Abstract:

Building element, structural and service systems are three major sub-systems of buildings and building materials have a great influence on the generation of successfully working buildings. Integration of these sub-systems and rational usage of building materials is one of the most crucial matters of our time. Knowledge and skills on the integration of different sub-systems are required qualifications of today’s architectural designing practice. Building envelope is comprised of outer elements of building which shape its overall performance and it consist of elements, components and materials which belongs to different sub-systems of buildings, and it should be carefully studied when considering overall performance of the buildings. To meet the global challenges for integration in the construction industry, a growing trend is observed in recent years for educating and training architecture students as competent design professionals which turn out to be the main objective of architecture schools through their revised strategies and programs towards a more sub-systems conscious building design.

An attempt is made to structure and develop a new approach for integrated building envelope design studies within the context of the undergraduate course “Building Element Design” in the Faculty of Architecture, Istanbul Technical University (ITU). The study model is based on theoretical lectures of educators of different sub-systems of architecture and design activities of students guided by those educators. The assessing method is primarily based on the analysis of given detailed building envelope drawings which are planned to be made at different stages of the term. In this paper, the proposed new integrated building technology education system is introduced.

Keywords:

Integration, education, architectural technology, sub-systems.