Design-Based Learning of New Structures: Integrity and Interface Approach to Improve the Architectural Design Ability

One of the most significant reasons for Iranian architecture failure is the lack of knowledge and applying innovation in novel structural systems technology in the design process. The architect must utilize the capabilities of new architecture, which requires his/her skill in the creative application of the modern structural systems in the design process. The purposive education of the novel structures course and its effective and functional application in the design process seems necessary to improve the skills in the architecture schools. The current research aims to explain the efficient educational solutions to improve architectural design skills based on design learning and structural novel technologies. This scientific approach is a reciprocal result of developing the ability to design and adopt a constructivist approach in the interactive learning of architecture students. In this regard, the current study is conducted to investigate the effectiveness of integrity and interface in the simultaneous integration of the new structures in the students' architectural design skills. The main research question is how to transfer practical and effective design-based learning of new structures in the architecture workshop and increase the design skill components. The research method is a sequential mixed method based on a quasi-experimental strategy. The research test was conducted in two phases of the pilot trial in the architectural design workshop as an interactive constructive learning environment. The statistical population of research consisted of third-semester master students of Islamic Azad University, Hamedan Branch, in three groups consisting of 15 people. One group was the main group, and two others were selected as the control group. The research data were collected based on the main components of research, and sequential tests were analyzed based on review criteria. The research findings in the pilot trial indicate that simultaneous learning of the novel structures in the commonplace of design atelier practically leads to the improvement of the main components of the design skills. It can also be employed as a practical pattern in the workshops of architecture schools.