MATERIALS AND DESIGN OF BUILDING ELEMENTS B (8 CFU)
Prof. Daniela Ladiana
LANGUAGE OF LESSONS
Italian
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The course aims to provide knowledge on the theoretical principles and operational practices necessary to control the technical and construction aspects of building systems.
The aim is to respond coherently to the needs of the construction process, through the governance of the relationships between form, executive techniques and appropriate use of materials to achieve the required performance for the building.
The primary objective of the course is therefore to provide the first cognitive tools for the technological control of the design and construction process, highlighting the close interdependence between the physical, functional and figurative aspects of architecture. In focusing the various technical components the intent is to make the student acquire the ability to use the material as an expressive means and therefore as an indispensable component in the personal definition of an architectural language.
The course proposes an introduction to the systemic concept for the design of construction elements.
The objectives aim to:
- provide an interdisciplinary reference framework (chemical-physical references) for the understanding of the peculiarities of the main building materials (knowledge);
- to acquire a critical analysis of the production processes of materials and components (skills);
- configure adequate reading skills, analysis and design definition of building elements constituting the building organism (competence).
CONTENT
he course offers a training course aimed at understanding:
- the availability and conscious use of material resources and construction procedures;
- the impact of technological options on the expressive and symbolic aspects of architecture.
The materials and elements of the construction process are identified and described also through the understanding of existing architectural works.
The lessons are organized in two didactic modules:
M1) It is dedicated to the understanding of the Building System described in its environmental and technological components.
The various parts of the building organism and the relationships between them are described with reference to the classification scheme of the technological system proposed by the UNI 8290 standard. A systematic analysis of the requirements to be satisfied is carried out, to allow critical reading and understanding of constructive solutions.
Preliminary definitions: building process concepts, architecture technology, innovation.
Breakdown of the building into functional parts: analysis of the main technological units and classes of technical elements.
Concepts of need, requirement and performance.
Characteristic requirements of the main classes of technical elements (foundations, structures, closures, partitions).
Criticality and criteria for the correct configuration of some of the main elements and nodes between technical elements.
M2) It is dedicated to the knowledge of construction materials and their correct use in the form of artefacts and construction elements for the construction of the building organism. The materials, the semi-finished products and the components are described, identifying the salient features in the production process and highlighting the basic physical characteristics and the ability to satisfy the requirements induced by the various possible uses. The innovative materials, the evolution of the relative production processes, the possible figurative languages and the consequent formal outcomes are described.
Characteristics of the main materials: natural stone, brick, wood, steel, reinforced concrete conglomerate and glass.
Physical, chemical and mechanical characteristics of the main building materials, the production cycle of the material for the formation of the construction elements.
DIDACTIC MODALITIES
The didactic modalities for the pursuit of the formative objectives articulate lessons, seminars, exercises in the classroom, lessons-revisions in order to favor in the students the ability of acquisition and application of the knowledge on the architecture in its constructive aspects.
In the application of knowledge, the use of freehand drawing and modeling is preferred.
The in-depth seminars integrate the knowledge provided in the lessons by presenting the characteristics of the current production of the main building materials (bricks, concrete, steel, wood, glass, ceramics, façade systems).
In the exercise the topics dealt with in the lessons are deepened through the application study of technological solutions adopted in case studies for the development of small design simulations.
At the end of the course students must have acquired a basic preparation in relation to building materials, construction elements and construction techniques, indispensable knowledge for understanding and governing the relationship between the ideational activity and the realization of architecture.
LEARNING EVALUATION METHODS
The assessment of learning involves the following methods: tests and interviews on topics covered in lectures and annual seminars; discussion of the graphic works produced during the year.
The assessment of the learning will be carried out during the course and with the final exam. The evaluation takes into account the student's constant commitment to all stages of the training process: the quality of the works produced in the assigned exercises. Furthermore, active participation in the days of collegial review and in-depth seminars are elements that contribute to the outcome of the final exam.
The exam consists of an interview on the topics of lectures and seminars as well as in the discussion of the works produced during the year. In particular, evaluations are aimed at verifying:
1. The knowledge and learning of the basic notions provided in seminar or frontal teaching;
2. The learning of the theoretical and practical notions expressed by the reference bibliography;
3. The ability to analyze, describe and control the relationship between physical, functional and figurative aspects of architecture;
4. The ability to represent, describe and discuss the training course and the graphic designs produced.
REFERENCE TEXT
- ARBIZZANI Eugenio, Tecnologia dei sistemi edilizi. Progetto e costruzione, Maggioli Editore, Rimini , 2008.
- PETRIGNANI Achille, Tecnologie dell’architettura, Gorlich, De Agostini, Novara, 1994.
- AA.VV., Manuale di progettazione edilizia, Tecnologie: requisiti, soluzioni, esecuzione, prestazioni, vol. 4 Hoepli, Milano, 1995
- Materiali didattici forniti durante il corso
- AAVV, Atlante del legno, UTET, Torino, 1998
- AAVV, Atlante del cemento, UTET, Torino, 1998
- AAVV, Atlante del vetro, UTET, Torino,1999
- AAVV, Atlante dell'acciaio, UTET, Torino,1999
- AAVV, Atlante delle facciate, UTET, Torino, 2005
- AAVV, Atlante dei materiali, UTET, Torino, 2006