Description:

For a long time, organizations operating in developing and climatically or culturally diverse regions have been struggling with the lack of construction experts who would be able to work in a setting that is culturally, climatically, socially and economically different. The aim of the course is to provide students with basic information about the specifics of work in such regions. Within the subject we will deal with constructional approaches with respect to different climate, use of non-standard procedures, materials and organizational approaches and other factors different from the standards in the Europe or Czech Republic (e.g. building requirements, seismic activity, tsunami, animals, insects, monsoon rain , absence of networks, etc.).

Contents:

Basic information about the specifics of work in developing regions.
Constructional approaches with respect to different climate,
Use of non-standard procedures, materials and organizational approaches
Other factors different from the standards in the Europe or Czech Republic (e.g. building requirements, seismic activity, tsunami, animals, insects, monsoon rain , absence of networks, etc.)
Selected topics will be introduced by experienced specialists.

Seminar contents:

As a part of the subject curriculum, students will create a project according to their own choice or in cooperation with non-profit organizations operating abroad. The subject is taught in English and students work in international interdisciplinary teams.

Recommended literature:

1. The Barefoot Architect - Johan van Lengen
2. Engineering in Emergencies: A Practical Guide for Relief Workers - Jan Davis & Robert Lambert
3. Earth Construction Handbook: The Building Material Earth in Modern Architecture - Gernot Minke
4. Building with Earth: Design and Technology of a Sustainable Architecture - Gernot Minke
5. Bamboo: The Gift of the Gods - Oscar Hidalgo-Lopez
6. Beyond shelter ? architecture and human dignity ? J. Aquilino

Keywords:

Developing engineering, engineering in context, developing countries, natural materials, simple structures, wood, bamboo, clay, adobe, stone, straw,

Abbreviations used:

Semester:

• W ... winter semester (usually October - February)
• S ... spring semester (usually March - June)
• W,S ... both semesters

Mode of completion of the course:

• A ... Assessment (no grade is given to this course but credits are awarded. You will receive only P (Passed) of F (Failed) and number of credits)
• GA ... Graded Assessment (a grade is awarded for this course)
• EX ... Examination (a grade is awarded for this course)
• A, EX ... Examination (the award of Assessment is a precondition for taking the Examination in the given subject, a grade is awarded for this course)

Weekly load (hours per week):

• P ... lecture
• C ... seminar
• L ... laboratory
• R ... proseminar
• S ... seminar