The general objectives of the Course are: - the knowledge of the most recurrent structural forms and construction techniques in historical and contemporary architecture; - the knowledge of the fundamentals in Statics of Structures; - the knowledge of the methods for conception of the structural organism of a building, of its representation and of its quantitative control during the conceptual phase of the architectural design; - the ability to include the building structure in the general framework of the architectural design; - the ability to define, for some simple structural typologies, a convenient mechanical model; - the ability to apply to that model the laws of equilibrium.

Elements of Physics and Mathematics currently taught in high school.

1. Morphology of steel, reinforced concrete, masonry and timber buildings (about 5 hrs). 2. Elements of Statics of Structures: forces and moments; equilibrium assessment in plane and space; constraints and reactions; concept of the beam; internal forces, truss girders and systems of beams (about 22 hrs). 3. Long span structures: arches, cable stayed structures, suspended structures, spatial trusses (about 18 hrs). 4. Actions on buildings (about 5 hrs). 5. Concept design of bracing systems and floor structures (about 9 hrs). 6. Preliminary sizing for beam systems made in steel, reinforced concrete and timber (about 3 hrs). 7. Conceptual design of a structural organism in parallel to the architectural design developed within the Architecture Design Studio. Alternatively, and in particular in case of online teaching, reading of the structural organism of an existing architecture on the basis of documents in the literature. In both cases, the exercise will include the analysis of the actions on the structure, the proposal of a simplified mechanical model of the structure, the structural analysis of its mechanical behaviour, the discussion on the expected effects on the architectural features (about 18 hrs).

The Course is organised in ex cathedra lessons (77%) and exercises (23%). The exercises will take place during the second half of the Course and they will focus on the contents described in item 7 above. The exercises will be developed individually in case of online teaching or by teams composed by 3-4 students each in case of face-to-face teaching.

Handouts of the course, produced by teachers and made available for downloads from the Teaching Portal during the delivery of the Course. Further textbooks suggested for insights: [1] A. Muttoni, The Art of Structures – Introduction to the functioning of structures in Architecture, EPFL Press, 2011. [2] A. W. Charleson, Structure as Architecture – A source book for architects and structural engineers, ELSEVIER, 2005. [3] A. J. Macdonald, Structure and Architecture, ELSEVIER, 2001. [4] A. J. Macdonald, Structural Design for Architecture, Architectural Press, 1997. [5] H. C. Schulitz, W. Sobek, K. J. Habermann, Steel Contruction Manual, Birkhauser, 2000. [6] J. L. Meriam, L. G. Kraige, Engineering mechanics – Volume 1: Statics, Wiley, 2006. [7] R. Hulse, J. Cain, Structural Mechanics, Macmillan, 1991. [8] Erasmo Viola, Esercitazioni di Scienza delle Costruzioni 1- Strutture isostatiche e geometria delle masse, Pitagora Editrice Bologna, 1993.

Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam; Group essay;

2-hour long written test with exercises concerning the contents of the Course described at item 2 above. Oral exam with questions about the exercise developed by the student and/or the contents of the Course not evaluated during the written test. The final assessment will result from the weighted grades obtained by the student during the written test and the oral exam, the weights being equal to 2/3 and 1/3 respectively. The exam aims at verifying that the student has acquired all the knowledges and abilities detailed in the "Expected learning outcomes" section.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.