Outline

Overview

The unit of study explores global emerging trends and future trajectories in building envelope technology, design, and construction, looking at both product and process innovation. Students will be exposed to the latest technological advancements in high-performance façades, climate-responsive and adaptive building design, envelope prefabrication, advanced and additive manufacturing, novel efficient design and construction approaches, circular economy principles and building resilience. The unit of study is research-based and aims at providing students with the ability to critically approach future challenges toward the construction sector’s sustainable development. Seminars and tutorials include both theoretical and applied design concepts. Students will be involved in collaborative multi-disciplinary research activities and will apply the acquired knowledge in the field, working on the development of their prototypes for: (a) new façade component or system, (b) new façade design, fabrication or construction method, (c) a mix of both.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	MARC5340
Academic unit	Architecture
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	MARC5300
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Students should be familiar with architectural sketching and drawing, 3D modelling, building technology and construction process fundamentals, sustainable design principles
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Eugenia Gasparri, eugenia.gasparri@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Eugenia Gasparri, eugenia.gasparri@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Benjamin Berwick, ben.berwick@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	RESEARCH PITCH pitch presentation of the design proposal	30%	Week 03 Due date: 04 Jul 2022 at 09:00 Closing date: 04 Jul 2022	7 min pitch
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	FAÇADE SKETCH conceptualize and develop a detail of a façade systems	20%	Week 03 Due date: 07 Jul 2022 at 10:00 Closing date: 09 Jul 2022	Panel, paper submission
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	POSTER & PROTOTYPE group project showcase	50%	Week 04 Due date: 14 Jul 2022 at 18:00 Closing date: 16 Jul 2022	poster format to be decided
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Students will work individually and in groups to conceptualize, design and develop an innovative design solution that could respond to the UN SDG 13 Climate Action and, at least, another one of choice. Please refer to https://sdgs.un.org/goals

The assignments will assist students in developing the skill-set necessary to be able to understand the technological design process, the skills gained during the preparation of the assignment will scaffold the knowledge of complex technological systems, and it will assist students in their future careers when liaising with consultants. The assignments will also enhance students’ research skills and ability to understand where innovation is headed, allowing them to be at the forefront of architectural technologies.

Assessment criteria

Grade	Description
High Distinction 85 - 100	Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.
Distinction 75 - 84	Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.
Credit 65 - 74	Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.
Pass 50 - 64	Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.
Fail 0 - 49	Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As per University Policy

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 02	Unit introduction. Construction Innovation.	Lecture (2 hr)
	Research Methods. Research @usyd.	Lecture (2 hr)
	Rethinking Building Skins. Exemplars.	Workshop (2 hr)
	Imagining future facades.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Reflecting on SDGs.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Crafting the Story. Elevator Pitch.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Facades and Performance.	Lecture (2 hr)
	Facades and Sketching.	Workshop (2 hr)
	Project development.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Project development. Façade Sketching.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Project development.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Timber and Demountable Structures.	Lecture (2 hr)
	What's next?	Lecture (2 hr)
	Fabrication and Prototyping	Workshop (2 hr)
	Project development.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Project development. Prototyping.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Prototyping.	Tutorial (2 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Students will identify and make sense of transformative technologies in the field of façades
LO2. Students will apply research fundamentals and approaches to shape their projects
LO3. Students will understand building envelope design principles and regulatory requirements
LO4. Students will design innovative envelope solutions, responding to present major challenges
LO5. Students will be able to apply theoretical principles into practice and transform their inventive ideas into working prototypes (digital or physical)

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

n.a.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

MARC5340: Advanced Building Envelopes

Intensive July, 2022 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect