11180 Construction

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: Architecture
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level: Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 11170 Landform OR 11183 Ecology
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject is a critical examination of landscape and the principles of using materials and assemblages in them. Understanding these principles is a key part of the design process as applied in professional practice. The subject addresses core aspects of landscape construction; material characteristics and applications; the assemblage process; construction detailing and documentation; and ongoing management and maintenance. It recognises and promotes the integration of technology, landscape and design intent.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1.	Observe, research, analyse and apply construction technology
2.	Apply technology in a landscape context to achieve design intent.
3.	Prepare detailed representations of constructions in two and three dimensions.

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The term CAPRI is used for the five Design, Architecture and Building faculty graduate attribute categories where:

C = communication and groupwork

A = attitudes and values

P = practical and professional

R = research and critique

I = innovation and creativity

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs) are linked to these categories using codes (e.g. C-!, A-3, P-4, etc).

Teaching and learning strategies

Weekly Attendance

See the UTS Timetable for confirmation of days of the week and times.

Modes of learning

Learning comprises lectures, guided site visits, and tutorial working sessions, delivered by UTS staff and outside guest experts. In addition to these formal learning environments, student learning will also take place through your own research, observation, questioning, and active engagement with your instructors and peers. Although all assessment tasks are individual, you are encouraged to work in clusters throughout the whole semester and to share your knowledge with your fellow students as you approach similar problems.

There will be a number of resources available via UTS Online to support the learning objectives of this subject, as well as key texts held on Reserve at the UTS Library. You should go beyond these resources with your own research, including contacting materials manufacturers and suppliers directly. An introduction on how to make these approaches will be provided in class by the instructors.

Feedback

Students will receive feedback on work in progress (formative feedback) during in-class sessions, and outside of class by prior appointment with the instructor. It is student's responsibility to record formative feedback. Students will also receive formal written feedback on their submitted assessment tasks along with indicative grades via the online UTS ReView system.

Content (topics)

This course content includes:

building materials, construction methods, systems of structure, and methods or crafting assemblages of steel, masonry, timber, plastics, glass and metal for urban landscapes;
the application of materials and construction techniques to achieve design intent in a landscape, and investigations into the way in which materials and assemblages can create closer connections to the social, cultural and environmental conditions of their landscape context in order to enhance the experience of place; and
representation and communication of construction.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Construction Knowledge

Intent:

This assignment will develop your skills in observing and analysing detail on behalf of the landscape and its poetics.

Through precedents, it will examine landscape and the development of design intent, details of materials and assemblage techniques, and their communication.

Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2 and 3

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

.1, .2 and .2

Type:

Design/drawing/plan/sketch

Groupwork:

Individual

Weight:

35%

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Evidence of depth of enquiry, knowledge and insights	40	1	.2
Understanding connection between landscape context analysis and design solutions	30	2	.1
Quality of graphics/layout; conformed to graphical template standard	30	3	.2

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Design Development

Intent:

This assignment will further your exploration, research and mastery of construction that informs design. It will examine the formal development of design intent, details of materials and assemblage techniques, and their communication. It holds landscape as the frame.

The assignment entails a process where, by working on one part of your project and developing it in detail, you inform the bigger project that you did as part of a previous design studio.