In Search of the Engineer

Please note the course schedule below.Instructors:Spiro Pollalis: staging.gsd.harvard.edu/~pollalis and Hanif Kara: http://www.akt-uk.com/Teaching Fellow:Andreas Georgoulias ([email protected])Course Description In recent examples of architecture, visions of architects are enhanced by innovative interventions by leading engineers. They engage in early stages of design process and a significant dialogue takes place between architects and engineers. With the rapid developments currently occurring in structural design, and in technology at large, a fascinating and interesting frontier in architecture takes place during collaborations with structural engineers. This course focuses on the intimate working of architects and engineers through 3 case studies that cover a broad spectrum of projects. The Phaeno Centre project, by Zaha Hadid, challenges contemporary thinking, advances digital technologies and clearly shows how research applies to real projects. The Phaeno Centre offers an extreme in which it is difficult to tell where the architecture stops and engineering begins. The housing project by Fielden Clegg Bradley shows that affordable housing, with a tight budget, can reach design excellence through a designer/engineer/contractor collaboration. The third case study is a city regeneration project, led by FOA, with an increasing shift in putting together large offices with smaller offices of designers. It demonstrates how development practice and attitudes are changing in fostering collaboration.* CommentsThe course will meet 6 weeks during the semester, twice per week. The first and last weeks, Dr. Hanif Kara will be present in class, the rest will participate through video teleconferencing. Each case study will be carried out for 2 weeks (4 sessions). In the first session, the instructors will introduce the case. In the second session, students will present their comments, in groups of 4, analyzing the material handed by the architect from the engineering point of view, based on precedences, qualitative analysis and the use of analytical tools. In the third, students will present their designs to address the weaknesses of the original architectural designs. In the fourth session, the instructors will give an overview and present the actual outcome of the case. Course ScheduleWednesday, January 31 Monday, February 5 with Dr. KaraWednesday, February 7 with Dr. KaraMonday, February 12 by video teleconferenceWednesday, February 14 by video teleconferenceMonday, February 26 by video teleconferenceWednesday, February 28 by video teleconferenceWednesday, March 7 by video teleconferenceMonday, March 12 by video teleconferenceMonday, April 9 with Dr. KaraWednesday, April 11 with Dr. KaraMonday, April 23 with Dr. KaraWednesday, April 25 with Dr. Kara