The geometric design of roofs is a key element in the design and construction of buildings. Roofs play an important role in protecting buildings from the weather and providing esthetic appearance and functionality. Theoretically, to design a roof over a given plan means to construct the projections of the intersections of the roof planes. All this…

The prevalence of self-construction practices in Türkiye has resulted in a building stock whose earthquake resilience is highly uncertain. To mitigate the potentially devastating impact of anticipated large earthquakes, one viable approach is to increase earthquake awareness among builders themselves. However, these builders lack formal…

This article invites teachers to let their students' imaginations soar as they become part of a team that will design a whole new kind of living technological museum, a facility that celebrates the world of infrastructure. In this activity, a new two-story building will be built, occupying a vacant corner parcel of land, approximately 150…

A "Form Primer," developed for and used in an introductory architectural design course at Princeton University, is explained and illustrated. The concept holds that architecture is made up of a typology of pieces that are composed into a whole. (MSE)

Bridge construction is a popular classroom activity. However, the basic principles of tension, compression, and counterbalance are not always clearly represented and defined. The common materials used to construct model bridges, such as straws, toothpicks, Legos[TM], and building blocks, are often too flexible or stationary to demonstrate the…

In architecture courses, the bridging of design learning and construction is a constant challenge for educators. When designing the construction details of a building, students lack the field/site experience of the construction process and an understanding of the problems and solutions associated with erecting a building. The degree of…