Introduction

Architectural Building Components Design Engineering (ABCDE)

ABCDE is a unique master programme that brings together industrial design methodology and building construction in order to improve the total life-cycle performance of buildings and their components. Another unique feature of the programme is a focus on green design and engineering of building systems and components in close cooperation with the construction industry. Besides interactive working sessions with the industry, students attending the ABCDE master track are involved in international multidisciplinary design studios that deal with design and development of transformable and green buildings and systems.

Conventional construction methods are in large part responsible for the degradation of the environment, due to the tonnes of waste materials that become burdens to society. Most buildings are designed for assembly but not for recovery of components and materials. The inability to remove and exchange building systems and their components results not only in significant energy and material consumption and increased waste production, but also in the lack of spatial adaptability and technical serviceability of the buildings. To respond to global environmental and economic challenges, the building sector needs to adopt new construction methods.

A major shift towards green design and engendering involves a shift from design of close building assemblies towards one of open and dynamic building assemblies made of independent and exchangeable building components and systems. This requires a more systematic approach to building design, one that has already been integrated into an industrial/product design.

Architectural Building Components Design Engineering (ABCDE) is concerned with the development of such new building systems and components.

Besides, the building sector is in need of industrial design expertise due to increasing industrialization and the change from a supplier’s market to a buyer’s market. Buildings made of industrially-produced components should lead to more user value, better quality, less mistakes, better environmental performances and lower prices. The building industry needs industrial designers who have special knowledge of architecture and building technology and have a broad understanding of the integration of various design aspects such as: use, ecology, aesthetics, stability, production and logistics; apart from product design and ergonomics.

Building components are mostly business-to-business products, but may also be consumer products, sold through do-it-yourself shops. Furthermore, buildings are not just commodities, but also objects for investment. The long lifetimes of building products (more than 40 years) and large product dimensions require a different design approach. Aspects such as long term quality, architectural value, customization, adaptability and environmental impact play a crucial role in the product development process.

Furthermore, compared with regular industrial design contexts, the product development process for the building industry can be characterized as a multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder process in which a single client cannot be determined easily and wherein influence from the public sector is substantial.

The ABCDE track educates students to meet the requirements of the building sector of tomorrow. These master students learn how to design building components and systems from an industrial design and manufacturing perspective, taking into account human aspects, customer needs, aesthetics, ecology and ease of use. They also consider additional aspects related to the building sector like architecture, urban planning, building physics, structural design and decision-making in the public sector.

This master track is developed in close cooperation with the building industry, and as the developments in this sector are internationally driven, relations are established with partners abroad. Recently, students have carried out joint projects with students of the universities of Istanbul and Sarajevo.

The master track ABCDE builds on the expertise developed in the past decade at the Faculty of Engineering Technology at the University of Twente. Apart from Industrial Design Engineering staff, several specialists within the faculty contribute to the master programme, for example, from the disciplines Construction Management & Engineering and Sustainable Energy Technology, The master track ABCDE is well embedded in the research programme of the Faculty of Engineering Technology. This will ensure that students receive state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of industrial design of building components and systems. Important fields of research include:

Graduation assignments are preferably completed in close co-operation with the building industry. Some examples of assignments for the master track ABCDE are:

The coordinator and contact person for this master track is:

Dr. Elma Durmisevic

Email: e.durmisevic@utwente.nl