Disclaimer

The teaching materials shown in this platform are the result of a collaboration between the Chair of Architecture and Structure (Prof. Dr. Philippe Block) and the Chair of Structural Design (Prof. Dr. Joseph Schwartz) during the years 2015-2022. This platform is not updated since June 2023. If you are a bachelor or master student in Architecture at ETH Zürich, please follow the courses’ content in ETH’s Moodle learning platform in order to get the actualised course material.

Learning Goals

At the conclusion of Structural Design III, students will be able to:

1. understand the structural behaviour of a building.
2. design efficient and expressive structural systems.
3. extend the application of graphic statics from 2D to 3D.
4. assess the structural and architectural potentials of the most important building materials.
5. establish a relationship between material aspects, form and forces.
6. understand how construction details work from a structural perspective.
7. carry out basic dimensioning of structural elements.

Content

After a brief review of the key aspects taught in Structural Design I and II, the course Structural Design III will examine the interplay of architectural concepts and structural systems by analyzing buildings of exemplary quality. Structures built out of steel, reinforced concrete, timber and masonry are studied. During the exercise sessions, three-dimensional structures will be analyzed using graphic statics taking the relationship between form, forces and material aspects.

Location

The course will be held every Friday from 12.45 to 15.30 in HIL E3.

Literature

- "The art of structures, Introduction to the functioning of structures in architecture"
(Aurelio Muttoni, EPFL Press, 2011, ISBN-13: 978-0415610292, ISBN-10: 041561029X)

- "Faustformel Tragwerksentwurf"
(Philippe Block, Christoph Gengangel, Stefan Peters,
DVA Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt 2013, ISBN: 978-3-421-03904-0)

- "Form and Forces: Designing Efficient, Expressive Structures"
(Edward Allen, Waclaw Zalewski, October 2009, ISBN: 978-0-470-17465-4)

Exercises

Every second Friday afternoon is reserved for exercise sessions. These sessions represent important components to deepen the understanding of the lecture content and for the practical preparation towards the written exam. An active participation during the exercise sessions is a prerequisite to understand the exam materials.

Lecturers

Prof. Dr. Joseph Schwartz 
HIB E12, Mail: schwartz@arch.ethz.ch

Prof. Dr. Philippe Block 
HIB E45, Mail: block@arch.ethz.ch

Coordination

Dr. Lluis Enrique 
HIB E47, Mail: enrique@arch.ethz.ch

Dario Quaglia 
HIB, Mail: quaglia@arch.ethz.ch