Advanced Integrated Design III-C: Critical-experimental Studies in Life Cycle Assessment and Materiality to Support Sustainable-tectonic Design Thinking

2025/2026

Recommended prerequisite for participation in the module

The course module adds to integrated design knowledge obtained in 1st semester of the Master’s program in Architectural Design-engineering. Therefore, the student is recommended to have knowledge, skills and competencies within the architectural design and engineering field corresponding to the completion of the MSc01 level at the Architectural Design-engineering education.

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

The aim of the course is to provide students with an advanced critical understanding of sustainable building materials and their use in contemporary building constructions. This through the presentation and analysis of relevant design-engineering and architectural scientific literature/theory and experimental methods. As well as through hands-on working with materials and practice in the design and evaluation of sustainable buildings. Finally, insight into material behavior of selected materials, life cycle assessment (LCA) as well as appreciation of how materials may be applied and perceived within the architectural realm.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

  • Must have knowledge of scientific literature/theory, methods and state-of-the-art materials/building products related to sustainable building  design.
  • Must have advanced knowledge of selected principles of green building assessment analouge and digital methods, including principles and methods for life cycle assessment.
  • Must have advanced knowledge of materiality/perception of materials in architecture in relation to perceptual and life cycle aspects.

Skills

  • Must be able to carry out principles of sustainability assessment of buildings with focus on materials and construction.
  • Must master the design and crafting of a sustainable building detail with an interrelationship between spatial-experience, form, detail, technical performance and materiality.

  • Must critically discuss and reflect on developments in sustainable building materials/components as regards to technical properties, technology and impact on human perception.

Competences

  • Can independently handle and evaluate the selection and application of sustainable materials in building designs.

  • Can independently handle and evaluate selected principles of green building assessment methods.

Type of instruction

Types of instruction are listed in § 17; Structure and contents of the programme

Exam

Exams

Name of examAdvanced Integrated Design III-C: Critical-experimental Studies in Life Cycle Assessment and Materiality to Support Sustainable-tectonic Design Thinking
Type of exam
Oral exam based on a project
ECTS5
Permitted aidsSee semester description
AssessmentPassed/Not Passed
Type of gradingInternal examination
Criteria of assessmentThe criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Facts about the module

Danish titleUdvidet integreret design III-C: Kritisk-eksperimentelle studier i livscyklusvurdering og materialitet til støtte af en bæredygtig-tektonisk design tilgang
Module codeAODAM2K223
Module typeCourse
Duration1 semester
SemesterSpring
ECTS5
Language of instructionEnglish
Location of the lectureCampus Aalborg
Responsible for the module

Organisation

Education ownerMaster of Science (MSc) in Engineering (Architecture)
Study BoardStudy Board of Architecture and Design
DepartmentDepartment of Architecture, Design and Media Technology
FacultyThe Technical Faculty of IT and Design