Architecture Degree Programme at “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urban Planning

The Faculty of Architecture / Architecture (English taught)
4th Year, sem 2, 2024-2025

ST-70E | Technology for Sustainable Habitat

Optional Course | Hours/Week: 2C | ECTS Credits: 2

ST-70E Tsh 2020-2021 biblio.pdf
Final Assessment 2023.pdf

Syllabus

FA-E ST-70E Technology for Sustainable Habitat.pdf
Department:
Technical Sciences
Course Leader:
lect.dr.arh. Adrian Vidrașcu
Teaching language:

English

Learning outcomes:

General Objective of the Course: to develop a critical perspective on the manner and limitations of applying sustainability criteria in architectural design.
Specific Objectives:
- To acquire and critically operate with knowledge of history and theory in the field of classic principles of sustainable development.
- To understand and accurately appreciate the role of contemporary technologies of sustainable habitats in architectural formalization decisions.
- To acquire and comprehend the process of selecting and using specific tools for assessing ecological quality and the environmental impact associated with construction.
- To understand how the alternative methods of energy production influences decision-making in architectural design.

Content:

The integration of sustainable development fundamentals in architectural design – historical approach.
Expressing and defining sustainability - how can it be used in the global evaluation of architectural design?
Integrated systems for the evaluation of sustainability. Environmental impact/stress; Life Cycle Assessment.
Architecture’s raw materials. Choosing building materials, recycling, experimenting. Recycling the built environment: architecture as a resource.
Minimizing the environmental impact: the energy within the architectural object.
Use optimization: the necessary energy/ the energy consumption rate. Alternative energies.
Designing the building envelope as an interface. Borrowing from nature – bionic architecture.
The main use of utilitarian technology. Bio-climatic architecture - active and passive solar architecture.
(self)Adaptability to external stimuli. Smart “high-tech” architecture, a convenient and permanent adjustment of the energy exchange with the environment.
Technological extremism. “Eco-tech” architecture - the technology between functionality and aesthetics.
The challenges of sustainable design. Technological innovations for “green” design, labeling, and certification systems.
Ignoring technological achievements. “Low tech” architecture. Lessons from the vernacular practices and the crafting technology.
The dialogue between technology and social pursuit, two of the main focal points of architectural design.
Architecture in a sustainable natural, cultural, social, and economic context.

Teaching Method:

Lectures in English language, accompanied by explanatory video projections; open discussions during class.

Assessment:

An individual paper on a subject announced during the semester, to be delivered on the day of the exam scheduled during the exam session in June-July.

Bibliography:

EDWARDS, Brian (guest editor) – Green Architecture; Architectural Design vol. 71 No 4 July 2001; John Wiley & Sons 2001 ■ GAUZIN-MÜLLER, Dominique – Sustainable Living; Birkhäuser 2006 ■ GORDON, David (ed.) - Green cities: ecologically sound approaches to urban space, Black Rose Books, London 1990 ■ JONES, David Lloyd - Architecture and the environment, Laurence King Publishing, London 1998 ■ MARRAS, Amerigo (editor) - ECO-TECH, architecture of the in-between; Princeton Architectural Press, New York 1999 ■ MINKE, Gernot - Acoperișuri Inverzite; Arhiterra, București 2010 ■ MINKE, Gernot – Construind cu pământ; Ed. Simetria, București 2009 ■ MOSTAEDI, Adrian - Sustainable architecture; Low tech houses, Carles Broto & Josep Ma.Minguet publishing, Barcelona 2002 ■ PAPANEK, Victor – Design pentru lumea reală, Ed. Tehnică, București 1985 ■ SLESSOR, Catherine - Eco-tech, sustainable architecture and high technology; Thames and Hudson, London 2001; (1st ed.1997) ■ WINES, James - Green architecture, BENEDIKT TASCHEN VERLAG 2000

Notes: