FACULTY OF FINE ARTS AND DESIGN

Department of Architecture

ARCH 328 | Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Name
Designing with Nature: Biomimicry in Architectural Design
Code
Semester
Theory
(hour/week)
Application/Lab
(hour/week)
Local Credits
ECTS
ARCH 328
Fall/Spring
3
0
3
4

Prerequisites
None
Course Language
English
Course Type
Elective
Course Level
First Cycle
Mode of Delivery face to face
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course -
Course Coordinator -
Course Lecturer(s)
Assistant(s) -
Course Objectives In this course, the students will research biomimicry solutions to come up with their own design applications to achieve sustainable and ecological ideas found in nature. Biomimicry solutions will be applied to architectural design process, energy efficiency solutions, structural problem-solving and sustainable building design.
Learning Outcomes The students who succeeded in this course;
  • will be able to drive abstractions from nature's solutions into design generation concepts.
  • will be able to evaluate the contributions of natural environments to design process and other alternatives
  • will be able to develop advanced skills on the use of creative design methods by examining the nature
  • will be able to use idea and solutions of biomimcry on the issues of design, energy, construction, sustainability.
  • will be able to use a wide selection of online resources
Course Description In the process of design, all ideas, if sustainability is the ultimate goal, need to come from nature. The direction to take from this point on, for all design students, should be able to look back to see all answers given to us by nature, herself, whether it be a quest for energy efficient buildings, or sustainable material use, efficient city planning, or using the Fibonnaci theorem to find the ideal measurements.

 



Course Category

Core Courses
Major Area Courses
X
Supportive Courses
Media and Management Skills Courses
Transferable Skill Courses

 

WEEKLY SUBJECTS AND RELATED PREPARATION STUDIES

Week Subjects Related Preparation
1 Syllabus overview: introduction, attendance and time keeping. Hand out and discussion. Introduction Assignment #1
2 Nature Awareness: Nature and how we understand the world, the importance of understanding nature's solutions to design problems. The subject of biomimicry is introduced and field applications in architectural design are discussed. Assignment #2 Nature observation Design idea
3 Design Awareness: 9 Strategies of Nature's Design Solutions Design and Biomimicry Assignment #3 Nature observation Design idea
4 Structural Biomimicry Applications: Awareness: 1. Nature runs on Sunlight 2. Nature uses only the energy it needs Assignment #4 Nature observation Design idea
5 Santiago Calatrava A Biomimicry Expert Architect Awareness: 3. Nature fits form to function 4. Nature recycles everything Assignment #5 Nature observation Design idea
6 Water and Biomimicry Applications: Awareness: 5. Nature rewards cooperation 6. Nature banks on diversity Assignment #6 Nature observation Design idea for Midterm project
7 Thermal Biomimicry Applications: Awareness: 7. Nature demands local expertise 8. Nature curbs excesses from within 9. Nature taps the power of limits Assignment #7 Nature observation Design idea Midterm project
8 Midterm Project Review Assignment #8
9 Sustainable Biomimicry Architectural Design Applications Final project idea research Assignment #9
10 Solar & Bioluminescence Biomimicry Applications Assignment #10
11 Biomimicry Debate Olympics Week 1 1. Working session
12 Biomimicry Debate Olympics Week 2 Team Debates Round 1
13 Biomimicry Debate Olympics Week 3 Team Debates Round 2
14 Final project preparation 1. Working session
15 Final project preparation 1. Working session
16 Term Project Due

 

Course Notes/Textbooks

Biomimicry in Architecture, Michael Pawlyn, RIBA Publishing, 2011

ISBN 9781859463758

Suggested Readings/Materials

Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. Janine M. Benyus. HarperCollins Publishers, 2002 ISBN 9781094025001

The Modulor, Le Corbusier, Birkhauser, 2000 ISBN 9788445502631

Architecture: Form, Space And Order, Francis D. K. Ching, Wiley Publ., 2014 ISBN 9780442017927

Internet Resources: Asknature.org/explore

Biomimicry.org

 

EVALUATION SYSTEM

Semester Activities Number Weigthing
Participation
1
10
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
1
15
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
1
20
Presentation / Jury
1
35
Project
1
20
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm
Final Exam
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade
4
65
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade
1
35
Total

ECTS / WORKLOAD TABLE

Semester Activities Number Duration (Hours) Workload
Theoretical Course Hours
(Including exam week: 16 x total hours)
16
2
32
Laboratory / Application Hours
(Including exam week: '.16.' x total hours)
16
2
32
Study Hours Out of Class
0
Field Work
0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
1
4
4
Portfolio
0
Homework / Assignments
1
14
14
Presentation / Jury
1
14
14
Project
1
14
14
Seminar / Workshop
0
Oral Exam
0
Midterms
0
Final Exam
0
    Total
110

 

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM QUALIFICATIONS RELATIONSHIP

#
Program Competencies/Outcomes
* Contribution Level
1
2
3
4
5
1

To be able to offer a professional level of architectural services.

2

To be able to take on responsibility as an individual and as a team member to solve complex problems in the practice of design and construction.

3

To be able to understand methods to collaborate and coordinate with other disciplines in providing project delivery services.

4

To be able to understand, interpret, and evaluate methods, concepts, and theories in architecture emerging from both research and practice.

5

To be able to develop environmentally and socially responsible architectural strategies at multiple scales.

X
6

To be able to develop a critical understanding of historical traditions, global culture and diversity in the production of the built environment.

7

To be able to apply theoretical and technical knowledge in construction materials, products, components, and assemblies based on their performance within building systems.

8

To be able to present architectural ideas and proposals in visual, written, and oral form through using contemporary computer-based information and communication technologies and media.

9

To be able to demonstrate a critical evaluation of acquired knowledge and skills to diagnose individual educational needs and direct self-education skills for developing solutions to architectural problems and design execution.

X
10

To be able to take the initiative for continuous knowledge update and education as well as demonstrate a lifelong learning approach in the field of Architecture.

X
11

To be able to collect data in the areas of Architecture and communicate with colleagues in a foreign language ("European Language Portfolio Global Scale", Level B1)

12

To be able to speak a second foreign language at a medium level of fluency efficiently.

13

To be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout the human history to their field of expertise.

*1 Lowest, 2 Low, 3 Average, 4 High, 5 Highest

 


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