UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING SCIENCE
FIRST YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER
Course Code: CCS 001
Course Title: COMMUNICATION SKILLS
45 Hrs.
Objective of the Course: To provide students an overview of the communication process in relation to reading, writing, and speaking skills; the nature of the reading process with a focus on the evaluation of bottom-up, top-down and interactive models; important factors in readability; cohesion, coherence, sentence length and complexity, organization; paragraph structure and reader strategy; fundamentals factors in effective writing process; principles of development in expressive, informative argumentative and persuasive writing skills, exploring works and meanings; denotations, connotations, metaphors, euphemisms and clichés; report writing; writing a research or library paper plagiarism and how to avoid it.
Course Outline: Lecture series covering areas of communication processes, transcoding; mechanics or oral presentation techniques in seminars; tutorials, public places; listening in academic contexts. Information skills; public places; listening in academic contexts. Information skills; information sources, types of libraries; reference works and techniques; information technology, evaluation of information sources; classification schemes.
Learning Methods: Series of lectures which include assignments and presentations
Evaluation Method: The students are expected to carry out written assignments or exercises and sit for a continuous assessment test(s)
Final Examination: At the end of semester students are to sit for a two hour written examination
Learning Resources: Students are expected to refer to Communication skills by Scammell, Barbara, Communication concepts and skills by Hopper, Robert, Methods of learning communication skills by Day, Peter Russell, Developing skills for human interaction by Heun, Linda R.
Course Code: BAR 101
Course Title: BUILDING TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES 1 45 Hrs.
Objective of the Course: To provide students with insight on Building technology in history across the world. To provide an introduction to different ways of thinking about construction in relation to design practice and investigation of the artifactual nature and materiality of buildings.
Course Outline: Lectures covering areas of building technology, different ways of thinking about construction in relation to design practice, investigation of the artifactual nature and materiality of buildings, construction principles and their implications to the development of construction strategies in architectural design, and introduction to building material science
Learning Methods: Series of lectures which include assignments and presentations
Evaluation Method: The students are expected to carry out written assignments or exercises and sit for a continuous assessment test(s)
Final Examination: At the end of semester students are to sit for a two hour written examination
Learning Resources: Students are expected to refer to Building services, technology and design by Greeno, Roger, Building services handbook by Hall, Fred, Environment and services by Burberry, Peter, Introduction to building services by Curd, E. F.
Course Code: BAR 103
Course Title: HISTORY AND THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE 1 45 Hrs. Objective of the Course:
Course Outline: Lectures and presentations in Cultures and Builtform across the world, built form as an expression of societal, technological, environmental and humane parameter as emergent through architectural language of world cultures. Cultures of Africa and their built forms. Analytical understanding of builtforms in world cultures to establish common fundamentals.
Learning Methods: Series of lectures which include assignments and presentations of case studies
Evaluation Method: The students are expected to carry out written assignments, case studies or exercises and sit for a continuous assessment test(s)
Final Examination: At the end of semester students are to sit for a two hour written examination
Learning Resources: Students are expected to refer to Architecture : an introduction to the history and theory of the art of building by Lethaby, William Richard, Modern architectural theory : a historical survey, 1673-1968 by Mallgrave, Harry Francis, The Rationalists: theory and design in the modern movement by Sharp, Dennis, The Theory of architecture: concepts, themes & practices by Johnson, Paul-Alan
Course Code: BAR 105
Course Title: MATHEMATICS FOR ARCHITECTURE 45 Hrs.
Objective of the Course: To introduce students to mathematics specific to Architecture and Engineering applications.
Course Outline: Lectures that cover Calculus; Differentiation, partial differentiation, maxima and minima, Introduction to differential equations, Integration, basic formula, by parts, successive integration, application to area length, areas, Plane analytic geometry; fundamental concepts, standard form, general equation and properties of straight line, circle, parabola, ellipse and hyperbola. Also, calculations for area of plane regular shapes by algebraic and trigonometric methods and irregular shapes by approximate methods, Conic coordinates, Solid geometry; fundamental concepts, the plane, straight line, space loci and quadric surface.
Learning Methods: Series of lectures which include assignments
Evaluation Method: The students are expected to carry out written assignments, case studies or exercises and sit for a continuous assessment test(s)
Final Examination: At the end of semester students are to sit for a two hour written examination
Learning Resources: Students are expected to refer to Mathematics in architecture by Mario Salvadori, Ideas in mathematics by Douglis, Avron, Integrated mathematics by Rubenstein, Rheta N., The mathematical experience by Davis, Philip J.
Course Code: BAR 107
Course Title: GEOLOGY 45 Hrs.
Objective of the Course: To provide students with appreciation of surface of the earth as the base of man's structured environment
Course Outline:. Lectures in the areas of origin and development of the earth's structure, the geological processes and their influence on Architecture and the earth's crust with a special reference to Kenya.
Learning Methods: Series of lectures which include assignments
Evaluation Method: The students are expected to carry out written assignments, case studies or exercises and sit for a continuous assessment test(s)
Final Examination: At the end of semester students are to sit for a two hour written examination
Learning Resources: Students are expected to refer to Advances in earth science; contributions. Edited by P.M. Hurley, The geological aspects of the origin of life on earth by Rutten, Martin Gerard, The geological map; an elementary text book for students of geography and geology by Earle, Kenneth Wilson, Geology by Young, Keith
Course Code: BAR 107
Course Title: CLIMATOLOGY 45 Hrs.
Objective of the Course: To introduce to students to Meteorology and Climatology,
Course Outline: Lectures that cover Meteorological parameters; Radiation, temperature humidity, precipitation. Septic climatology; modification of climate by man, air pollution; long term and short term climate change. Influence of climate on Architecture.
Learning Methods: Series of lectures which include assignments
Evaluation Method: The students are expected to carry out written assignments, case studies or exercises and sit for a continuous assessment test(s)
Final Examination: At the end of semester students are to sit for a two hour written examination
Learning Resources: Students are expected to refer to Atmosphere, weather, and climate by Barry, Roger Graham, Climate and the environment: the atmospheric impact on man by Griffiths, John F., Climatology : fundamentals and applications by Mather, John Russell, Climatology by Miller, Arthur Austin
Course Code: BAR 113
Course Title: ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 1 180 Hrs.
Objective of the Course: To introduce students to design theory, freehand drawing, proportions and scales, painting, materials and space
Course Outline: Studio inputs in the areas of proportions and Scales, Light and Perception. Sensory and Psychological order. Freehand drawing and painting, colour theory, graphic techniques and 3D assemblage. Exploration of visual observation, expression and communication through the medium of lines, areas and compositions, tones, scales and proportions. Basic skills in the use of various materials and techniques for representation. Exploration of sensitive perception of the primary elements of space; point, Line, plane, volume, mass, texture and color.
Learning Methods: Lectures leading to research and brief formulation in a design project with the aid of Fieldwork and case studies
Evaluation Method: The students are expected to make presentations of field work and case studies. There will be continuous assessment of performance
Final Examination: At the end of semester students are to present/pin-up their portfolio works
Learning Resources: Students are expected to refer to Approach to architectural design by Isaac, Alan Reginald George, The architect's studio companion: technical guidelines for preliminary design by Allen, Edward, Architectural drafting and design by Jefferis, Alan, Design and detail of the space between buildings by Beazley, Elizabeth
SECOND SEMESTER
Course Code: BAR 102
Course Title: BUILDING TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES 2 45 Hrs.
Objective of the Course: To provide students with insight on building materials and their technical characteristics. This includes thermal insulation principles, moisture insulation principles and materials.
Course Outline: Lectures on building materials - Technical characteristics, rock, stone and soils; cementing materials, mortars and concrete, bricks, blocks and tiles; metals, wood, plastics, glass; thermal insulation principles and materials; moisture insulation principles and materials.
Learning Methods: Series of lectures which include assignments
Evaluation Method: The students are expected to carry out written assignments, case studies or exercises and sit for a continuous assessment test(s)
Final Examination: At the end of semester students are to sit for a two hour written examination
Learning Resources: Students are expected to refer to Construction technology by R. Chudley, Encyclopedia of building technology by Cowan, Henry J., Building materials technology by Ragsdale, Leslie Albert, Building services, technology and design. by Greeno, Roger
Course Code: BAR 104
Course Title: HISTORY AND THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2 45 Hrs.
Objective of the Course: To provide students with insight on analytical themes in traditional art and architecture of the sub-Saharan Africa and new forms and directions in African architecture.
Course Outline: Lectures and presentations to students in analytical themes in traditional art and architecture of the sub-Saharan Africa; technology in African architecture Role of culture and symbolism in the development of built-form in African settlements; new forms and directions in African architecture; sustainability of the built environment within the wider socio-economic context.
Learning Methods: Series of lectures and presentations which include assignments
Evaluation Method: The students are expected to carry out written assignments, case studies or exercises and sit for a continuous assessment test(s)
Final Examination: At the end of semester students are to sit for a two hour written examination
Learning Resources: Students are expected to refer to The Theory of architecture: concepts, themes & practices by Johnson, Paul-Alan, Architecture : an introduction to the history and theory of the art of building by Lethaby, William Richard, Incidence and symmetry in design and architecture by Baglivo, Jenny Antoinette
Course Code: BAR 106
Course Title: SOCIOLOGY 45 Hrs.
Objective of the Course: To introduce students to principles of sociological studies and analysis, social sturucture and its influence on architecture, dynamics of social change and analyzing the urbanization process in Kenya and its implication on Planning Architecture.
Course Outline: The unit, to be carried out through lectures, will constitute principles of sociological studies and analysis; social structure and its influence on Architecture, social institutions and their architectural manifestation; dynamics of social change in Kenya; the community and its characteristics, criteria for assessment of community needs of Built amenities- Health, Education, Housing, Rural urban migration and the urbanisation process in Kenya and their implication on Planning Architecture
Learning Methods: Series of lectures which include assignments
Evaluation Method: The students are expected to carry out written assignments, case studies or exercises and sit for a continuous assessment test(s)
Final Examination: At the end of semester students are to sit for a two hour written examination
Learning Resources: Students are expected to refer to Order and change: : introductory sociology by Leslie, Gerald R., The form of sociology: paradigms and crises by Eisenstadt, Shmuel Noah, Foundations of sociololgy by Lundberg, G.A., Fundamentals of sociology by McNeill, Patrick
Course Code and Title: CCS 009 ELEMENTS OF ECONOMICS 45 Hrs. (As per the description of the Board of Common Undergraduate courses)
Course Code: BAR 108
Course Title: ANTHROPOLOGY 45 Hrs.
Objective of the Course: To introduce students to concepts of cultural anthropology and evolution, economic adaptations and social forms, belief systems, social dynamics unique to the Africa.
Course Outline: Series of lectures to cover concepts of culture; manifestations and characteristics, paradigm for cultural anthropology; cultural evolution, verbal and non-verbal communication and their world and local contexts; economic adaptation and social forms; food getting systems and their impact on social forms' political organizations ; social order and disorder; power and authority in society in Africa and world; behavior control, formal and informal sanctions; culture and personality in the world and local contexts; belief systems; religion , magic, sacred and profane in the world and local contexts; culture change and issues in the contemporary world; social stratification and changes in the third world, peace and conflict; material culture; nature manifestations and characteristics. Black Aesthetics and the diaspora. An investigation of African cosmological, metaphysical, ontological and ethical world views. An examination of African music, drama, art, poetry and architecture for their themes, motifs and idioms that define their “Africanness”
Learning Methods: Lectures and presentations
Evaluation Method: The students are expected to carry out written assignments, case studies or exercises and sit for a continuous assessment test(s)
Final Examination: At the end of semester students are to sit for a two hour written examination
Learning Resources: Students are expected to refer to Age and anthropological theory by Kertzer, David I., Anthropological theory today by Moore, Henrietta, L., Anthropology : contemporary perspectives by Hunter, David E.
Course Code: BAR 114
Course Title: ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 2 180 Hrs.
Objective of the Course: To introduce students to developing solutions to simple design problems by exploring aspects of primary elements of architecture.
Course Outline: Studio inputs to each student in coming up with solution of simple design problems by exploring an aspect of the primary elements of architecture. The studio sessions will cover aspects of Shade and Shadow; Technical illumination, Technical line shadow in orthographic projection of front and top views; Curved elements in shade and shadow; Application to axonometric and perspective drawing; Exploration of visual observation, expression and communication through pattern, texture, light, colour and kinetics; Basic skills in free-hand sketches and perspectives in various media; Exploration of design vocabulary through light and movement, scale and proportion, rhythm and balance, harmony and contrasts, kinetics and effects.
Learning Methods: Lectures leading to research and brief formulation in a design project with the aid of Fieldwork and case studies
Evaluation Method: The students are expected to make presentations of field work and case studies. There will be continuous assessment of performance
Final Examination: At the end of semester students are to present/pin-up their portfolio works
Learning Resources: Students are expected to refer to The architect's studio companion: technical guidelines for preliminary design by Allen, Edward, Architecture: drafting and design by Hepler, Donald E., The built environment : a collaborative inquiry into design and planning by McClure, Wendy R.
