module specification

This module invites students to research, develop and technically communicate their own design proposition for timber buildings with specific focus on key structural joints, methods of systematisation and prefabrication with timber. Each student must posit their critically appraised design proposition in response to technical, contextual, environmental and structural constraints. Learning and teaching will focus on materials hybridisation with timber as a means of ‘designing-in’ timber to existing and emergent manufacturing processes that increase construction productivity while reducing waste and the environmental burden associated with building.
This module will enable students to develop knowledge of technical building design with timber across a range of scales from demountable to mass timber buildings and equip them with an awareness of computational methods including building information modelling (BIM) and CAD-CAM interfaces used in prefabrication. On completion of this module, students will be able to appraise, compare and engage with appropriate processes of manufacturing of timber building components. Through an iterative and applied design process, students will be expected to make a scaled prototypical building joint or system that is supported by an industry facing technical report.

N/A

The module syllabus will include:
• materials selection and specification;
• timber frame construction;
• roundwood construction;
• tall and mass timber design;
• supply and procurement;
• current regulatory factors affecting timber building design;
• application of technical drawing, computational design and making processes;
• communication strategies.

Learning Outcomes 1-5

Learning and teaching activities will include a mix of lectures, seminars, tutorials and critical written reflection as part of a technical report; and group presentations as an outcome of focused workshop events such as the Woodland Enterprise Centre field trip and participation in the Applied Technology in Architecture (AR7022) design charette. This variety of learning and teaching events offers a diversity of formal and informal means of reflective and peer-to-peer learning and personal development in close consultation with tutors.

On completion of this module, you will be able to;
1. critically appraise, compare and apply appropriate materials selection in the design and development of a prototypical timber-based structural joint or system;
2. distinguish between and appraise a broad range of timber construction processes applicable to a range of building scales;
3. effectively communicate technical design of novel structural timber joints/systems utilising a range of media including but not exclusive to, technical drawing, CAD and scaled physical modelling;
4. demonstrate an awareness of the timber supply chain and procurement process for timber buildings;
5. demonstrate application of appropriate regulatory factors to their designs including relevant planning policy and building regulations.

Assessed outcomes from the module include a technical report outlining a novel structural joint or building system from timber supported by a scaled physical prototype.
Work submitted will be expected to demonstrate holistic understanding and knowledge synthesised across media connecting theory and practice. The work will exhibit communication and making skills of a professional standard.

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Green, M. & Taggart, J. (2020). Tall Wood Buildings. Design, Construction and Performance. Second and expanded edition. Berlin, Basel: Birkhäuser

Herzog, T., Natterer, J., Schweitzer, R., et al. (2012). Timber Construction Manual. Berlin, Basel: Birkhäuser

Jeska, S., Pascha, K. & Hascher, R. (Ed.) (2014). Emergent Timber Technologies. Materials, Structures, Engineering, Projects. Berlin, Basel: Birkhäuser

Kaufmann, H., Krötsch, S. & Winter, S. (2018). Manual of Multistorey Timber Construction. München: Detail

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Hudert, M. (Ed.) & Pfeiffer, S. (Ed.) (2019). Rethinking Wood. Future Dimensions of Timber Assembly. Berlin, Basel: Birkhäuser

Lancashire, R., & Taylor, L. (2011). Timber Frame Construction: Designing for High Performance. TRADA Technology Limited. High Wycombe, Timber Research and Development Association

Law, B. (2010) Roundwood Timber Framing: Building Naturally Using Local Resources, East Meon, Permanent Publications

Lennartz, M. & Jacob-Freitag, S. (2015). New Architecture in Wood. Forms and Structures. Berlin, Basel: Birkhäuser

Michael (Enginyer) Dickson and Parker, D. (2015) Sustainable Timber Design, London: Routledge

Norman, J. (2017) Structural Timber Elements: A Pre-scheme Design Guide. High Wycombe: TRADA

Organschi, A. and Waugh, A. (2015) Timber in the City: Design and Construction in Mass Timber, New York: Oro Editions

Ross, P. Mansfield-Williams, H, and Young, A. (2012) Concise Illustrated Guide to Timber Connections, High Wycombe: TRADA Technology Ltd

Schittich, C. (Ed.) (2014). Best of Detail: Holz/Wood. München: Detail

Tam, V.Y. and Le, K.N. (2019) Sustainable Construction Technologies: Life-Cycle Assessment, Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann

Zwerger, K. & Olgiati, V. (2015). Wood and Wood Joints. Building Traditions of Europe, Japan and China. Berlin, Basel: Birkhäuser