2022-2023 / ARCH1106-1

Technology of the built environment 1 - Basic principles

Duration

40h Th

Number of credits

 Bachelor in architecture5 crédits 

Lecturer

Guirec Ruellan

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 /  Ventilation systems

Other systems : Concepts of water supply and drainage / Acoustics concepts / Electrical concepts / Fire resistance et security concepts / Special elements (stairs, windows)

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.

Regulars 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 parallel, exercises will be regularly submitted to the students so that they confront the concepts studied with their concrete experience.

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

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

Theory will be presented during a face-to-face course.

A Unicast recording will allow you to occasionally catch up or review the theory course. This recording does not replace the physical presence in class and all the information transmitted on this occasion.

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

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( multiple-choice questionnaire )

Other : Exercises


Additional information:

The evaluation will be entirely based on a MCQ in January, June and September.

Exercises will be regularly requested to apply or deepen concepts seen in class. These exercises will not be graded, but will be debriefed in class. Failure to submit an exercise in a timely manner (unless a valid excuse is given) or submission of an exercise that is visibly incomplete may result in a loss of 1 point on the final grade. This exercise may, upon request to the teacher, be resubmitted in a second session to cancel the penalty.

Any plagiarism of a work done by another person may be subject to a sanction, which may include exclusion from the course.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Any questions regarding the course can be submitted to the teacher:

  • at the end of the course.
  • by mail.
  • on the e-campus forum of the course.
If no questions are asked, the concepts covered are considered understood.

Contacts

guirec.ruellan@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs