Tectonic Matters

Course Code:

ARCH 436

Course Type:

Area Elective

Theory:

1

Practice:

3

Lab:

0

Credits:

3

ECTS:

5

Course Language:

İngilizce

Course Coordinator:

Bahar Aktuna

Courses given by:

Bahar Aktuna

Course Objectives:

This course aims to provide an insight into the poetics of construction and transmutability of materials as the substance of the built environment and generator of the works of architecture through hands-on exploration.

Course Content:

This course discusses and builds on the tectonic theories that emerged in the 19th century in the writings of Karl Bötticher and Gottfried Semper and regained significance since Kenneth Frampton’s Studies in Tectonic Culture. It investigates the ways in which the constructional core of architecture is expressed through material properties, assembly techniques, and joints in the intersection of cultural precedence, crafts traditions, and technological and social immanence. Standing at the intersection of building, literature, and philosophy, this course focuses on narrative-generating capacity of joints and speculative and innovative hands-on explorations of various materials and methods that aim to equip students with constructional logic and skills. It further considers utilitarian translations of discarded materials through repurposing and upcycling and making the construction process accessible to all. A series of design & build briefs will guide the applied works which will continuously iterate between imagining, retrieving, conceiving, representing, and assembling materials as constructional and spatial components. The course will highlight self-build technology and accessibility of materials and methods to lay people. It will conclude with a one-day charrette and self-build oriented design challenge further open to the participation of student groups outside this course. The charrette will allow the students of this course to put recently acquired constructional knowledge and representational skills into practice. All semester’s work will be collected in a collective booklet.

Course Methodology:

1: Lecture, 2: Question-Answer, 3: Discussion, 4: Seminar, 5: Project, 6: Teamwork, 7:Technical excursion

Course Evaluation Methods:

A: Testing, B: Jury, C: Homework, D:Quiz, E:Internship

Vertical Tabs

Course Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes	Program Learning Outcomes	Teaching Methods	Assessment Methods
Theoretical and applied knowledge of tectonic theory, properties of materials and techniques of assembling.	17	1, 3, 5, 7	A, C
Skills to generate detailed drawings for assemblies.	2, 17	1, 3, 5	A, B, C
Skills to translate drawings into assemblies	2, 4, 17	1, 3, 5	A, C

Course Flow

COURSE CONTENT
Week	Topics	Preparation
1	Introduction to Tectonics Theory
2	Material Imagination / Formations I: Inhabiting Matter
3	Craft Traditions / Formations II: Encountering Materials & Techniques
4	Assembly Drawing and Field Trip / Formations III: Documenting Assemblies & Joints
5	Textiles and the Weaver / Formations IV: knitting and plaiting
6	Translations I: textile work and assembly drawings
7	MIDTERM WEEK
8	Wood and the Carpenter / Formations V: carpentry skills and wood joinery
9	Translations II: timber work and assembly drawings
10	Stereotomy and the Mason / Formations VI: carving
11	Earthworks / Formations VII: assembling a mold & casting
12	Circularity / Translations III: fab-brick assemblies and assembly drawings
13	CHARRETTE
14	Portfolio / Collections: portfolio with the semester’s work and the charette work

Recommended Sources

RECOMMENDED SOURCES
Lecture Notes	-
Other Sources	Chad Schwartz, Introducing Architectural Tectonics: Exploring the Intersection of Design and Construction. Kenneth Frampton, John Cava, Studies in Tectonic Culture: The Poetics of Construction in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Architecture. Demetri Porphyrios, From Techne to Tectonics. Charlie Hailey, Design/Build with Jersey Devil: A Handbook for Education and Practice. Lisa Huang, Learning from Failure in the Design Process: Experimenting with Materials. Juhani Pallasmaa, The Thinking Hand: Existential and Embodied Wisdom in Architecture. Marco Frascari, The Tell-the-Tale Detail. Ute Poerschke, On Concrete Materiality. Matthew Mindrup, The Material Imagination: Reveries on Architecture and Matter. Peter Zumthor, Atmospheres. Gottfried Semper, Harry Francis Mallgrave, Wolfgang Herrmann, The Four Elements of Architecture and Other Writings. Karl Bötticher, Der baumkultus der Hellenen. Gaston Bachelard, Earth and Reveries of Will: An Essay on the Imagination of Matter. Gaston Bachelard, The Psychoanalysis of Fire. Gaston Bachelard, Water and Dreams: An Essay on the Imagination of Matter. Martin Heidegger, Poetry, Language, Thought. Karsten Harries, Art Matters: A Critical Commentary on Heidegger’s “The Origin of the Work of Art.” Richard Sennett, The Craftsman. Franz Kafka, The Burrow. winterstations.com warminghuts.com

Material Sharing

MATERIAL SHARING
Documents
Assignments	10 Classroom Applications / Delivered in physical and digital format 1 Portfolio / Delivered in physical and digital format
Exams	1 Final Project / Delivered in digital format

Assessment

ASSESSMENT
IN-TERM STUDIES	NUMBER	PERCENTAGE
Mid-term Exams
Homework
Project (Assignment)	10	40
Laboratory
Field survey
Seminars/presentations
Other	1	20
Final Exam (Final Project)	1	40
Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade		40
Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade		60
Total		100
Course Category	Expertise/Field Courses

Course’s Contribution to Program

COURSE'S CONTRIBUTION TO PROGRAM
No	Program Learning Outcomes	Contribution Level (1: lowest, 5: highest )
No	Program Learning Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	Critical thinking skills: Ability to develop clear and open questions, use abstract ideas to express ideas, evaluate opposing views, reach to the well-examined results and test them with similar criteria and standards
2	Communication / Graphic communication skills: Ability to formally express each stage of planning and design process with various techniques including hand-drawings and information technologies to create appropriate presentations; to have an ability of a complete and accurate technical description and documentation of the project				x
3	Research skills/ Ability of Utilization from Examples: Ability to obtain relevant information, assessment, recording and apply during the architectural processes; the ability to discover examples that are appropriate to program and form, concerning the composition and development of architectural and urban projects
4	Design skills: Understanding the creation, development and implementation processes of two and three dimension design, architectural composition, and visual perception and organization in urban design, ability to apply basic architectural principles in building, interiors and layout			x
5	World architecture: Comprehending the rules of world architecture, landscape and urban design, and also the climatic, technological, socio-economic and cultural factors which shape these principles
6	Regional Architecture / Cultural Diversity: Comprehending the effects of national traditions and historical heritage in national and vernacular architecture including local architecture, landscape and urban design.
7	Cultural Heritage and Conservation: Having awareness of the protection of historical areas as well as the basic principles for the documentation of historical monuments and buildings for the preparation of their restoration projects.
8	Sustainability: Conservation of artificial sources which also include naturally and culturally significant buildings and spaces, regarding the role of sustainability in the architectural and urban design decisions and understanding the formation of healthy buildings and establishments
9	Social Responsibility: Comprehending the needs, behaviors, social and spatial patterns which characterize different cultures
10	Nature and Human: Understanding the interaction between physical environment and humans
11	Geographical Conditions: Ability to design settlement and building considering the natural and artificial properties of site
12	Life safety: Understanding the basic principles of life safety systems with an emphasis on the topic of emergency exits
13	Structural systems: Understanding the behavioral principles of standing structures with vertical and horizontal forces and the development and application of contemporary load-bearing systems
14	Building Physics and Environmental Systems: Understanding the basic principles of lighting, acoustics, air-conditioning and energy use in the design of environmental systems.
15	Building Shell Systems: Understanding the materials and basic design systems and correct application types of building shells
16	Building Service Systems : Understanding the basic design principles of building service systems composing, plumbing , electric , vertical circulation, communication, security and fire safety systems
17	Construction Materials and Applications: Understanding the principles and standards of building materials and components in terms of production and applications.		x
18	Integration of Building Systems: Ability of evaluation, selection and integration of building service systems, environment, security and building shells in building design.
19	Program Organization and Evaluation: The ability to evaluate an architectural project with a comprehensive program, according to the design criteria concerning the client, user requirements, appropriate precedents, space and equipment requirements, site conditions and related laws and standards
20	Comprehensive Project Development: Ability to improve and evaluate an architectural project with a comprehensive program from graphical design to system details (Structural and environmental systems, security, etc.)
21	Control of Building Cost: Within the framework of the design project; understanding the basics of finance, building economy and cost control
22	Architect-Employer Relationship: Understanding the responsibility of analyzing the requirements of the owner and customer as an architect
23	Teamwork and Collaboration: Ability to enhance individual skills and take on different roles through identification and work as a member of the design team , in conjunction with other environments
24	Project Management: Understanding the duty of tasking, contracting, personnel management, consultants, project delivery methods and service agreement
25	Application Management: Understanding issues of office organization, business planning, marketing, financial management, project management, risk mitigation, the basic principles of leadership and the profession of issues affecting the globalization, outsourcing, project delivery, expanding practice that support the profession of architecture
26	Leadership: Understanding the pioneer role of the architect in the process of project and design for contract administration
27	Legal Rights and Responsibilities: Understanding the legal responsibilities of the architect in building design and construction such as public health, safety and well-being, property rights, zoning and housing regulations, user rights which affect architectural studies
28	Architectural Practice / Professional Development: Understanding the role of the internship in professional development, and mutual rights and responsibilities of the employer and the trainee
29	Professional Ethics: Understanding the ethical issues that are related to the professional adjudication in architectural design and practice

ECTS

ECTS / STUDENT WORKLOAD
	NUMBER	DURATION (HOURS)	TOTAL WORKLOAD (HOURS)
Course Duration (14 weeks x total work hours)	12	4	48
Workload outside the classroom (research and reviews)	12	2	24
Quiz	-	-	-
Homework	4	2	8
Presentation/Seminars	-	-	-
Midterm Exams	-	-	-
Project	-	-	-
Laboratory	-	-	-
Field survey	-	-	-
Others	-	-	-
Final exam (Final Project)	1	48	48
Total workload			128
Total workload / 25			5.12
ECTS of the course			5

None