The Architectural Construction Studio "Building in the built environment" develops a project in well-established urban and/or environmental contexts. The studio experience will be focussed on three design experiences, one of which at the constructive scale. The three design experiences will have the same project location, will be seen in their relation with the surrounding environment, and will be conducted making use of the integrated methodologies of Architectural Design and Architectural Technology.
The studio has two main objectives:
- to provide specific knowledge on how to design a building in relationship to the nearest environment;
- to acquire a certain degree of awareness of the need to meet human requirements, and about the constructional feasibility.

The studio intends to transmit specific knowledge in order to tackle the design of a building in connection with the built fabric it is part of. Such knowledge includes:
• identifying and understanding the typological, morphological, functional and technological characters of the existing fabric
• understanding the complexity of the design process, identifying the solutions and details more appropriate to respond to the needs expressed by the design theme.

At the end of the studio, it is expected that students will acquire the following knowledge and skills:
• understanding of the design potential arising from the interaction between form and technique
• ability to deal with architectural design at the scale of the single building, in particular demonstrating consistency of design choices (both regarding spaces and building techniques); skill to analyse and satisfy functional requirements, above all regarding living quality; skill to appropriately specify building materials and systems according to physical properties, expected performance and feasibility
• capacity to identify the criteria needed to establish a dialogue between project and context, stemming from the interpretation of the characters of the latter
• capacity to manage autonomously an architectural project in a given time and to comply with the schedule of design activities, which calls that the project be completed by the end of the semester.

Having passed the examinations of the 1st year Atelier and the of 1st year course of Architecture Fundamentals of Architectural Technology by February 2016. And, more generally:
• knowledge of and ability to use the technical architectural drawing at different scales
• knowledge of and ability to use the basic technical language
• knowledge of the down-breaking of the technological system and the functional role of subsystems, and ability to use such knowledge in architectural design.

Educational activities will consist in the organic development of a design process, both through theoretical lessons and project reviews performed by the two teachers – singularly or jointly.
Design composition and requirement-driven approach will affect each other. The studio teaching program will be focussed on the analysis of functional requirements and an appropriate response to such requirements; the relationship between interior and exterior of buildings regarding the envelope design; and the role of building elements. Particular attention will be paid to the issue of sustainability, understood as a basic design requirement.

Students will be working mainly in groups of four, for the first stage of the studio, and then split in groups of two, during the second part of the studio. The design experience will incorporate different scales. Design activities won’t involve any kind of restoration skills.
The program will incorporate some hands-on experience, during which the students will build maquette(s) to explore constructional issues.
Meetings with professional architects and experts, as well as visits to built works may complement the studio activity.
Students will be asked to submit the products of their work at given stages, as specified in the studio schedule

- H. Hertzberger, Lessons for Students in Architecture, Rotterdam: 010 Publishers, 2001, 6th ed.
- P. Richhardson, Nano Houses. Innovations for small dwellings, London: Thames and Hudson, 2011
- Varis Bokalders; Maria Block, The Whole Building Handbook. How to Design Healthy, Efficient and Sustainable Buildings, London : Earthscan, 2010
- Andrea Deplazes (editor), Constructing Architecture: materials, processes, structures. A Handbook, Basel : Birkhäuser, 2002
- Edward Allen and Patrick Rand, Architectural detailing: Function, constructibility, aesthetics, Hoboken : Wiley, 2007, 2nd ed.
- Edward Allen and Joseph Iano, Fundamentals of building construction : Materials and methods, Hoboken : Wiley, 2004, 4th. ed.

Further bibliographic references will be provided by teachers during the Studio and will be made available through the web.

Final exams as well as intermediate deliveries will consist in the presentation and discussion of the requested materials. The evaluations for the intermediate deliveries will be taken into account in the final evaluation.
Marks will be individual and based on the students’ understanding of the issues involved, and their contribution to the development of the project.
Assessment criteria will include the capacity of comply with scheduled deliveries, and to conclude the project by the end of the semester.
Pass marks in both disciplines are required in order to pass the final examination