Teaching and Experimenting with Architectural Design

408 EAAE no 35 Teaching and Experimenting with Architectural Design: Advances in Technology and Changes in Pedagogy

The process was transparent at all times and the utilization of freeware technology

allowed all the participants to familiarize themselves with the various online tools

and to encourage community groups to organize similar interactive platforms without

the use of costly software. Many of these readily available and free technologies are

available to all and if they are strategically synthesized they can provide specific

information that helps keep the project review process relevant and pertinent.

... at the Building and Tectonic Scale

At building scale, the interdisciplinary character of the design process requires bal-

anced knowledge from the areas of design per se, theory and construction, as well

as relevant horizontal relations, the collection of information and the coordination

of qualified expert contributions. The basis for such an understanding applies to

the profession. At university level, as concurrently already practiced, the courses of

architectural design are based didactically on a combination of lectures and supervi-

sions of the students work.

In this context, it may be well stated that building design is construction and

construction is always design. Necessary component for the successful design is the

persuasion and iterative resisting realisation of an architectural aim, a design vision

that binds every element of the design of different scales together. In this way, con-

struction design substitutes the merely more empirical act of “architectural design”,

for the creation of the built environment through an integration process.

The integrated approach to design results from the integrative architectural devel-

opment of the building’s form and functions, construction elements and energy

efficiency. In this context the structural building design plays a most fundamental

role and influences the subsequent interactive development in detail of all elements

Figure 4
Online Review and Commentary Tools