On this page you will find more information about the courses offered by the Chair

AD810 Main design, AD911 Advanced design

Refuges
Essential microarchitecture in the high mountains

In the summer semester 2026, essential architecture in the high mountains - huts, winter rooms and bivouacs - will be examined and designed as the basis of alpine infrastructure.

The high mountains place extreme demands on people, materials and construction. The aim is to develop adaptive lightweight construction systems that can be used in varying topographical contexts and enable a modular, expandable range of spaces: from a minimal bivouac to a winter room with wood storage.

Registration via SELMA and further information on OPAL.

AD610 Scientific work

Master of shell construction
The development of concrete shell construction in the 20th century.

In the coming semester, we will be looking at the pioneers of concrete shell construction in the 20th century. Although they all developed extremely thin, curved load-bearing structures, their conceptual approaches to form-finding, geometry, construction methods and calculation methods differed greatly in some cases.

Among other things, the diverse work of

• Franz Dischinger
• Ulrich Finsterwalder
• Pier Luigi Nervi
• Eduardo Torroja
• Giorgio Baroni
• Félix Candela
• René Sarger
• Heinz Isler

will be examined in more detail.

Registration via SELMA and further information on OPAL.

AD510 Constructive design

Wüsteneutzsch lock staircase
Bicycle station and outdoor camp

The subject of the design task in the summer semester 2026 is the activation of the disused Wüsteneutzsch lock stairs as a bicycle station and outdoor camp.

Staff from the Chair of Architectural Design and Construction I and the Chair of Structural Design are supervising the students. The aim is to develop a holistic, integral design idea that combines the aspects of both disciplines into a coherent solution.

On our side, the focus is on innovative structural solutions that harmonize the architectural idea with the structural requirements.

Registration via SELMA and further information on OPAL.

ACCESS Master Program

Form finding for lightweight structures

In the upcoming summer semester 2026, the Chair of Structural Design is offering an English-language course in the Master's program Advanced Computational and Civil Engineering Structural Studies (ACCESS) for the fourth time.

The elective module is aimed at students on the ACCESS program in the 2nd semester. It introduces different strategies and methods of form-finding for lightweight structures such as shells, cable nets and membranes. Particular attention is paid to the practical application of theoretical knowledge in workshops.

Registration via SELMA and further information on OPAL