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Square samples of different materials made of wood or stone lie on a table. They are provided with small explanatory labels.

Material World

The project "MATERIAL WORLD" shows the results of the practical exercise of the course Building Materials Technology 1.

Fast facts

Organizational unit
Architecture
Contact person
Daniel Horn, M.Sc.
Category
- Teaching project

About the project

Semester-accompanying practical exercise on the topic "Material in architecture"

The materiality, form, function and aesthetics of building materials play a more important role than ever in 21st century architecture. In addition, climate change and the scarcity of raw materials are increasingly influencing the construction sector. The responsibility of future architects in the use of building materials with regard to the conservation of resources and energy efficiency of buildings is therefore an elementary component of teaching and research.

The task of the annual, semester-accompanying exercise of the Building Materials Technology 1 course is to deal with materials both as construction and design components. Students analyze a material of their choice and create a material sample in the specified dimensions and according to the design specifications. Each material may only be chosen once.

Then, under the guidance of Daniel Horn, the technical data for each material/product is worked out. This "material chart" contains information on material type, material class, product designation, design/processing and the relevant physical and chemical properties. The material sample could be procured from manufacturers/producers as a sample request or from dealers/tradesmen as offcuts.

View into the foyer of the Faculty of Architecture. There is a small information board about the "Material World" exhibition on a table. In front of it, various material samples are lined up next to each other.

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Side view from above of a table with selected material samples as part of the "Material World" exhibition. The patterns made of metal, fabrics and wood are large and square.

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Various material samples are presented on a table in the foyer of the Faculty of Architecture. In the foreground are samples of granite, stone, glass and wood.

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In focus: raising awareness of the versatility of materials

The aim of these practical exercises was to train perception for a better understanding in later practical working life and to raise awareness of the versatility of materials and the different possible applications of building materials. The acquisition of skills for analyzing and evaluating building products in combination with the reliable procurement of information and materials was another important building block.

Every year, more than 100 individual material samples/data sheets are created, which are then integrated into the material archive of the Building Materials Technology Laboratory and are thus available to students, staff and lecturers of the Faculty of Architecture as a source of information. Furthermore, selected works are regularly presented in exhibitions.