PLATFORM: Architectural Technology / REF / 96 / 2014

Saturday, 17 May 2014

Architectural Technology / REF / 96 / 2014

Architectural Technology is a discipline related to the design of buildings. It is a new discipline which emerged from the practice of architecture and building engineering. It was created as new technologies generated new design and construction methods. Architectural technology is related to the different elements of a building and their interactions. In his published research, Stephen Emmitt explains that "The relationship between building technology and design can be traced back to the Enlightenment and the industrial revolution, period when advances in technology and science were seen as the way forward, and times of solid faith in progress [...] As technologies multiply in number and complexity the building profession started to fragment. Increases in building activities brought about social and cultural changes". We can assume that the practice of architectural technology and the practice of architecture were first dissociated during the period described by Stephen Emitt

Practice of Architectural Technology
In some countries the discipline is practiced by architectural technologists, while in other countries it is practiced by architects and engineers. Communication, planning, design, and technology are the core components of the profession, while environmental issues also became predominant.
The main subjects examined by architectural technology can be grouped as, but not limited to, the following disciplines:

· structural technologies;

· Architectural design

· building materials and methods;

· computer-aided design;

· environmental technologies applied to architecture;

· building management technologies;

· Building regulations and building standards.

Architectural technology cannot be limited to the subjects above. The practice of this disciple also requires knowledge of: