After successful completion of the course, students are able to...

- develop a design approach for architectures that enable specific human-nature interactions and offer a habitat for local plant and animal species. Spezial emphasis will be placed on the building envelope.

- find solutions for integration soil into the building in order to simultaneously fulfill architectural requirements (load-bearing capacity, insulation, etc.) and to provide the required conditions for the intended habitat.

- consider and integrate information and data pertaining to the local climate and local ecosystems into the design process.

-plan and execute relevant computer-aided workflows and to participate in the development of related computational methods and tools.

The studio focuses how different types of human-nature interactions can be introduced to urban contexts in order to support ecosystems and biodiversity, as well as human health and well-being. Ecosystems can provide many services to humans and can be a starting point for a design exploration. On a more fundamental level nature can inspire curiosity and exploration and interacting with nature can be enriching in various ways. In the studio  designs for living at the Nordbahnhof Development Area "Free Centre" will serve to explore this more fundamental level with the aim to provide experiences for people that are not normally part of their urban life. The aim is to explore a fusion between building and landscape, and more specifically the building envelope as a multi-species space. This involves considerations of terrain shaping, soil and water regimes, vegetation, animals, and first and foremost the desired human-nature interactions. In parallel the studio will use and develop relevant computer-aided workflows and participate in the development of related computational methods and tools.

Due to possible restrictions due to Covid 19, lectures, workshops and project meetings for the winter semester 2022/23 will be offered in hybrid mode. If it will become necessary the studio will switch to online mode. Studio activities will take place in the regular class time on Thursdays from 14:00 - 18:00. All lectures are made accessible on the course-specific Nextcloud folder.

Specific computer-aided design and analysis processes in Rhino / Grasshopper are presented and integrated into the design process. Project-specific computational workflows are developed.

Selected literature study is necessary to gain relevant background knowledge.

Lectures and seminars serve as an introduction to the subject of "Ecolopes", as well as relevant computer-aided design methods and tools.

Interim presentations with submission of specific aspects of the design and designprocess and final presentation of the studio work with invited guest critics.

Working knowledge in Rhino and Grasshopper are expected.