2021-2022 / ARCH1106-1

Technology of the built environment 1 - Basic principles

Duration

40h Th

Number of credits

 Bachelor in architecture5 crédits 

Lecturer

Guirec Ruellan

Coordinator

Pierre Leblanc

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The Building Technology course constitutes a first generalist and propaedeutic approach to the technical principles accompanying the elaboration of an architectural project and its formal concretization in a functional building. The general idea behind the construction of the course is to offer students a first look at all of these technical principles, which will be more fully addressed and detailed in subsequent courses.
In terms of form, the course develops through the analogy between the physiological functioning of the human body and the physical-technical-architectural functioning of a building. In a general way, many analogies will feed and illustrate the course in order to facilitate for the students the understanding of new principles.
Environment and built form : Introduction to environmental issues and the impact of the construction sector / Context and building form / Concepts of comfort / Formal relationship to the ground
Structures and forces : Structural relationship to the ground / Foundations / Infrastructure / Superstructure / Elementary structures / Classification / Architecture and structure / Equilibrium / External loads / Internal forces / Load descent
Insulation and heating : General principles of thermics / Thermal insulation / Principle of constructive nodes and continuity / Notions of bioclimatism / Heating systems
Sealing and ventilation : Watertightness / Airtightness / Water vapor management and ventilation systems
Other systems : Concepts of water supply and drainage / Acoustics concepts / Electrical concepts / Fire resistance concept

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

At the end of this course, the student will be able to :

  • perceive the multiplicity of roles assumed by the architecture.
  • understand the role of technologies implemented to allow architecture to respond to these roles.
  • perceive the interactions that exist between architecture, building technology and building physics.
  • interpret the functioning of the structure of a building according to the graphic documents presenting it.
  • begin to integrate structural thinking into the development of an architectural project.
  • read a technical detail and understand the role of the different materials used.
  • begin to integrate a reflection on the composition of the walls during the development of an architectural project.
  • know the main technical networks supplying a building.
  • understand some of the impacts of the building sector on the environment and the tools used to evaluate these impacts.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The entire course will be taught face-to-face through an ex cathedra presentation.
Occasional interactions will take place, allowing all students to answer a question during the course prior to the presentation of a new aspect of Building Technology.
In addition to the course, students are asked to research the application of the principles developed in the course to an architectural project.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Blended learning


Additional information:

The theory will be presented during a face-to-face course.
A Unicast recording will be used to catch up or review the theory.
A practical exercise at the end of the term will be done individually, with the possibility to ask questions to the teacher on the e-campus forum.

Recommended or required readings

The presentation slides are provided at each class session, at least one hour before the start of the session. They are posted on e-campus. Each session will be available as a podcast on Unicast (subject to any technical problems that may be encountered during the course, preventing its proper recording).
 
Books for optional consultation available in the university libraries:
Ching, F. (2015). Architecture?: form, space, & order
Provost, M., Attas, D., & De Kemmeter, P. (2011). Comment tout ça tient???: voyage au pays des structures
Ching, F. (2014). Building construction illustrated
Neufert, E., et al. (2014). Neufert?: les éléments des projets de construction
Bouteveille, U. (2013). La construction, comment ça marche???: toutes les techniques de construction en images

Assessment methods and criteria

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )

Written work / report


Additional information:

The evaluation is divided into two parts:

  • 70% of the grade will be obtained during the completion of a MCQ on the entire theoretical course.
  • 30% of the grade will be obtained by the realization of a practical exercise of analysis of the structure and the technical details of an existing building.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

guirec.ruellan@uliege.be