Course Details

Specialized project 1

Academic Year 2025/26

BHA031-A course is part of 1 study plan

​ BPC-EVB Winter Semester 4th year

The course will introduce students to contemporary English terminology in the following fields:
- Laws and standards
- Construction drawings
- Architecture, morphology and typology of buildings
- Building design
- Building construction

Credits

2 credits

Language of instruction

English

Semester

winter

Course Guarantor

Ing. Karel Struhala, Ph.D.

Institute

Institute of Building Structures

Forms and criteria of assessment

course-unit credit

Entry Knowledge

B1 level in English according to CEFR.
Basic knowledge of professional Czech terminology in the fields of building design, geometry and statistics.

Aims

The aim of the course is to familiarize students with the contemporary professional English terminology in the field of architectural and structural building design. Students will be introduced to implementation of foreign terminology and methods in Czech conditions.
Students will be able to apply their knowledge in short professional texts and presentations in English.

Offered to foreign students

Not to offer

Course on BUT site

https://www.vut.cz/en/students/courses/detail/289996

Exercise

13 weeks, 2 hours/week, compulsory

Syllabus

  • 1. Fundamentals of professional English: Summary of previous knowledge. Introduction of the course requirements and deliverables. Assignment: Developing title of a bachelor project.
  • 2. Fundamentals of professional English: Construction drawings. Basic terms: parts of drawings, types of drawings. Examples of Czech and English drawings. Discussion about the differences in drawing and descriptions (dimensions, units, level of detail).
  • 3. Fundamentals of building typology: Architecture, morphology and typology. Introduction to English terminology appliable in Czech conditions: Basic shapes and types of buildings, names of architectural elements, structural systems, etc. Discussion about the differences between Czech and English architecture.
  • 4. Fundamentals of sustainable building design. Introduction to English terminology on bioclimatic design of residential buildings: Description of room layout and building operation in the context of energy efficiency. Discussion comparing typical Czech and British flat. Introduction to the fundamentals of written presentations (abstracts, annotations). Assignment: Developing abstract describing structual design and layout of student's bachelor project.
  • 5. Building plot, public infrastructure, site surveys, layout and landscaping. Introduction to fundamental English terminology and differences between Czech and British view of the topic.
  • 6. Consultations and discussion of bachelor project titles and abstracts. Assignment of an oral presentation describing architectural and structural design of students' bachelor projects. Introduction to the fundamentals of spoken presentations.
  • 7. Building structures and construction materials: Introduction of fundamental English terminology related to load-bearing structures (foundations, walls, floors, roofs), stairs, ramps, elevators and excalators.
  • 8. Building structures and construction materials: Natural construction materials. History and contemporary state-of-art applications. Discussion on the role of natural materials in contemporary building design and construction.
  • 9. Building structures and construction materials: Roofs, facades and curtain walls. Introduction of fundamental English terminology.
  • 10. - 11. Presentations of students' bachelor projects (architectural and structural design) and discussion.
  • 12. Building structures and construction materials: non-bearing structures (doors, windows, flooring, carpentry, tinsmithing, etc. Introduction of key differences between Czech and English carpentry, tinsmithing and locksmithing. Feedback on abstracts and presentations and discussion on common mistakes.
  • 13. Classification and credits. Final submission of abstracts and presentations.