Architecture

Code:

L.EC014

Acronym:

ARQ

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Complementary Sciences/Technologies

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	http://https://sigarra.up.pt/feup/pt/ucurr_geral.ficha_uc_view?pv_ocorrencia_id=539478
Responsible unit:	Department of Civil and Georesources Engineering
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Civil Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
L.EC	152	Syllabus	2	-	6	45,5	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

1 - Technical and training objectives
a) To transmit a good, comprehensive understanding of Architecture as a creative act and as a system of sub-systems, as well as its role in the practice of construction in Portugal.
b) To develop the ability to read/interpret architectural projects, through the assimilation of the specific language of technical drawing for the representation of architectural projects and spaces in general.
c) To encourage students to the procedural principles that structure architectural projects (hierarchy and its constitution, phasing, regulatory implications, joint policies in housing construction, etc), as well as to the effectiveness of the articulation of civil engineering professionals with the architecture professional.
d) To reflect on the challenges of architecture in the context of new European regulatory requirements.
e) To demonstrate the importance of the factors that contribute to the good performance of the Civil Engineer in the field of Architecture and Construction.

2 - Critical and training objectives
a) To assimilate the analytical path of architecture in the historical evolution of architectural space, articulated to constructive and structural innovations.
b) To frame the monographic review of the main movements and works of architecture (to date), in order to broaden cultural and architectural training and sensitisation to "taste".
c) To define their professional competences in terms of performance in multidisciplinary teams.

Learning outcomes and competences

Knowledge: describe the main concepts of architecture and its subsystems and identify vernacular and erudite building techniques, as well as the principles underlying the creation of architecture throughout history.

Understanding: interpret and manipulate drawn and written elements that are part of an architectural project. Identify the codes of representation and the techniques of design of construction elements and link them carefully to structural and non-structural parts, identifying and distinguishing them from each other. Development of applied exercises on the reading and interpretation of architectural projects and their articulation with other civil engineering specialities. Drawing as a fundamental instrument of communication between specialists.

Application: establishing procedures for categorising the various conceptual and constructive solutions in different periods of the History of Architecture up to the beginning of the 21st century, in order to identify new interpretations of architectural spaces. Development of applied exercises on the different forms of representation of building systems at different scales.

Analysing: comparing and classifying the results of research on the set of constructive and structural systems intrinsically associated with the form of Architecture. Enquiry into the ancestral benefits of earthen architecture in the face of the current demands of the climate transition.

Summary: analyse construction technologies in the presence of contemporary architectural design solutions in service or residential (or mixed-use) buildings.

Evaluation: criticise commonly used procedures and practices. Critically re-examine recent techniques; reflect on possible improvements in construction practices and new methods for construction.

Engineering Design: develop practical and laboratory exercises on construction technologies and the articulation of the different systems and infrastructures that converge to the architectural object as a whole.

Research in Engineering: identify the various sources of technical and scientific references accessible both on the Web and in the FEUP Library, and their applicability in the national context.

Practice in Engineering: getting to know and contacting public and private entities, promoting study visits guided by technicians from outside the Faculty and questioning the articulation of engineering speciality projects with the architectural project.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Generally speaking, essential knowledge for the curricular unit Architecture is the understanding of the architectural fact, the functioning of the building as a "system of systems", the articulation of the architectural form with the constructive (and structural) systems, based on the assimilation of analytical design and technical design, the integration of the various specialties of civil engineering in architectural design and the references to the evolution of architectural grammar throughout history.

Cumulatively, the theoretical component will address the building's relationship with the territory, its integration in the environment, as well as careful reflection on vernacular knowledge, especially with regard to the lessons learned from the environmental sustainability of vernacular constructive practices.

In relation to mastering the skills acquired by attending other curricular units of the Degree in Civil Engineering, which can contribute to the solid preparation of Students in conjunction with the curricular unit Architecture, the following stand out, in particular:

a) 1st year
- Technical Drawing (1st sem.);
- Topography and Geographic Information Systems (2nd sem.);
- History of Civil Engineering (1st Year - 1st sem.).

b) 2nd year
- Transversal Skills - occasionally (2nd sem.).

Students must speak and write in Portuguese.

Program

1 INTRODUCTION.
1.1 Objectives of the course.
1.2 Working methodology.


2. READING AND INTERPRETING ARCHITECTURE
2.1 Introduction to basic notions and fundamental considerations about the architectural fact.
2.2 Notions of Space, Architecture, Structure and Composition. How architectural space is characterised. Space created by things. How did architecture come about? The need to delimit a space.
2.3 Architectural Composition. Elements of architectural composition. Spatial perception. Empty space and abstract space. Architectural constraints. Volumetric composition. Formal organisation. Visual properties of space.
2.4 Construction methods and systems - conclusion.


3. DESIGN METHODOLOGY IN ARCHITECTURE
3.1 The architectural project - phasing.
3.2 Programme. Licensing project. Descriptive and justifying memorandum. Speciality projects. Basic project. Execution Project. Specifications. Technical, general and special conditions. Bill of quantities and measurements. Budget estimate. Drawings.
3.3 Detailing the project and the work.


4. LEXICON OF TECHNICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL TERMS
4.1 Introduction to architectural grammar.
4.2 Exploring selected technical terms from the architectural and construction scene. Presentation of detailed illustrations - conclusion.


5. LEARNING CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES FROM VERNACULAR CULTURE. THE SUSTAINABLE DIMENSION OF POPULAR PORTUGUESE AND INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE
5.1 From the Minho house to the Algarve house.
5.2 The house in Madeira and the house in the Azores.


6. ARCHITECTURAL SPACE THROUGH HISTORY
Analysing the evolution of architectural form by understanding the associated systems and technologies, from Classical Antiquity to the 19th, 20th and early 21st centuries.

Mandatory literature

Bruno Zevi; Saber ver a arquitectura. ISBN: 85-336-0541-2
JORDAN, R.Furneaux; História da Arquitectura no Ocidente, Editorial Verbo, 1985
TAFURI, Manfredo; Teorias e História da Arquitectura, Editorial Presença/Martins Fontes, 1979
CHING, Francis D. K. ; Forma, Espacio y orden, Ediciones Gustavo Gili/México, 1998. ISBN: 968-887-340-3
ALVES, F. Brandão; Rangel, Bárbara; Engineering as a lesson in architecture / A Engenharia como Lição de Arquitetura, CDO – Revista Cientifica Internacional de Construção, nº 04 pp. 92-94 – GEQUALEC - FEUP, 2013. ISBN: 978-989-96696-9-7
Marco Vitrúvio Polião; Tratado de Arquitectura - Os Dez Livros de Architectura, IST Press (http://www.fnac.pt/Tratado-de-Arquitectura-Vitruvio/a178447)
RODRIGUES, M. et al. ; Vocabulário Técnico e Crítico de Arquitectura, Quimera, 2002. ISBN: 9789725891452
BRANCO, J. Paz ; Dicionário técnico de construção civil, Coop. Técnica, EP Gustave Eiffel, 1993. ISBN: Depósito Legal 68236/93
DETHIER, Jean & CARDOSO, Helena; Arquitecturas de terra ou o futuro de uma tradição milenar: Europa, Terceiro Mundo, Estados Unidos,, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, 1990
ALVES, F. Brandão & RANGEL, Bárbara; O contributo do ensino da Arquitectura na formação dos estudantes de Engenharia Civil da FEUP, Colégio das Artes da Universidade de Coimbra, 2012. ISBN: Teaching through Design
RANGEL, B., SOUSA, H., ALVES, F. ; Sustentabilidade e Tecnologias Tradicionais na Arquitectura Contemporânea Portuguesa, Forum of Construction Technology Conference - FEUP, 2009
RANGEL, B., SOUSA, H., ALVES, F.; A matéria como instrumento da composição arquitectónica. O contributo metodológico dos sistemas tradicionais de alvenarias resistentes de pedra na arquitectura contemporânea portuguesa, GEQUALEC, 2009. ISBN: 978-989-96696-9-7
da CUNHA, Luís Veiga; Desenho Técnico, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, 2004. ISBN: 9789723110661

Complementary Bibliography

HERTZBERGER, Herman ; Lições de Arquitetura, Martins Fontes, S.Paulo - 2ª Edição, 1999. ISBN: 85-336-1034-3
ALBERNAZ, M. P. & LIMA, C. M.; Dicionário Ilustrado de Arquitetura, Vicent Wissenbach. ISBN: CDD 720.981-03
HERNANDÉZ-RIOS, R. A.; QUE ES ESTRUCTURA?, Cuadernos Del Instituto Juan de Herrera, 2008. ISBN: 84-89977-98-4

Comments from the literature

Students are provided with additional support texts in due course.

Teaching methods and learning activities

Given the nature of the subjects of the curricular unit and its theoretical content, the classes will be supported, as much as possible, by the E-Learning system, by audiovisual means (eg: exhibition of films about different periods of history, monographs of architecture covered in the program , projection of a series of PowerPoint slides, and other private sources specifically oriented to some of the subjects - Analysis of Architectural Form, Typologies and Organization of Architectural Space, Legislation, among others). In addition, students will be encouraged to reflect on various subjects, whether following the teaching of subjects in classes (discipline program), or through the debate raised by technical visits to reference works.
Practical and laboratory classes accompany the study of topics through the application of exercises focused on understanding the project, construction technologies, infrastructures and the structural system associated with the form of Architecture.

DEMONSTRATION OF THE COHERENCE BETWEEN THE TEACHING METHODOLOGIES AND THE COURSE UNIT'S LEARNING OUTCOMES
The teaching methods make it possible to establish categorization procedures for the different conceptual and constructive solutions in different periods of the history of architecture until the beginning of the 21st century, in order to identify the evolution and new interpretations of architectural spaces.

DEMONSTRATION OF THE CONTENTS COHERENCE WITH THE COURSE UNIT'S OBJECTIVES
Considering that Civil Engineering students will be able to develop, in their professional career, special projects, namely for buildings, such a practice will imply the need to know how to effectively articulate their solution to that advocated by the architect and/or other designers.

Scientific Content - estimated distribution – 40%.
Technological Content - estimated distribution – 60%.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	50,00
Trabalho laboratorial	25,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	25,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	45,50
Trabalho de campo	14,00
Trabalho laboratorial	13,00
Elaboração de projeto	25,00
Estudo autónomo	26,50
Trabalho de investigação	26,00
Trabalho escrito	12,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Obtaining a final classification requires compliance with attendance at the course unit, as established in the LEC assessment rules.
A student is considered to have complied with attendance at a curricular unit if, having been regularly enrolled, they do not exceed the limit number of absences corresponding to 25 per cent of each of the types of classes provided.
Exemption from attendance

In the current academic year (2024/2025), students who have attended the course in a previous academic year are exempt from the criterion of obtaining attendance in the current academic year, for all intents and purposes.

From the next academic year (2025/2026) onwards, students who have obtained a final mark in the course in the immediately preceding academic year equal to or higher than 6 will be exempt from the attendance requirement in the current academic year.

Calculation formula of final grade

1) Distributed assessment (AD+TP) WITHOUT final exam (EF).

2) Distributed Assessment (AD+TP) is divided into two components: Theoretical (AD) and Practical (TP).

3) The Theoretical Distributed Assessment (AD), with a weight of 50%, consists of a written exam to be taken on moodle, lasting 01h00 + 15 minutes tolerance, carried out in the last week of classes of the semester.

4) The Practical Distributed Assessment (DA) consists of the submission of 3 Practical Assignments (TP = sum (TP1(15%) + TP2(10%)+ TP3(25%)) with a weight of 50% carried out throughout the semester.

5) Grading of the distributed assessment: CD = AD + TP

6) Pass: CD ≥ 9.5 (AD ≥ 3.5 (out of 10); TP ≥ 3.5 (out of 10))

7) ER appeal exam (or final exam) - exam for those who failed or want to improve their grade. This exam has a weight of 100 per cent. The student can improve only the theoretical component (50 per cent), only the practical component (50 per cent), or both components. It consists of a written exam, on a scale of 0 to 20, with a maximum duration of 120 minutes. The maximum mark for this exam is 18 marks. To obtain a higher mark, a complementary Oral Test must be taken.

8) Final classification: CF = Max [CD; ER]

Note: in this course there is a study visit and a lecture, normally held on Wednesday afternoons in two consecutive weeks.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Students on Special Programmes may be allowed to replace the test with a monograph, developed individually, when agreed with the Teacher.

Internship work/project

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Assessment carried out at the term ending or at the students with special statutes term: whenever the students have not previously completed the theoretical-practical component, they may do it according to any specific provisions duly articulated with the teachers, namely through a written test with a practical component and a theoretical component.

Formula for calculation of the evaluation when it is based on the development of an individual monograph - scale 0-20. Students who eventually obtain a mark of 18 (or more) in the evaluation of the monograph may be asked to discuss the work face to face, with the teachers, in a date to be agreed.

Classification improvement

Classification can be improved in the 2nd call Exam.