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Development of an Independent project in the training and enhancement of the analytical, planning and creative abilities; learning skills for the presentation and documentation of a Bachelor’s Thesis.

Comprehensive study of basics and analyses of the plan.

Responsive and the Ornament
One of the urgently important issues in contemporary architecture is the responsible use of resources during development, design, production and fabrication of buildings. In many cases the implementation is isolated from the design as is mainly driven by automatisation and usage restrictions. Therefore, not only the known approaches should be optimised and technically adapted, but new strategies must be developed to lead to relevant architectural solutions. Because, architecture is not only (next to fundamental protective tasks)about technical performance but also a societal and cultural expression. Despite the apparent decoupling of the task of responsibility and resource saving development, in terms of design, it is in particular the architect's task to propagate the idea that design is a fundamental part of the solution. In that sense the user, is a soft factor and thus a variable with different levels of perception, complexity and behavior. This may not allow deterministic solutions thus returning architecture to a creative discipline.
To respond to uncertainties and variable conditions of use, buildings require the ability to constantly adapt. A classic technical example is the thermostat, which controls the heating system using simple temperature sensors. Among others but for instance through the work of Nicholas Negroponte in architecture a field of activity opened which describes itself "responsive architecture". It examines how buildings with multiple influences evaluated by sensors, could react through actuators.
The integration of responsive systems allows soft factors to remain soft. These systems can be interface between humans and dynamic influences such as nature. Responsive buildings can be purely reactionary or actively generating energy. Furthermore only experimental buildings and art installations have been built. The recent trends shows the manifold of possibilities that opened up with the new digital design tool and fabrication methods. This shows more interests on smaller intelligent components. The responsive systems are thus in a scale in which they begin to indicate inherent ornamental qualities. The related complexity to treat and inform each item for itself requires high level of planning and design that can only be achieved by digital design strategies. Through simulations, complex systems can be analysed and adapted. Mutual dependencies of countless elements can be adjusted using CAD and Scripting. New technologies such as 3D printing, laser cutting and CNC allows testing through rapid prototyping.
The ornament has the ability to give the architect authority back, that gets lost more and more, because the decision-making-processes and easily accessible technology, within planning processes has led to a loss of experties. The Loos's argument that unnecessary ornament causes unnecessary work should not be negated, but this is underpinned by the rapid development of CAD / CAM technology. Meanwhile, architects are searching for new markets for themselves or to enter them once again, thus acquiring new skills. The ornament is very specific and requires a high degree of design and if can be produced only by the advancement of  this genre which is evidently in the métier of architects.
These two issues are no longer in the periphery architecture - responsiveness and ornament are in the current discussion on the technical, design and theoretical level. We want to put these two topics in tectonic, functional, technological and formal relationship.
Also we will work on the qualities of ornamental meaning layer in an innocent, provocative and emotionless way.
In terms of the main topic "Meeting Halfway Nature" we want to develop architectures with responsive conversations with nature.

Continuous assessment (based on regular written and/or oral contribution by participants).

Course examination according to § 7, statute section on "study-law regulations"

Will be discussed in the first lesson.

Information under:

http://www.uibk.ac.at/fakultaeten-servicestelle/standorte/technikerstrasse/studium.html