Materials and Building Construction I

Catalog description

Instruction in the design and construction of buildings utilizing wood and steel. ARCH 203 Materials and Building Construction I (3) This course serves as an introduction to common architectural building materials and associated methods of construction. It is the first part of a two-semester sequence to be followed by ARCH 204 in the spring semester. Lectures, readings, and in-class discussions introduce students to the historical development and conventional use of architectural materials and construction technologies, while select hands-on projects offer students experience in materials application and use. The class covers a wide variety of building methodologies that includes developed and developing cultures, building systems that are technologically sophisticated, as well as traditions considered primitive/vernacular.The primary objective of the course is to make BARCH students familiar with the materials and methods employed in making architecture, so that the results of that familiarity begin to inform the student's studio work/production.In addition to materials and construction methods, the course will also touch on issues related to craft/craftsmanship, sustainable practices and ethical use of resources, and the significant role that evolving technologies play in the process and economy of building-making.