40 417 Transformation in Practice (Spring 2027)

This seminar is part of the Transformation in Practice Course series. The seminar introduces students to the frameworks that govern professional architectural practice, with a focus on working with existing buildings. As climate change and the circular economy reshape the built environment, the value of what already exists continues to grow. Sustainable practice increasingly centers on renewal and reuse rather than new construction, however, the building industry and its regulations remain geared toward new developments.

The seminar therefore examines the legal and regulatory frameworks that shape the reuse of existing buildings, and the creative “rule-bending” often required to work within them. Understanding these frameworks is integral to general practice and fundamental to realizing projects that engage with the reuse of existing structures. Students will be introduced to the work of practitioners from Norway and abroad who specialize in the restoration of listed buildings, the transformation of existing structures, and the reuse of building materials. Through this, students will explore potential career paths within this rapidly developing field of practice.

At the conclusion of the course the student should be able to:

1. Identify and describe the roles of regional cultural heritage authorities and the basic legal, regulatory, and professional frameworks relevant to the reuse and transformation of existing buildings.
2. Recognize and explain drawing types, scales, and documentation methods appropriate to different stages of a project involving existing structures.
3. Carry out basic documentation and survey work to record existing buildings, including assessing their architectural and historical significance.
4. Locate and interpret planning and building regulations and apply them in a simplified manner to a case study project.
5. Prepare introductory written materials such as planning dispensations and project descriptions that demonstrate an emerging understanding of professional communication.
6. Demonstrate awareness of the processes, actors, and frameworks involved in working with existing buildings in general architectural practice.

The seminar is organized into modules corresponding to the themes outlined in the learning outcomes. Teaching is guided by lectures, discussions, and workshops with professionals from the field. Students will undertake on-site surveys and develop a report speculating on the potential future transformation of a designated case study. Coursework will also involve resolving fictional yet realistic scenarios drawn from professional practice.

The seminar is relevant not only for students interested in working with existing buildings but also for those seeking a broader understanding of general architectural practice. Throughout the semester, students engage with contemporary architects, conservation specialists, planning and heritage authorities, and other professionals within the building industry. Lectures and excursions supplement and support the individual case study analyses.

The Transformation in Practice (TIP) electives and studios are led by Amandine Kastler and Erlend Skjeseth, whose teaching is closely linked to the practice of Kastler Skjeseth Architects (kastlerskjeseth.no). Examples of previous TIP studio work can be found at @tip_archive.

Transformation in Practice courses are part of the research project Provenance Projected: Architecture Past and Future in the Era of Circularity, directed by Mari Lending.

Physical attendance at lectures, reviews, supervision sessions, discussions, and other educational activities is expected and necessary in order to achieve the learning outcomes

Assessment method: Project

Grouping: Group

Grading scale: Pass/fail

Case Study and Planning Application Report

Description:
Working in groups, students are assigned a case study site to survey and develop a schematic proposal according to parameters outlined in the syllabus. Each group analyzes the site, identifies its heritage and regulatory context, and proposes an architectural intervention that demonstrates a thoughtful approach to reuse and transformation.

Students present their proposals to a panel of invited critics and submit a report simulating key components of a typical planning application. The report should demonstrate care, precision, and professionalism in both research and execution, reflecting in all deliverables an understanding of the legal, regulatory, and contextual frameworks studied in the seminar.

The report includes:

• Cover letter and project description (1–2 pages)
• Statement of significance (1–2 pages)
• One written dispensation, illustrated if relevant
• Situation plan
• Existing exterior elevation drawings, 1:100
• Existing textured elevation, 1:100
• Demolition drawings of exterior elevations, 1:100
• Proposed drawings of exterior elevations, 1:100

Assessment Criteria:

• Depth of research and understanding of relevant planning and building regulations
• Quality, clarity, and precision of visual and written work
• Ability to synthesize seminar knowledge and apply it to a real site
• Critical engagement with issues of reuse, adaptation, and sustainability
• Professional presentation and effective group collaboration

Coursework Structure:
Throughout the semester, students complete several short assignments that contribute to the final report. Active participation in all meetings, discussions, and reviews is essential to achieve the learning outcomes.

Assessment of group projects follows AHO’s regulations on group work (§14-1).
Group work is normally assessed collectively, but individual assessment may be made if one or more students have not fulfilled their obligations to the group.