MASTERCLASS: HOW DO WE DESIGN CONSTRUCTIONS WITHIN THE PLANETARY BOUNDARIES?

The Aarhus School of Architecture, VIA University College and Aarhus University invite particularly interested architecture, structural engineering and construction design students who have completed at least the 3rd semester to apply to participate in this exclusive masterclass.

06.02.2023

The international report Earth Overshoot Day shows that Denmark consumes environmental resources to an extent equivalent to four Earth-like planets. Our consumption is so intense that the earth’s ecosystems cannot keep up, and we live with an imminent danger of irreversible climate change that will have catastrophic consequences.

This is mainly due to our need for buildings: Construction is the cause of 39% of all energy-related CO2 worldwide and is, at the same time, a massive consumer of scarce natural resources such as sand, metals, and wood. Therefore, it is crucial for the planet’s future that the environmental impact of construction is significantly reduced.

Masterclass om bæredygtigt byggeri i august 2023 i Aarhus

That is why we invite you to this masterclass, which will be about the design of sustainable ways of living.

The following topics will be included:
–        Construction within the planetary limits and absolute sustainability
–        Sustainability, ethics, and aesthetics
–        Interdisciplinary collaboration and co-creation
–        Introduction to tools for assessing a building’s climate footprint in the early design phase

You will gain knowledge and skills within:
–        Planetary boundaries and their importance for the construction sector
–        Application and interpretation of LCA analyses
–        Interaction between materials, energy, and indoor climate
–        Software for calculation: LCAByg and ICEbear
–        Development of interdisciplinary construction engineering solutions

Practical Information

The masterclass takes place in Aarhus and is held from 7 to 18 August 2023 (week 32/33) and is free for all participants.

The entry requirement is that you must be particularly motivated to develop sustainable construction. In addition, you must have passed at least the 3rd semester and be an active student in one of the following programs:

VIA UC (Building Designer / ATCM) (4th-7th semester)
Aarhus University (Engineering) (4th-9th semester)
Aarhus School of Architecture (Architect) (4th-9th semester)

There is room for 14 students from each institution. The first-come, first-served principle applies.

Teaching will be primarily in Danish, with individual presentations in English. The students’ presentations can be in both Danish and English. Teaching will take place at VIA UC, Campus C, Aarhus University, and the Aarhus School of Architecture.

Participation in this masterclass is a unique opportunity to expand your professional network and obtain the latest new knowledge and sought-after skills such as preparation of environmental life cycle analyses, considerations of planetary boundaries, absolute sustainability, solutions for ambitious sustainability requirements, etc.