VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.
Methods in Structural Design. Discussions on Design, Research, and Construction
Last Updated: 2026-06-01 11:32:57
Abstract
In the context of spanning structures, the interplay between form and forces influences material use. Currentenvironmental challenges demand new attention to it. This seminar discusses the design and constructionmethods of structures from both a historical and contemporary perspective: while 20th-century master buildersfaced different problems from those of today, some answers may be similar.
Objective
The seminar will help to investigate design and construction methods in the interaction between form, forces, andmateriality aspects. It will provide the tools to learn how to do state-of-the-art research by critically discussinghistorical examples and their relation with contemporary projects. In addition to regular attendance at the seminar,students will independently research and present specific examples from both the history of engineering andcurrent contemporary design practices.
Content
The seminar will include lectures, close readings of texts, an excursion, and discussions with invited scholars andpractitioners whose research focuses on historical and contemporary approaches to the design of structures.Every session will feature exchanges on a specific structural design topic from two different perspectives:examples from the history of engineering will be put into dialogue with approaches linked to current design andresearch projects in the field. Students will be asked to actively participate in such discussions, to criticallyunderstand what we can learn from past experiences and what needs to be adapted to current needs.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar |
Methods in Structural Design. Discussions on Design, Research, and Construction
No course on 20.3.2025 (seminar week) and in the last two weeks of the semester.
|
|
2 h weekly |