Conceptual Design of Buildings - 2025 entry

This module discusses principles governing the conceptual design of buildings and their implementation in engineering practice. In particular, you will know about form and functionality, actions on buildings, structural design of tall buildings, sustainability and passive buildings, construction and demolition, resilience of buildings, operation and performance tracking.

You will have the opportunity to examine case studies among others the exotic shape of the Transamerica Pyramid (San Francisco), the revolutionary cell apartments Unité d'Habitation (France), the unusual plan distribution of luxury apartment block (Berlin), the energy efficient Shard London Bridge, and to discuss and implement principles of conceptual design in practical applications.

To provide you with knowledge of fundamental aspects of conceptual design of buildings and implementation in engineering practice.

Lecturers will cover a number of topics including:

• form and functionality;

• actions on buildings;

• sustainability of buildings;

• construction and operation;

• resilience and maintainability.

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

1. Design solutions for complex problems that meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate. This will involve consideration of applicable health & safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards

2. Apply an integrated or systems approach to the solution of complex problems

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

3. Evaluate how design actions, sustainability, reliability, operation and maintenance affect conceptual design;

4. Address client needs and optimise structural performance.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge

5. Work in a team;

6. Illustrate effective creativity and communication skills using a variety of commonly available media and techniques

• Form and function of building:Tall buildings, apartment block, floor distribution, offices, students apartment;

• Actions on buildings;

• Building foundation;

• Sustainability;

• Materials: recycle and reuse;

• Operation and maintenance of buildings;

• Building retrofit;

• Case studies.

Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%.

Web-based and electronic resources:

• ELE

Reading list for this module: