Institute of Technology

Subject area
The Institute of Architectural Technology teaches and researches architectural construction’s technical subject areas, including structural and perceptual subjects. The institute develops, describes and communicates the subject area both as a source of inspiration and as a necessary tool within the architectural profession. The institute’s subjects are combined together and cross the range between the technical-scientific and the artistic-architectural subjects. Its activities are partly aimed at communicating scientific results and conclusions from the technical subjects, and partly at researching technological subjects for use in both education and the daily work of architects.

The research builds on established paradigms in the technical-scientific research tradition. But the basis for describing and researching the technological subject area is formed by the viewpoint, perspectives and methods of architecture. In this sense the research conducted at the Institute of Technology is different from that of other technological education and research institutes.

Research areas
The Institute of Technology produces and analyses technical and sensory results both artistically and scientifically within the institute’s subject areas. The results are communicated to the education, the architectural profession and the building sector. The following aspects are common to the methodologies of all the institute’s projects: human, biological and cultural needs, technical possibilities and architectural unity.

The institute is home to the following subjects and laboratories: Acoustics, Building Techniques, Lighting (the lighting workshop), Load-Bearing Constructions, Materiality (the materials collection) and Climate Techniques.

The institute’s single subjects represent its permanent areas of responsibility and have as their task to maintain and develop architecture’s technological subject areas. The subjects’ common aim is to ensure that the knowledge that is necessary to the architecture programme and the subject is always on offer to the school’s students and to professional architects in the form of courses, consultancy activity or further education programmes. 

Acoustics (LYD)
This subject’s aim is to collect, analyse and communicate information about acoustics in spaces, buildings and cities and to help the architect integrate these areas in actual projects and assignments.

Building Techniques (BYG)
This subject’s aim is to investigate, describe and communicate constructional principles and methods, contemporary and historical, for use in the architecture programme and the profession. Emphasis is put on contemporary themes such as climate-adjusted architecture, energy and resources and the industry’s methods, processes and products.

Lighting (LYS)
This subject’s aim is to develop the students’ personal experience and understanding of the significance of light in the appearance of architecture, and to communicate knowledge about and attitudes to lighting techniques in architecture. The subject has developed a conceptual apparatus for describing the connection between the given physical surroundings of architectural works and their resulting visual appearance.

Load-Bearing Constructions (BÆK)
This subject’s aim is to give students an understanding and experience of load-bearing constructions in the architectural process. Students will be asked to put technical scientific knowledge into architectural practice, and develop their knowledge and skills in the borderline area between the architectural and the technical-scientific subjects.

Materiality (MAT)
This subject’s aim is to give students an understanding of the aesthetic possibilities and physical properties of different materials, of their role in a building’s technical functions and the implications they can carry for indoor climate and ecology. 

Climate Techniques (KLIMA)
This subject’s aim is to collect, analyse and communicate information about indoor and outdoor climactic conditions, constructional physics and technical installations in relation to space, buildings and landscapes.

Center for Industrial Architecture, CINARK
CINARK’s overall objective is to strengthen the position of the school, the education and the architectural profession when it comes to the use and understanding of the architectural potential in industrialised building. This includes its organisation, processes of manufacturing as well as design based building components.

Through intensified research and education it is the intention to accumulate and communicate current knowledge in order to improve the dialog between architects and producers of industrial building products and constructions.

Research and education focuses on the following themes: 

• architectural development of buildings and building parts through highly industrialised methods and materials
• The role of the architect in new building processes, business organisations and models of co-operation.
• Focus on quantitative as well as qualitative advantages in mass production, new ways of delivery and increased attention to customer needs and expectations