This is a vertical elective combining students in their fourth and fifth year of the BArch program with students from the architecture graduate programs. The content of the elective options varies from year to year, and covers advanced topics that invite innovation in the areas of design media and digital craft.SECTION DESCRIPTIONAs architects, we must address the environmental crisis posed by the building sector's material demand, which currently accounts for 40% of global resource consumption. A sensible approach is to design long-lasting structures with fewer materials, relying on geometry instead of material mass to achieve strength.In this course, we will adopt a geometry-based approach to integrate structural, ecological, and ethical
considerations. Drawing inspiration from various sources, including the hanging chain models of Antoni
Gaudi, the hanging cloth shells of Hans Isler, the minimal surfaces of Frei Otto, and Graphic Statics and
form finding optimization of Philippe Block, we will incorporate computational approaches and digital
fabrication techniques to develop three-dimensional funicular structures (compression-only). These
structures will prioritize the use of minimal materials while simultaneously enhancing longevity,
recyclability, and ease of repairs. Throughout the course, we will create scaled models and prototypes of highly efficient and expressive structures while studying the direct relationship between form and forces through geometrical investigations.

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