COURSE UNIT TITLE

: BIODESIGN AND BIOINSPIRING IN ARCHITECTURE

Description of Individual Course Units

Course Unit Code Course Unit Title Type Of Course D U L ECTS
ERA 3014 BIODESIGN AND BIOINSPIRING IN ARCHITECTURE ELECTIVE 1 1 0 3

Offered By

Architecture

Level of Course Unit

First Cycle Programmes (Bachelor's Degree)

Course Coordinator

PROFESSOR DOCTOR TUTKU DIDEM ALTUN

Offered to

Architecture
City and Regional Planning

Course Objective

The main objective of this course is to raise awareness of designing in collaboration with and integrated with nature, to teach nature-based problem solving approaches, to experience the design practices in collaboration with living organisms and to bring insights on the relations of the field of architecture with other disciplines, within the framework of an understanding related to zero carbon processes around the world.

Learning Outcomes of the Course Unit

1   Understanding biodesign concepts and theories, methods and processes related with it
2   Ability to learn the basic principles of nature through observation and scientific research and use them as data in the design process
3   Ability to examine the nature-human-built environment relationship by adopting critical thinking in the context of sustainability and design ethics
4   To be able to understand the role of biodesign in sustainable strategies and to develop a design approach based on nature-compatible systems and biomaterials
5   Having a basic comprehension about how and at what level living organisms and biological systems can be integrated into design
6   Ability to obtain the necessary knowledge for biodesign from related disciplines and to gain to work, think and produce interdisciplinary
7   Using scientific research in design processes, ability to run experimental processes at the beginning level
8   Ability to develop products at fundamental or prototype level by using biodesign methods and techniques to develop creative and innovative design solutions

Mode of Delivery

Face -to- Face

Prerequisites and Co-requisites

None

Recomended Optional Programme Components

None

Course Contents

Week Subject Description
1 Introduction / The Concept of Biodesign, its theoretical expansion in the context of different disciplines
2 Relational transformation of architectural discipline into nature-based sciences in the historical process
3 Development of sustainable strategies and nature-based design approaches, Energy Conservation Technologies and ecological Design
4 Biodesign related uses of Digital Based Technologies and Computational Design Techniques
5 Artificial Intelligence Studies, Robotics and Virtual Reality
6 Biomaterials
7 Biocollaborative design experiments developed with biodesign
8 Mid-term exam
9 Laboratory Study I (slime moulds)
10 Laboratory Study II (bacterial cellulose)
11 Laboratory Study III (bioplastic)
12 Laboratory Study IV (mycelium)
13 Student research and group presentations
14 Student research and group presentations
15 Final Assignment

Recomended or Required Reading

A. Ponte; A. Picon (2003). Architecture and The Sciences: Exchanging Metaphors, Princeton Architectural Press
Alberto Estevez; A. Puigarnau; I.P. Arnal; Denis Dollens; A. Perez; J.R. Millet; A. Planella (2003). Genetic Architectures/Arquitecturas Geneticas, Lumen Books
Alvin Tofler (1980). The Third Wave, N.York: William Morrow&Company.
B. Kolarevich (2003) Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing. Spoon Press, New York.
Denis Dollens (2005). Towards Biomimetic Architecture, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Denis Dollens (2009). Digital Botanic Architecture 2, e-book, http://exodesic.org/TrussImages/DBA2-150.pdf
George Elvin (2007). The Nano Revolution: A Science That Works On The Molecular Scale Is Set To Transform The Way We Build, The Architect Magazine , http://www.architectmagazine.com/industrynews.asp sectionID=1006&articleID=492836&artnum=2.
Giuseppa Di Cristina (Editor) (2001). Architecture and Science , Wiley Academy Press, London
Greg Lynn (2002). Architectural Laboratories, Germany: NAI Books; http://www.glform.com
J. Benyus (1997). Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. William Morrow and Company Inc., New York
J.K. Walters (2003). Blobitecture-Waveform Architecture and Digital Design. (1th ed.). ABD: Rockport Publishers
John Frazer (1995). An Evolutionary Architecture, Architectural Association Publications, Themes VII, Londra; http://www.ellipsis.com
John M. Johansen (2002). Nanoarchitecture: A New Species of Architecture, Princeton Architectural Press, New York
Karl Chu (2006). Metaphysics of Genetic Architecture and Computation , Architectural Design, 76, no.4 (July-August 2006), s.38-45
Marcus Novak (1994). Liquid Architectures in Cyberspace in Cyberspace: First Steps, Ed. Michael Benedikt The MIT Press, USA
Michael F. Ashby, Paulo J. Ferreira, Daniel L. Schodek. (2009). Nanomaterials, Nanotechnologies And Design: An Introduction for Engineers and Architects, Butterworth-Heinemann Pub.
O., Koelman (2002). Biomimetic Buildings Understanding & Applying the Lessons of Nature. http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/art1048.php
Peter Yeadon (2005). Year 2050: Cities in the Age of Nanotechonology , UIA 2005, Istanbul, http://sensingarchitecture.com/523/nanotechnology-amd-new-materials-for-architecture/
Peter Zellner (2000). Hybrid Space : New Forms In Digital Architecture, Thames & Hudson, London

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods

In addition to the theoretical lectures given by the lecturer, the course will be carried out through general discussions in which students' individual research and presentations will be examined. In addition, laboratory applications that will contribute to the creative thinking of students for experiencing biodesign and a design assignment/workshop as a result of this will be carried out. Active participation of students in class discussions is important

Assessment Methods

SORTING NUMBER SHORT CODE LONG CODE FORMULA
1 MTE MIDTERM EXAM
2 ASG ASSIGNMENT
3 MTEG MIDTERM GRADE MTE * 0.50 + ASG * 0.50
4 FINS FINAL EXAM
5 FCG FINAL COURSE GRADE MTEG * 0.50 + FINS * 0.50
6 RST RESIT
7 FCGR FINAL COURSE GRADE (RESIT) MTEG * 0.50 + RST * 0.50


Further Notes About Assessment Methods

None

Assessment Criteria

The exams aim to measure reading comprehension and interpreting the information gained and discussed in the lessons. Questions can be in the form of open-ended or multiple choice tests.
Assignments and student presentations will be evaluated on criteria such as a clear understanding of the subject, its handling of the problem and its originality, the quality of the design and the presentation format. The lecturer can create student groups for presentations at the beginning of the semester. Group presentations require a collaborative effort. It is the group's responsibility to ensure that each group member contributes approximately equally to the group work.
Class participation will depend on the student's attendance, the quality of his answers to questions asked by the lecturer during the lesson, and his contribution to creating a positive learning environment.
Mid-term exam %25 (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4)
Homework Assignments/Presentation %25 (LO2, LO4, LO5, LO6, LO7, LO8)
Final exam %50 (LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6, LO7, LO8)

Language of Instruction

English

Course Policies and Rules

1. Attendance at 70% of the classes is mandatory.
2. Late submissions will be subject to separate consideration.
3. Any attempt to cheat or plagiarize will result in actual disciplinary action.
4. The lecturer reserves the right to make quizzes/assignments. Grades from these exams will be added to the midterm and final exam grades

Contact Details for the Lecturer(s)

Prof. Dr. T. Didem AKYOL ALTUN
Tel: 0 232 301 84 82
E mail: didem.akyol@deu.edu.tr

Office Hours

will be announced

Work Placement(s)

None

Workload Calculation

Activities Number Time (hours) Total Work Load (hours)
Lectures 7 2 14
Tutorials 6 2 12
Preparations before/after weekly lectures 11 2 22
Preparation for midterm exam 1 5 5
Preparation for final exam 1 5 5
Individual homework preperation (CBIKO Talent Gate) 1 5 5
Group homework preperation 1 8 8
Midterm 1 2 2
Final 1 2 2
TOTAL WORKLOAD (hours) 75

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

PO/LOPO.1PO.2PO.3PO.4PO.5PO.6PO.7PO.8PO.9PO.10PO.11PO.12PO.13PO.14PO.15
LO.144
LO.2443
LO.3445
LO.44455
LO.544
LO.6445
LO.7
LO.8