews with the course instructors are scheduled to monitor and guide the progress of the design work.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

During the course, students will apply the knowledge acquired during the lectures of the Technical Architecture course through a hands-on design exercise. In particular, the following types of drawings will be developed:
- "Wireframe" drawings, aimed at verifying the compliance of the case-study building with urban planning regulations and the local building code;
- Distributive and compositional drawings, intended to define the spatial configuration and functional layout of the building (e.g., plans, sections, elevations);
- Technical drawings, representing specific construction aspects (e.g., roof plan, window schedule);
- Detail drawings, illustrating the main technological features of the building components, through construction joints and details at scales ranging from 1:10 to 1:5.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Dassori, E., Morbiducci, R. 2020. Costruire l'architettura. Milano (IT): Tecniche Nuove Editore - pp.1-848, 2nd Edizione, ISBN: 978-88-481-4074-4.
Additional bibliographic references will be provided during the lectures and the laboratory sessions.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/11949/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam will consist in the submission of the complete design project, which will be discussed during an oral interview.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam will consist in the submission of the complete design project, which will be discussed during an oral interview. The assessment methods are intended to evaluate the quality and consistency of the work carried out by the student during the course, with particular attention to the following aspects:
- Completeness of the drawings: presence of all required documents, developed according to the guidelines provided during the course;
- Technical and regulatory accuracy: compliance with building regulations, consistency between the different scales of representation, and precision in the construction details;
- Clarity and graphic quality: effective use of digital drawing tools (e.g., linework, hatching, text, layout), legibility, and overall organization of the drawings;
- Argumentative skills: clarity of exposition and ability to justify design and technical choices during the oral discussion.