Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to:
- history of wood in architecture
- regional differences
- future vision for use of wood and other natural material in architecture

Implementation and methods of teaching

Wood Architecture consists of conversational lectures and independent learning activities like quests for students and student groups, students own online presentations of found information based on quests, videos and forum posts for knowledge build-up. From students we call for active participation, independent knowledge search, source criticism and genuine interest in the subject. Learning from peers is an important part of the course. Understanding and experiencing architecture – and more broadly experiencing art – demands open-minded, lenient and playful approach.

Timing and attendance

Lectures and independent learning activities.

Learning material and recommended literature

Vitruvius; on Architecture (in Finnish: Vitruvius – Arkkitehtuurista)
Various online sources including: RT Building Information File, Puuinfo, Aalto University, Divisare etc.
Some digital material to be shaded via Moodle during the course

Alternative completion methods

Lectures, independent online learning activities.

Working life cooperation

-

Exam retakes

-

Learning environment

Lectures on M19 campus in Lahti, online lectures are held only in exceptional cases. No hybrid lectures.

Student time use and work load

5 etcs equals 5x27 hours = total of 135 hours of studies per student.

Contents

What is Architecture?
What is wood architecture?
What are the subliminal mechanisms behind when we are experiencing some buildings pleasant, some ugly?

In this course we will take a wide look into architecture and get to know buildings and the architects behind the buildings.

Even though the title of the course is wood architecture we will take a broad look on architecture, architects and construction materials. No material has its own right in buildings or cities. That said, wood has been – and still is – a very important material in architecture, especially in Finnish architecture.

Wooden elements haven been used in architecture very long. In this course, we will look architecture and wood architecture broadly. History is an essential part of the process of understanding and compiling knowledge; there are plethora of innovations and beauty in history that have either been forgotten in the course of history or are unknown to us because of different cultural and geographical locations. Together with teacher and your peers you gather and share broad showcase of historical and contemporary cases of wood architecture.

Additional information for students: previous knowledge etc.

Independent learning activities include independent knowledge search, source criticism and extensive online writing.

Assessment criteria

Heuristical assesmant of student performance, including student activeness during quests, groupwork, lectures and documentation.

Assessment scale

Approved/Failed

Failed (0)

Failing to complete all of the given writing tasks.

Assessment criteria: assessment scale failed/approved

All the given tasks are mandatory. If all are not returned the course is failed.

Learning outcomes

The student is able to:
- history of wood in architecture
- regional differences
- future vision for use of wood and other natural material in architecture

Implementation and methods of teaching

Online lectures and independent learning activities. Conversational online lectures, quests for students and student groups, students own online presentations of found information based on quests, videos, forums for knowledge build-up. From students we call for active participation, independent knowledge search, source criticism and genuine interest in the subject.

Learning material and recommended literature

Vitruvius; on Architecture
Various online sources including: RT Building Information File, Puuinfo, Aalto University, Divisare etc.

Alternative completion methods

-

Working life cooperation

-

Exam retakes

-

Learning environment

Online like Zoom, Teams, Google Meet etc.

Contents

What is Architecture? What is wood architecture? What are the mechanisms behind us ecperiencing some buildings pleasant, some ugly? What is experienced as meaningful is subjective, hence no single right style or estethic principle can be defined.

Architecture is about precision; precision of thought and precision of execution. Another way to define architecture briefly might be a genralist discipline, a holistic approach to a given problem. Architecture is notoriously difficult to define.

In this course we will take a wide look into the world of architecture and get to know buildings and the architects behind the buildings. No material has its own right in buildings or cities. Even though the title of the course is wood architecture we will take a broader look on architecture, architects and construction materials.

That said, wood has been – and still is – a very important material in architecture, especially in Finnish architecture.

Wooden elements haven been used in architecture very long. In this course, we will look architecture and wood architecture broadly; together we search historical and contemporary examples of wood architecture.

History is an essential part of the building process of understanding and knowledge; there are plethora of innovations and beauty in history that have either been forgotten in the course of history or are unknown to us because of different cultural and geographical locations. Together with students, we try to gather and share broad showcase of historical and contemporary cases of wood architecture.

Assessment criteria

Heuristical assesmant of student performance, including student activeness during quests, groupwork, lectures and documentation.

Assessment scale

1-5