Materials and Construction 1: An Introduction to Techniques, Composition and Strategies
GSD 6111M1, Lecture, Fall, with Eric Howeler

This module introduces students to the role of materials and fabrication in architecture. Properties and principles of materials are discussed in a comprehensive manner involving conceptual, philosophical, ethical and technological issues. Alternative methods of fabrication, production and construction are also discussed in lecture and seminar format, and architectonic exercises involving material research take place in a workshop format.

Smart Materials
GSD 6418, Lecture, Fall 2008

This course introduces students to smart materials, a term used to describe materials and products that have changeable properties and that are able to reversibly change their shape or color in response to physical and/or chemical influences such as light, temperature, or the application of an electric field. The materials explored in the course offer an overview of those most promising for use in architectural design, including photochromics, thermochromics, electroluminescents, and shape-memory alloys. Methods of fabrication, production, and construction will be discussed and design exercises exploring the potential of these materials for architectural design take place in a workshop format.

Materials and Construction 2: Building with Steel and Concrete
GSD 6203M4, Lecture, Spring

The course introduces a conceptual framework for the design of building assemblies, as informed by a clear understanding of construction technologies and of the properties of building materials. Building materials are presented and analyzed with emphasis on their physical and architectural properties, functions, and behavior in manufactured and installed assemblies. The design of building envelopes in various materials is examined as integrated subsystems of components in relation to the forces that shape their composition. The methodology and format of the design of building detailing are discussed, and the roles of the various participants in this process are reviewed.

Materials and Construction: An Introduction to Techniques, Composition, and Strategies
GSD 6111M1, Lecture, Fall 2003-2007, with Toshiko Mori

This module introduces students to the role of materials and fabrication in architecture. Properties and principles of materials are discussed in a comprehensive manner, involving conceptual, philosophical, ethical, and technological issues. Alternative methods of fabrication, production, and construction are also discussed in lecture and seminar format. Architectonic exercises, involving material research, take place in a workshop format.