Design of Building Systems
( 10 CFU ICAR/12)

Language of teaching
ITALIAN (Lessons and revisions)
ENGLISH (Revisions)

Contents
The teaching of Design of Building Systems (DBS) is the second teaching level of Technology of Architecture (ICAR 12).
The DBS teaching activities will be aimed at: the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and technological methods that allow the student to get skills about the control of the building system integrated quality; the development of adequate capacity for the design of simple building projects; the performance approach methodology for the design of building systems.
The ability to build connections with the context and to integrate relations between the building system and the environment are fundamental to transfer the basic knowledge toward a systemic technological design.
During the DBS lessons students will get the ability: to build cultural connections (social, ecological, economic and technical) with the context of production of the project; to control relationships between the building system and the environmental resources (materials, natural, human) and constraints (normative, legislative, user-needs).
The course will address the topics concerning: the performance-based method for the design of the building system; the analysing framework of the available building techniques; the tools for the control of project’s quality requirements; the traditional and light structural systems; the energetic behaviour of the building system; the process of analyzing, evaluating and designing the building system.
During the academic year 2021-22 the course of DBS will also focus the basic knowledge about the Building Information Modeling. In particular, the course will point out the change of technological design paradigms induced with the digitalization processes and the increase of informational contents of the project.

Bibliographical references
Fundamental books for the final examination:
- Arbizzani E., (2001) Tecnologia dei sistemi edilizi. Progetto e costruzione, Maggioli Editore, Rimini, IT.
- Brophy, V., Lewis, J.O. (2011), A Green Vitruvius: Principles and Practice of Sustainable Architectural Design, Second edition, Routledge, London.
- Nardi G., (2008) Tecnologie dell’architettura. Teorie e storia, Maggioli Editore, Rimini, IT.
- Russo Ermolli, S. (2020). The digital culture of architecture. Note sul cambiamento cognitivo e tecnico tra continuità e rottura-Notes on cognitive and technical change between continuity and disruption, Maggioli Editore, Politecnica, Milano, IT.

Other recommended readings for thematic and specific topics will be showed during the exercise activities.
Additional teaching materials will be delivered by e-mail directly to the students during the lessons.

Educational goals
The general goals of course are:
- to provide an overall framework of the main construction techniques (knowledge)
- to acquire the control tools for the main requirements – behavior of heavy and light systems (ability);
- to acquire the verifying tools of conservative, selective and regenerative energy models (ability);
- to configure adequate reading skills, analysis and project definition of simple contextualized building systems (skills);
- to introduce the BIM/Building Information Modeling;
- to acquire an autonomy of judgment on technological-design choices (competence);
- to acquire appropriate skills for the communication of the project through analogic and digital tools (skills);
- to develop abilities of learning from mistakes and consolidated building experiences (skills).

The main goal of the course is to provide the knowledge and tools for the technological control of the design and building process, highlighting the interdependencies between physical, functional and figurative aspects of architecture.
The specific goals concern three levels.

The level of technological knowledge:
- the basic knowledge of the technological culture of design;
- the systemic basis of the project;
- the performance-based design approach;
- the structural building principles;
- the culture of integrated quality;
- the innovation of building techniques.

The level of technological design abilities:
- the use of tools for quality controls;
- the metadesign and the assessment of final users’ needs;
- the scenarization of project alternatives;
- the modeling of the building system;
- the energy strategies;
- the measurement of the project;
- the governance of the planning process;
- the digitalization and the change of design paradigms.

The level of design skills:
- the control of coherence between available resources, properties of building components and building system design;
- the assessment of the economic, ecological and social congruence of technological options;
- the critical and judgment capacity about functional, ethical, expressive and symbolic values of the building system;
- the design planning of environmental factors and actors that interact in the building process;
- the management of the life cycle of the building system;
- the integrated design process;
- the analysis of uses and transformations of resources;
- the interpretation of reasons and problems of habitat modification, project sustainability and technical innovations;
- introduction to BIM design logic;
- the informational contents of the project.

Pre-requirements
It is necessary to have already got the exam of Materials and Design of Building Elements (1st year).
It is required an official registration (during the first lesson day).
It is recommended to have already got the exam of first year: Descriptive geometry and History of architecture I.

Teaching methods
The teaching methods and support activities include:
- ex cathedra lessons;
- theoretical / practical training activities (by groups and/or individuals);
- group project activities on specific theme;
- checking meeting of exercise activities (by groups and/or individuals);
- on eventually new pandemic emergences, online activities.

Other information
Period of teaching activities: First semester
- Registration for the course is necessary.
- Is necessary the frequency of lessons.
- Schedule of exam tests according to the general program of the Degree Course in Architecture.

Teacher reception:
To be defined after the communication of official schedule of lessons

Learning assessment methods
During the exercises will be focused the topics of lessons.
Intermediate checking activities (by individual and/or groups), are planned for the monitoring of students’ knowledge, abilities and skills progress.

The final exam will focus on theoretical knowledge and on the results of individual and group exercises.
The final exam is individual and oral; candidates will be evaluated in thirtieths.

The course will focus these Agenda 2030 Sustainable goals:

Goal 4: Quality education.

Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.

Goal 11: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.