101-0588-02L  Grounded Materials

SemesterSpring Semester 2016
LecturersG. Habert
Periodicityyearly recurring course
Language of instructionEnglish
CommentMaximal 4 Studenten pro Departement:
D-BAUG
D-ARCH
D-USYS
D-MATL
D-GESS (nur Science, Technology and Policy MSc)


AbstractGrounded Materials will develop sustainable building materials by disrupting current teaching in two fundamental ways. First instead of studying each material separately we will combine them in creative and unexpected ways - we call this trans-material. Secondly, we will work with selected stakeholders to ground construction materials in a societal context - we call this trans-disciplinary.
ObjectiveOverview
Teaching of the block course "Grounded Materials" brings together the knowledge of the chair of Sustainable Construction (SC), the Transdisciplinarity Lab (TdLab) and Atelier Matières à Construire (Amàco) through trans-material and trans-disciplinary approaches. Students receive input, do experiments and workshops to develop skills in materials, creating materials, construction with materials and the relationship of materials to stakeholders and their role in the construction industry. The aim is to convey a holistic approach to materials teaching and their role for sustainable development.

"Grounded Materials" is built on two pillars:
Teaching Trans-Material
Instead of teaching wood, steel and concrete we teach the constituting matter of all materials like fibres, grains and binders across different materials. Materials thus can be differently reconstituted, e.g. through a locally specific or available assembly of matter.
Together with experts on material sciences, students will experiment with materials and their physical properties. Concrete is made of grains and a binder. However, the physical properties that allows to improve strength properties through packing optimisation in concrete can also be used to other contexts such as for instance desert sand, earth and all sort of urban waste. Similar attitudes considering fibres or binding agent allows a true trans-material approach.

Teaching Trans-Disciplinary
In addition to the environmental considerations, future engineers and architects have to consider increasingly complex societal context. "Grounded Materials" considers construction materials, and potential future materials in relation to their societal impact and in negotiation with selected stakeholders in this field (producers, users, developers, owners,...).
Together with experts, "Grounded Materials" will provide a forum for students to explore materials in dialog with stakeholders from the construction sector considering social and environmental constraints. Sustainable construction materials will be grounded in discussion between students, scientists, builders and producers to enable addressing emergent issues related to society and the environment.

Proceedings
In the first five days students will be exposed to basic trans-material and trans-disciplinary principles. This will allow them to frame the problem at stake and fix key parameters and constraints for the development of a new sustainable material.
The experimental lectures will showcase materials science through a series of innovative, and at times counterintuitive experiments. Here physical phenomena are presented through simple sensitive experiments. Creative sessions will allow students to freely explore various ideas for innovative materials design.
In terms of trans-disciplinary teaching, students will also be guided through three different activities during which they will engage with stakeholders, site visits, consultation and co-creation activities.
In addition to the trans-material, and trans-disciplinary teaching, students will receive a series of inputs, in the form of introductory lectures on the societal and environmental challenges facing the built environment.

In the second part of course, the students will work collaboratively on the challenge of developing a grounded material that responds to specific constraints and parameters. The students will receive guidance, through departmental tutors, material experts, and interactions with stakeholders during these work sessions.

Further Information:
- Chair of Sustainable Construction, Prof. Dr. Guillaume Habert (Host), Dr. Coralie Brumaud and Sasha Cisar, Link
- D-USYS TdLAB, Link
- Atelier Matières à Construire (Amàco), Link

All inquiries can be directed to: Link
ContentThe following topics give an overview of the themes that are to be worked on during the lecture.

- Trans-Material: Experiments to understand physical properties of materials and how materials are created in order to achieve sustainable construction
- Trans-Disciplinary: Workshops and site-visits, stakeholder interaction and negotiating social dimension of sustainable construction
- Project: Application of learned knowledge in developing a material and building element, in negotiation with stakeholder and aligned with sustainable development
Lecture notesAll relevant information will be online available before the block course.
LiteratureA list of the basic literature will be offered on a specific online platform that could be used by all students attending the block course.