Duration
20h Th, 130h Pr, 1d FW, 88h Proj.
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
This studio constitutes the Integrated Project of the 1st year of Master of the Architectural and Civil Engineering curriculum.
The aim of this studio is to combine architectural composition, contextual/patrimonial integration and technical and structural skills into the design of a large-scale architectural project, inspired by a concrete case of integrated renovation.
The architectural programming developed during this studio is similar to that of large mixed-function projects that include a public component and are part of the revitalisation of an existing (usually industrial) heritage.
The students are confronted with complex programmatic, architectural and technical requirements that call for an integrated approach to the relationship between the site, morphology and tectonics, functions, the expectations of the client and users, structural systems and building techniques.
The design challenge, the volume of information and constraints to be managed, the need to collaborate with experts from different fields and to adhere to an imposed timetable all prepare the students for the conceptualisation, production, rendering and communication requirements expected by any private or public client involved in such large-scale projects.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of the studio, students will be able to integrate and develop an architectural project in a creative and critical manner at the preliminary design stage, in response to a complex architectural programme.
They will be able to propose a coherent solution incorporating all the essential technical constraints (stability, accessibility, fire, HVAC, functional relationships) and architectural parameters (programming constraints, ergonomics, constructive constraints, spatial ambiances and qualities, environmental targets, plastic qualities, integration and relationships with the context and environment, etc.).
While detailing the project, the students will be able to translate their proposals into the synthetic form of formal, structural and functional diagrams to communicate the overall nature of their project.
Students will be introduced to collaboration and negotiation with experts from a wide range of fields, working on issues related to their own project. They will also be able to put into practice their skills of graphic and digital representation and design, as well as their argumentation skills while presenting their projects in front of an internal and external public jury in a context similar to that of a presentation in a professional context.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Basic knowledge requirements
Advanced knowledge and skills (minimum level: 3rd year of bachelor or "Bloc 0" of architectural engineering Master's) in: architectural composition, building construction techniques, building materials, structural pre-dimensioning, graphic production and digital modelling.
Important note
In coordination with the Chair of the jury responsible for drawing up the Annual Student Programmes, the professor reserves the right to refuse access to this studio to any student whose architectural design practice is deemed insufficient.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Theoretical presentations are followed by open discussions in which the students take part proactively (sometimes using the flipped classroom model). Each student is then asked to design, in small groups, a proposal for an architectural artefact in response to the proposed statement.
Students discuss and defend their choices in front of their peers and supervisors, who suggest constructive ways of improving the project. The level of supervision and the possibility of close, weekly monitoring encourage an iterative, co-constructed learning process.
Site visits, visits of exemplary buildings, meetings and project reviews with experts can all be organised and complement the supervision offered.
A significant proportion of the work will be carried out in studio sessions, but students are expected to make a personal investment outside these sessions in order to make the most of the supervision provided. Participation in the practical sessions is compulsory and gives access to the final evaluation.
Several compulsory visits to exemplary buildings and rural or urban environments are organised during the year (health conditions permitting). In particular, a first 'architectural visit' is organised by the teaching team during the first term (duration: 1 day), and a second 'architectural trip' is organised during the second term (duration: between 3 and 5 days).
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
The Architectural Studio IV is an exclusively face-to-face course. It takes place in French over a single four-month period.
Some of the preparatory work and a substantial part of the design and production work will be carried out by the student outside the sessions, in order to benefit as much as possible from the supervision.
Important note
Attendance at all sessions is compulsory. Group work requires the active participation of all enrolled students.
Consequently, any student who is not present during the start-up week will not be authorised to follow the integrated project.
Similarly, any student who fails to attend at least 90% of the supervised sessions may not be allowed to present the final defence.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- MyULiège
- Microsoft Teams
Further information:
The references suggested during the Architectural Studios I, II and III of the previous years remain reference works.
Additionnal references (historical, critical, normative or technical) will be recommended according to the theme of the architectural programme or project situation proposed each year, particularly with regard to contemporary architectural production.
These various readings will be commented on and discussed during the studio sessions.
Regular and attentive consultation of architectural journals is also an essential element in achieving the teaching objectives, as are critical participation in visits, conferences and exhibitions relating to architecture and design in general.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Further information:
To have access to the final evaluation, students must attend all studio sessions and hand in all assignments on time. Without valid proof of absence, the teaching staff reserves the right to refuse access to the final assessment.
Work is carried out as a team, and marks are awarded collectively. However, in extreme cases and when a member of a team is absent or not sufficiently committed in the eyes of the supervisory team, the latter reserves the right to switch back to individual assessment: the student in question will be informed of this decision during the four-month term and will then have his or her work assessed separately from that of his or her team mates.
The evaluation will cover the work submitted during the year (in paper or digital format) as well as the project defences in front of juries, including the final examination defense. The juries will be composed of faculty supervisors and external professional experts. Their deliberations is sovereign.
The teaching staff and members of the juries assess the adequacy of the student's proposal in regard of the question posed, the coherence of the discourse given the constraints of the programme, the conceptual, technical and formal skills used to express the architectural artifact as well as the quality and attention to detail provided by the student in regard of his/her graphic and verbal communication of ideas.
The weighting of the scores obtained for the assignments and project defences will depend on the level of difficulty of each exercise and the overall progress curve of the class as a whole.
Examination procedures
The examination is based on the graphic and oral presentation of the project developed during the semester. If the student obtains a mark of less than 10/20 for the term, and provided that he/she has regularly attended the studios and has handed in his/her work in due time, he/she will be authorised to rework the examination project and present it at the following session. The mark obtained in this second session will replace the mark previously obtained for this project in the overall weighting.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
The timetable includes compulsory studio activities on Wednesday afternoons and Thursdays all day.
The timetable is defined at the beginning of each semester. It is updated as and when activities are proposed. Attendance at all sessions is compulsory.
Students are notified by email or by Teams of any changes to the sessions, the methods of interaction and expectations, session by session.
Contacts
Catherine Elsen, Professor
catherine.elsen@uliege.be
Audrey Mertens, Assistant
Audrey.Mertens@uliege.be