Innovations in architectural education in terms of mobile and prefabricated structures

Abstract

Sustainability and the impact of built environment on ecology are key issues in contemporary architecture. Modular architecture and prefabricated light structures represent a very good area for experimentation, especially for finding innovative solutions to contemporary architectural problems. These types of structures should be particularly explored in architectural education, which requires a continuous pursuit of new solutions. The main aim of this article is to provide empirical evidence that working with such structures helps students to master innovative architectural solutions. First, is presented a case study involving several projects, where an experimental approach to modular architecture design has been implemented. Second, the authors report on a survey carried out among architecture students to gauge their perceptions on the importance of the applied educational tools in the successful accomplishment of their projects. The survey results confirm that sustainability and ecology are crucial issues in contemporary architecture, and that modular architecture and light structures enabled students to discover and implement solutions leading to a high positive impact on the environment