1st year of Degree in Foundations of Architecture
6 ECTS – Compulsory diversifiable course
Link to the blog of the Workshop for the design, construction, and breaking of small structures.
Description and objectives
The main activity proposed is to define and carry out several projects that address structural problems. To achieve this, it will be necessary to prepare the documentation required to define the project, considering how to implement the actions to which it will be subjected; to construct the project using balsa wood along with other materials such as paper or cardboard, and to test it by applying load until failure.
The entire process must be documented and disseminated using available means: drawings, texts, models, images, videos, a website, social media, etc.
The main objective of the workshop is to develop:
- The ability to carry out projects that solve structural problems by identifying the static schemes that ensure stability.
- The ability to represent the conceived project in a way that a third party can construct it.
- The ability to identify the mode of failure of a construction and be able to explain it.
- The ability to disseminate the results of one’s own work.
- The ability to work in a group, adopting different roles as needed.
Course content
The Workshop consists of the following subjects and activities:
- Theoretical-practical study of the mechanical properties of balsa wood: bibliographic research, different types of tests to obtain the mechanical properties of the material, and preparation of a final report.
- Sessions for presenting, discussing, and planning the proposed projects.
- Presentation of proposed projects.
- Team construction of the designed structures.
- Testing sessions until the constructed structures fail.
- Presentation and discussion of the results obtained.
- Dissemination of results, reports, images, videos, websites, social media…
- Complementary activities: Visits to exhibitions, visits to constructed works, recommended readings, and reports on the activities carried out.
Teaching planning (subject table, academic calendar, and exam schedule…)
Workshop instructors
Prof. Joaquín F. Antuña Bernardo
Prof. Valero Pascual Gallego