This course provides the students with a comprehensive understanding of spatial and physical dynamics of urban environments and the different approaches to regulating these dynamics. It includes two foci; one focuses on transformation and change over time in the existing urban fabric, its use, and its meaning to different users, covering theories of building adaptability, production and reproduction of public space, stakeholder analysis and engagement, and approaches to adaptive re-use and sustainability.

This course focuses on how to design residential environments that are supportive to people’s lifestyles, fulfilling to their social and psychological needs in addition to the main function of shelter from the ambient environment. The people-centered approach to dwelling design is based on the explanatory theory of the meaning of ‘home’ and considers housing as a process rather than a product.

This course covers design principles and standards for building types with special functions such as hotels, hospitals, schools, factories…etc. emphasizing special user considerations in addition to more conventional design criteria and principles. The course provides students with knowledge about special user group needs such as children, handicap and elderly, building upon previous knowledge and fundamentals of environmental psychology and people-environment relations.

Designing for people is based upon an understanding of the relationship between a person and his, or her, environment; the ambient, the built, the natural and the social environment that surrounds a person. This course introduces to the students the nature of this interaction, the theories that explain it, and its relevance to the design of the built environment, with application in architectural and urban design scales.

Aim & Description

The practical training takes place during holidays (summer / winter), while the course is scheduled to run in the Fall semester in the fourth year. A minimum of six weeks of practical training /internship in on-campus or off-campus sites and firms approved by the program. Firms may include consultancy firms, real estate developers, contractors, and large projects. Students are asked to conduct their training in two different firms (including site work & office work).

Projects Construction documents and BOQ Tender documents,  Cost Estimate Process for the works of Electrical (Power, Conveying, and Communication & Security System), HVAC, Mechanical, Architectural, Structural, Landscape and Infrastructure, review of the BOQs and Cost Estimate Lists before submission, guidelines for the proper Bid Evaluation of projects, Site Supervision / Project Management targets, project management professional (PMP) state-of-the-art.

Mechanical behavior and calculation (pre dimensioning) of the structural systems, mainly articulated knots, steel frame structures; steel decks and steel spatial structures, the different connection mechanisms: bolted and welded, focusing on steel with a deep approach. The various details of steel structures: beam to beam, beam to columns, frames, and the relation of steel structures with reinforced concrete foundations.

Studying behavior and calculation (pre dimensioning) of the reinforced concrete structural systems dealing with slab and beam; frame structures; different slab types; foundations; studying interventions over existing structural systems, refurbishment and retrofitting. The reinforcement details of various members: slabs, beams, columns, and frames using preliminary methods.

Basic structural types along history and how to choose the main structural type for an entire design. The wall bearing and skelton types; the advantages and disadvantages of each type. The relationship between its mechanical behavior and the space generation, basic structural concepts, structural types using diagrams in a simple way. By the end of this course, the students should know how to choose the appropriate structure system according to architectural needs: spans, number of floors and also how to analyze the structure system: loads and stresses.