Technology of the built environment 6 - Sociotechnics and Synthesis

Sociotechnics

Eco-efficient buildings, designed and implemented primarily through a technical perspective, are often considered effective and established technological solutions for mitigating climate change. However, their practical application is not always as straightforward as it seems, as evidenced by the rebound effect. From the perspective of social studies of science and technology, this course addresses the implementation and testing of environmental policies in the construction sector. It exposes certain socio-technical dynamics, their effects on the representations and practices of public authorities, architects, and building users. What foundations and assumptions underpin the institutionalization of eco-efficient buildings? What debates emerge around major political trends? How do inhabitants adapt to these buildings, and what are the effects? How do architects position themselves, and how do their commitments translate into responses to socio-ecological issues?

Synthesis

If the discovery of Building Technologies requires a separation into different learning areas in order to better understand the ins and outs, the understanding and ultimately the concomitant resolution of these Technologies inevitably results in the necessary integration of the different issues studied on a single object, the Project.

With this in mind, the Synthesis component is intended as a receptacle for the learning achieved over three years of training in Building Technology, to be applied to a jointly developed architectural project with its own compositional constraints.

In concrete terms, students will be required to demonstrate their mastery of a certain number of technical aspects that they will have discovered in the Introduction and studied in previous courses: Structure /Materials /Comfort /Construction

Sociotechnics

By the end of the "Part 1 - Socio-technical" component, students will be able to:

• Understand and explain the main socio-technical dynamics in the field of eco-efficient buildings (from design choices to user appropriation).
• Understand and explain the assumptions and ideologies underpinning the institutionalization of environmental policies applied to the construction sector and the resulting debates.
• Provide an informed analysis of technical culture, architectural culture, dwelling culture, and construction culture in relation to environmental challenges.

Synthesis

At the end of the component Synthesis, the student will be able to :

• Understand and explain the main technological choices of an architectural project, on the basis of the usual graphic documents of the project;
• Interact in a basic manner with professionals from the construction sector on questions related to Building Technology;
• Propose and defend technological choices - on the basis of the knowledge acquired during their training and the information available to all building professionals - in parallel with the development of an architectural project.

Sociotechnics

See general guidelines for the teaching unit

Synthesis

See general indications for the teaching unit.

Sociotechnics

The "Part 1 - Socio-technical" component is delivered through five interactive in-person sessions, consisting of 4-hour lectures. Some sessions require the analysis of a text or viewing of a video in preparation for the class, following a flipped classroom approach.

Synthesis

In addition to an introductory session, the Synthesis component is organised around two exercises:

• A first exercise in the technological analysis of an architectural project.
• A second exercise in the technological design of an architectural project.

Sociotechnics

Face-to-face course

Synthesis

Blended learning


Further information:

The Synthesis component follows a project-based learning philosophy. To achieve this, it is organised around two situational exercises. These two exercises will enable the student to confront, in a semi-autonomous way, the resolution of technical problems tackled in the previous Building Technology courses, transposed concretely onto an architectural project.

Both exercises will be based mainly on the student's personal work, but will be punctuated by discussion and question and answer sessions organised in the form of round tables. These round tables will bring together a group of students with the teachers of the various subjects covered, so that the feedback provided on the various problems encountered can be used by the whole group.

Sociotechnics

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

Course presentation materials are provided no later than one hour before the session begins on eCampus. Reading materials and lectures for preparation are sent one week in advance via eCampus. Their reading or listening is mandatory as they are integral to the course content.

Synthesis

Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus


Further information:

The few course materials and documents that will be used by the teachers will be made available on eCampus. However, as the Synthesis component echoes the various lessons taught in the Building Technology 1 to 5 courses, it is assumed that all the course materials and notes that students will have collected over the course of their training will form the basis for their answers to the required exercises.

Similarly, there is no new recommended reading specifically for this component. However, all the compulsory, recommended or recommended readings for the Building Technology 1 to 5 courses are resources that are still relevant today.

Sociotechnics

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )


Further information:

Evaluation is conducted via a written exam, in person, consisting of short and long answer open questions. The assessment will focus on understanding, the ability to articulate, and the ability to make connections between the course content, associated texts, and lectures.

Synthesis

Written work / report


Further information:

For the Synthesis component, the mark is made up of two parts:

• The first exercise will result in the production of a report during the term, assessed according to criteria that will be specified at the beginning of the course. This exercise counts for 25% of the mark.
• The second exercise will result in the production of a graphic presentation at the end of the term, the content and assessment method of which will be specified at the beginning of the course. This exercise counts for 75% of the grade.
• It is compulsory to hand in the first exercise in order to be able to present the second exercise. In the event of an unjustified failure to hand in the first exercise, no production will be taken into account for the second exercise and an absence mark will be awarded to the component for the session (and therefore to the course).

Sociotechnics

To improve and ensure the currency of the teaching, course content and supplementary materials are reviewed annually. Updates to notes from previous years are therefore necessary. 

Unlike in previous years, there will be no optional work for evaluation. 

Recording of course sessions as podcasts is not guaranteed. If available, the podcast will remain accessible for one week via unicast. After this period, it will no longer be accessible.

Synthesis

Any questions about the exercises can be submitted to the teachers via the channel they specify. A priori, the channels to be used in priority are the following:

• during the round tables.
• by e-mail.
• on the course e-campus forum.

Sociotechnics

Julie.Neuwels@uliege.be

Synthesis

Coordinator: guirec.ruellan@uliege.be