Academic year/semester: 2025/26/2

ECTS Credits: 6

Available for: Only for the faculty’s students

Lecture hours: 0
Seminarium:0
Practice: 4
Laboratory: 0
Consultation: 0

Prerequisites: 2 absolved semesters in a program of architecture or civil engineering. IMPORTANT: Students can choose whether ONLY MSc (incl. YAROESFBNF) courses, or ONLY vertical studio courses! Exceptions we can make on individual decisions based on special requests, maximum for less than 50% of the courses - please contact our international coordinator.

Course Leader: Lama AlNatour, Sánta Patrik

Faculty: Ybl Miklós Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering, 1146 Budapest, Thököly út 74.

Course Description:
The course focuses on designing a contemporary public building in a dense urban context or on a brownfield, with special attention to context-sensitive spatial development, integration of architectural and engineering aspects Participants will work in international and interdisciplinary teams, collaborating through a vertical studio system.

Competences:
Ability to develop context-aware architectural concepts - Integration of structural and material thinking in early design phases - Ethical handling of inspiration and architectural references (AI, archives, contemporary practice) - Use of ornament as a spatial and conceptual design tool - Effective collaboration in multicultural and interdisciplinary teams - Visual and verbal communication of complex architectural ideas

Topics:
Topics:
1. week: Introduction / Site visit / Urban fabric analysis
Project briefing, team formation, mapping the context (urban, historical, material)
2. week: Case studies: public architecture, ornament, inspiration
Presentation of case studies
3. week: Design Task I: massing and urban integration
Massing concepts, urban integration, functional logic – desk crits
4. week: Design Task II: structural and material logic
Initial structural strategies and engineering input – guest lecturer (CE background)
5. week: Lecture: contemporary ornament – material, pattern, detail
Contemporary ornament: digital fabrication, tectonics, abstraction
6. week: Workshop: the ethics of inspiration
AI tools, proactive prompt direction for creative use, visual references – short exercise
7. week: Consultations + Midterm presentation
Concept presentation, peer feedback
8. week: Development Phase I: ornament as spatial expression
From concept to material and tectonic expression – integration of ornament
9. week: Team studio day / Desk crits
Individual/team consultations
10. week: Consultations
11. week: Engineering integration: structural systems, envelopes
Load-bearing structure, envelope, environmental performance – CE input
12. week: Studio day / Consultations
Individual/team consultations
13. week: Final Phase: Representation & Communication
Graphic design, storytelling, diagrams, model suggestions
14. week: Final presentation
Studio presentations, feedback session, reflection, peer assessment

Assessment: Assessment: final mark based on: • Design project outcome (60%) • Engagement and collaboration (20%) • Interim submissions & presentations (20%)

Exam Types:

no exam – project-based evaluation

Compulsory bibliography: Farshid Moussavi: The Function of Ornament Herzog & de Meuron: Natural History Stan Allen: Points + Lines

Recommended bibliography: Articles and case studies shared during the course

Additional bibliography: -

Additional Information: The course will be held in English. Students are expected to work in mixed teams. Basic Rhino/Grasshopper skills are recommended but not required.