Teaching, research, and experimental workshop – [Construction] box

Project Duration: : September 1, 2022 to July 31, 2027

Students create space for students: In the interdisciplinary project [Bau]Kasten, students from the degree programs Architecture - Green Building, Civil Engineering - Construction Management, and Sustainable Management of Resources jointly plan and build a teaching, research, and experimental workshop. They receive technical support and guidance in the planning, organization and construction work from the staff of the Research Center Building and Design.

The [Bau]Kasten offers a wide range of possible uses and many advantages, such as the promotion of cross-year and cross-program networking among students through joint work in this model construction workshop. Specific initial tasks have already been planned after the workshop has been set up:

Master’s students from the participating departments will be involved in the planning, production and construction of several “Tiny Houses” on the campus of the FH Campus Wien. In addition, the workshop will provide the infrastructure for working on academic theses. In connection with the construction, the tiny houses are the starting point for research into materials technology and building physics.

The implementation of the project will be largely integrated into the existing courses and curricula of the participating programs. At least once per quarter, the progress in the respective sub-areas will be evaluated and, in the interest of quality assurance, course contents and didactic concepts will be adapted and optimized.

The teaching concept used is based on the principle of the "Integral Planning" course already established at the Department of Building and Design. On the one hand, the focus is on promoting creative collaboration between experts from different disciplines in a realistic environment. On the other hand, the project aims to promote ecological and economic considerations and the "cradle to cradle" principle of sustainable construction. Students from the Department of Applied Life Sciences are conducting life cycle assessments as part of the "Life Cycle Assessments" exercise.

Project goals

[Bau]Kasten aims to put the knowledge acquired during the course into practice and to provide an opportunity for intensive engagement with scientific issues. Creative, interdisciplinary and cooperative working methods are encouraged as well as the implementation of Life Cycle Assessment methods.

The goals can be broken down as follows:

Iterative design, planning and prototyping of a sustainable workshop building for teaching purposes, including an opening event organized by the bachelor students
Optimization and quality management based on the prototypes: Master’s students will develop several “Tiny House” designs and build prototypes.
Knowledge transfer through practical construction work: hands-on workshops and documentation of the processes.
Interaction of teaching, research and development: At least 10 Master's theses should answer questions and initiate new technologies and solutions.
Networking among students across all years and study programs of the participating departments.
Publications, lectures and conferences: Publications should promote further awareness Mind-Setting, also outside the FH Campus Wien.