AR7P10 - Innovative Timber Design Thesis (2023/24)
Module specification | Module approved to run in 2023/24 | ||||||||||||
Module title | Innovative Timber Design Thesis | ||||||||||||
Module level | Masters (07) | ||||||||||||
Credit rating for module | 60 | ||||||||||||
School | School of Art, Architecture and Design | ||||||||||||
Total study hours | 600 | ||||||||||||
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Assessment components |
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Running in 2023/24(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) | No instances running in the year |
Module summary
This module invites you to engage with the process of formulating a researched design proposition that explores novel uses of timber in the built environment. It will provide you with an ability to critically engage in research for innovative timber design informed by knowledge of appropriate manufacturing, assembly and construction techniques.
The module aims to equip you for employment and/ or further postgraduate level study in timber design, through the development of your skills and understanding in regard to research for timber design. The underlying aim is to raise the awareness and expectations of innovative timber design by understanding and utilising appropriate forms of timber and appropriate methods of manufacture in the context of increased productivity and economic efficiency and/ or the future use and reuse of timber in a low carbon circular economy.
You will develop your understanding of the unique aspects of design for timber construction, in relation to the specific issues encountered in the built environment and with the various manufacturing processes associated with timber building systems. This background will enable you to critically select and carry out appropriate forms of research for developing well-informed timber design models, prototypes or artefacts.
The module will emphasise the function and value of the dissemination of research findings and therefore encourage high standards of documentation. The principal themes and issues relating to a specific research proposition will be defined by your interests and guided through tutorials, and seminars. You will discuss the aims of research for timber design, the validity of different research methods, the criteria used to determine them and appropriate modes of dissemination. Progression through the module will lead to synthesis of knowledge and the presentation of your design process for the final design project. The thesis may be theory based or a technical report and/or applied through co-presentation of a prototypical design or artefact.
Prior learning requirements
Students must complete and pass AR7014 Research Methods for Timber Construction and AR7015 Timber Structures and Joints before commencing AR7P10 Innovative Timber Design Thesis.
Syllabus
The module syllabus will include:
• preparation and presentation of a thesis proposing a design for timber-based building or components;
• evidence-based research in support of the thesis;
• explicit calculation of environmental impact of the proposition;
• design for manufacture and assembly (DfMA);
• design for disassembly and re-use;
• research-led innovation for timber-based buildings and products.
Learning Outcomes LO 1 - 4
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Learning and teaching activities will include a mix of presentation, lectures, seminars, tutorials, critical written reflection as part of a technical report: and individual presentations as an outcome of focused workshop events. This variety of learning and teaching events offers a diversity of formal and informal means of reflective learning, peer-to-peer, and personal development in close consultation with tutors.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this module you will be able to:
1. differentiate, evaluate, appraise and apply suitable technical timber building solutions for a specific site context, legislative landscape and climactic condition;
2. compare, contrast and identify appropriate making and manufacturing techniques for timber materials that may optimise construction productivity through a process of Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) or leverage local skills or overlooked timber resources;
3. utilise appropriate methods of design, fabrication and construction that facilitate future disassembly and re-use of timber building components;
4. propose novel architectural or product design innovations from dimensional and/or engineered timber, based on appropriate qualitative or quantitative evidence.
Assessment strategy
Individual Presentation
In week 11 you will be required to make an individual presentation on your emerging theoretical and/or design research question. This presentation should act as an extension of the draft research question established in the Autumn Semester (AR7014). The presentation should be a concise precis of your field of research enquiry and be used a theoretical framework for further development of your thesis in conjunction with peer-to-peer and tutor feedback.
Innovative Timber Design Thesis
The technical thesis document should present a summation of your technical design project informed by technical lectures, seminars and tutorials. The document should include concisely written analysis of outcomes, drawings, photography and designs for a novel intervention in the built environment with timber (7000 words).
You can produce a technical thesis on any given aspect of innovation with timber in the built environment, but the project should be centred on an appropriateness of material selection, manufacturing processes and assembly / construction methods for a specific building context. You are free to develop, evaluate and document either a novel building product or a building system made from timber. The latter should also be explored through prototypical making of a component or artefact.
You have three avenues open to you at submission;
1. a wholly written and illustrated thesis (theoretical and technical);
2. a written thesis with reduced word count (4000 words) supported by a physical prototype or artefact;
3. or a 1:1 / 1:2 scaled artefact supported by a technical report (1500 words).
Bibliography
Beorkrem, C. (2017) Material Strategies in Digital Fabrication, New York: Routledge
Davies, C. (2005) The Prefabricated Home. London: Reaktion Books
Desch, H.E. and Dinwoodie, J.M. (2016) Timber: Structure, Properties, Conversion and Use, London: Macmillan International Higher Education
Dinwoodie. J. (2002) Timber: It's Nature and Behaviour, London: Taylor & Francis
Exova BM Trada (2017) Cross-laminated Timber: Design and Performance, Buckinghamshire: Exova BM Trada
Green, M. & Taggart, J. (2020). Tall Wood Buildings. Design, Construction and Performance. Second and expanded edition. Berlin, Basel: Birkhäuser.
Helliwell, R. (2013) Continuous Cover Management of Woodlands: a Brief Introduction, DOI: 10.13140/2.1.2044.7046
Herzog, T., Natterer, J., Schweitzer, R., et al. (2012). Timber Construction Manual. Berlin, Basel: Birkhäuser.
Hudert, M. (Ed.) & Pfeiffer, S. (Ed.) (2019). Rethinking Wood. Future Dimensions of Timber Assembly. 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.
Khodakovsky, E. (Ed.) & Skjold Lexau, S. (Ed.) (2015). Historic Wooden Architecture in Europe and Russia. Evidence, Study and Restoration. Berlin, Basel: Birkhäuser.
Khouli, S. E., John, V. and Zeumer, M. (2015) Sustainable Construction Techniques: from Structural Design to Interior Fit-out : Assessing and Improving the Environmental Impact of Buildings, München: DETAIL, Institut für internationale Architektur-Dokumentation.
Knaack, U., Chung-Klatte, S. and Hasselbach, R. (2012) Prefabricated Systems. Basel: Birkhäuser
Knaack, U., Klein, T., Bilow, M. and Auer, T. (2014) Facades: Principles of Construction. second and revised edition. Basel: De Gruyter
Kolb, J., Lignum - Holzwirtschaft Schweiz (Ed.) & DGfH - German Society of Wood Research (Ed.) (2008). Systems in Timber Engineering. Loadbearing Structures and Component Layers. Berlin, Basel: Birkhäuser.
Lennartz, M. & Jacob-Freitag, S. (2015). New Architecture in Wood. Forms and Structures. Berlin, Basel: Birkhäuser.
Meijs, M. and Knaack, U. (2008) Components and Connections, Basel: Birkhäuser
Schittich, C. (Ed.) (2014). Best of Detail: Holz/Wood. München: Detail.
Staib, G., Dörrhöfer, A. and Rosenthal, M. J. (2008) Components and Systems: Modular Construction : Design, Structure, New Technologies, München: Edition Detail, Institut für internationale Architektur-Dokumentation.
Zwerger, K. & Olgiati, V. (2015). Wood and Wood Joints. Building Traditions of Europe, Japan and China. Berlin, Basel: Birkhäuser.