IN-PERSON Prague Research & Teaching Conference

Abstract

The Introduction to Building Fundamentals course, often perceived as a burden in the curriculum, has undergone a significant transformation to become a meaningful and supportive learning space. This approach emphasizes the connection between the course and the studio – the core of the architectural curriculum – harnessing the passion the students bring to the studio to create an enriching learning process. The course is structured in two stages: first, acquiring basic skills through short and focused exercises such as plans, sections, and models, alongside concepts like fragments and scale. Later, students bring their studio projects into the course, identify core ideas and develop models using various materials, enhancing their design and research competencies. The assessment in the course focuses on the learning process rather than just the outcome. Students submit a portfolio documenting their journey throughout the semester, reinforcing the importance of exploration, experimentation, and risk-taking. Additionally, they are given freedom of choice: course outputs can be integrated into their studio submissions but are not mandatory. This approach fosters a dynamic, integrative, and empowering learning process, allowing students to experience success, advance their studio work, and strengthen the connection between theory and practice. The course demonstrates how to build an educational environment that integrates a high academic standard while focusing on the students well-being. In my paper, I will present this innovative pedagogical approach, and focus on the added value of this method for students, educators, and the studio process and explore how this model can be implemented in other educational contexts.