Exercise
Winter Semester 2026/27
Summer House on the Elbe Riverbank
Module No.: AD 120 - Exercises in the Fundamentals of Structural Engineering
Instructors: Enrico Glotz, Nina Gromoll, Lorenzo Scheibner, Paul Schmelzer
Topics
Architectural Drawing
Ground Floor Plan
Basement Floor Plan
Foundation Plan
Ceiling/Roof Beam Plans
Longitudinal and Cross-Sections
Single-flight staircase Single-skin facade
Orientation Session: October 15, 2026, 9:20 a.m. to 10:50 a.m.
Distribution and Support: Thursdays 9:20 a.m. to 12:40 p.m., Bamberger Straße 1
The exercises will be held in person. Group assignments and time slots are managed through the TU Dresden self-management portal (selma).
Winter Semester 2026/27
Structural Engineering—Wooden Structures, Resource-Efficient Design, and Stairs
Module No.: AD 310 – Structural Engineering Exercises
Instructors: Sofia Ceylan, Carolin Michel
The course offerings in the 3rd and 4th semesters are divided into two parallel subject areas: A – Timber Structures and B – Resource-Efficient Design and Staircases. At the beginning of the 3rd semester, students choose one of the two thematic areas and participate in the corresponding lecture and associated exercises. In the 4th semester, students switch thematic areas. In this way, all students complete both course offerings and gain a comprehensive insight into various structural design issues over the course of the academic year. The parallel structure allows for a continuous and intensive engagement with the respective focus area.
A – Wooden Structures
The Wooden Structures track presents wood as the material and structural foundation of architectural thought and design. The Timber Construction Laboratory complements the coursework with an experimental format that combines analysis, construction, and design. Using selected timber structures as examples, students examine structural principles, material use, and spatial relationships, and deepen their understanding through practical experiments and model testing. The experience gained is then applied and further developed in an independent design project. In this way, the course integrates structural knowledge, an understanding of materials, and spatial design, laying the groundwork for the conscious use of wood as an architectural and structural material.
B – Resource-Efficient Construction and Staircases
This thematic area combines issues of resource-efficient construction with a spatial and structural exploration of staircases. Students examine how material selection, construction, preservation of existing structures, reuse, and circularity influence architectural design. Using EcoTool, students analyze and assess their own designs to visualize the impact of different design decisions on the carbon footprint. In doing so, they consciously balance ecological indicators with structural, functional, and architectural qualities. In addition, the staircase is examined as a connecting element between space, structure, and accessibility. Starting with the staircase from their own design, students develop various structural and material solutions using wood, steel, and concrete. In an iterative process, the design is further developed under changing spatial and structural framework conditions. This explores how space and the staircase influence one another and what spatial, structural, and design potentials arise from this interaction. The goal is to understand resource conservation and structural thinking as integral components of architectural design and to combine them with spatial quality and design judgment.
Field Trip Week and Introductory Session: October 8, 2026, and October 9, 2026
Course materials and support: Fridays 11:10 a.m. to 6:10 p.m., BZW
The exercises will be held in person. Group assignments and time slots will be allocated via the TU Dresden self-management portal (selma).
Summer Semester 2026
Summer House on the Elbe Riverbank
Module No.: AD 120 - Exercises in Fundamentals of Structural Engineering
Instructors: Sofia Ceylan, Enrico Glotz, Nina Gromoll, Paul Schmelzer
Topics
Multi-layered facade
Windows
Base and Entrance Door
Eaves, fascia, parapet
Restroom
Distribution and support: Thursdays from 9:20 a.m. to 12:40 p.m., Bamberger Straße 1
The exercises will be held in person. Group assignments and time slots are managed through the TU Dresden self-management portal (selma).