Admission requirements
The course is connected to the following study programs
- Master of Architecture
Course description
The Circular Prototyping studio offers students a comprehensive understanding of architecture within the context of environmental sustainability. The curriculum centres on the principles of circular building practices, with a specific focus on building materials and construction techniques that substantially mitigate environmental impact. These principles are investigated within a design-build studio format, equipping students with vital tools to guide form-finding processes and facilitate critical evaluation of sustainability measures as an integral part of the design process.
During the spring semester 2026, the studio will design and build an observation tower in the context of an old industrial site in Skellefteå, Sweden. The tower will serve as a first step towards a transformation of the site, from a highly polluted area to a residential district. It aims to provide the community a place to learn, observe and reflect on its industrial past as well the ongoing societal transformation.
The studio’s core activities revolve around collaborative design-build projects that mirror architectural practice. The hands-on experience with building allows students to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical manner and foster a deeper understanding of possibilities and challenges at hand as we move forward into a future with circular material economy and ecological awareness.
Learning Outcome
After successfully completing the course, you have aquired the following knowledge:
- of climate mitigation strategies relating to construction
- of circular construction principles, specifically the use of local resources
- of a range of different regenerative materials, their inherent properties and potential use in the construction industry
- of evaluating the environmental impact of choices through quantification
You have aquired the following skills:
- In techniques and tools to build with regenerative materials in various ways
- In circular design development from concept to finalized built project (from sketch to building manual and final assembly)
- In practical and constructive detailing when working with regenerative materials
- In critical thinking upon standard practice and to reflect on future circular design possibilities and strategies
You have aquired the general competence:
- Ability to design and assess our making from a circular perspective.
- Assessing environmentally sound design results, learning to integrate in-depth material investigations in the form-finding process.
- In understanding the complexity of a building process and construction site (resource availability, time, economy, transportation)
- An awareness of the political agenda in relation to climate mitigation and adaption – nationally and internationally.
- Design-build competence from conceptual models and drawings, physical models to scale, drawings in 1:100 – 1:10, to 1:1 construction drawings and building processes.
- Composing a report on findings and related wider reflections, targeting barriers and opportunities in future circular practices.
Teaching
The teaching methods consists of different tasks, relevant lectures and readings, feed-back sessions, pin-ups as well as hand-on workshops and 1:1 prototyping. The excursions is a vital part of the teaching. It will be happening twice during the semester, first to lay the foundation for the design competition and secondly for the practical building execution.
Through the format of a design competition the students will explore the potential of different ideas and develop them further. The course’s final assignment is a comprehensive report (individual or group work). The report summarizes and reflects upon the findings from the design-build process to uncover barriers and opportunities for future circular practices.
Physical attendance at lectures, supervision, and other educational activities is expected and necessary to achieve the learning outcomes.
Examination
Form of assessment: Portfolio assessment
Grouping: Individual
Grading scale: Pass/fail
The portfolio assessment includes the following elements:
Work from all assignments during the semester. The assignments must be assessed as passed in order to pass the course.