Course detail

Basic Structures for Architects

FA-ZSM-KEAcad. year: 2025/2026

The course introduces basic theory of statics, load-bearing elements and structures. The knowledge of structural behaviour is essential for architects as it is the logical base in the most important phase of creation, i.e. when designing the concept of structure. The course provides general rules of structural analysis, internal forces, and their practical use in practice.
In the study programmes “Architecture and Urban Design” the course is part of the technical courses.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Monika Petříčková, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Engineering (US)

Offered to foreign students

The home faculty only

Entry knowledge

Not applicable.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Evaluation consists of an exam which is written and consists of numerical and theoretical parts, students must complete a minimum 50 % of both parts.
Attendance in lectures is not compulsory, attendance in seminars is compulsory. In seminars, students solve individual assignments which must be consulted and submitted before the required deadlines.
In the case of a student's apology and with approval of the subject guarantor, personal attendance may be substituted with online attendance in the classes.

Aims

The aim of the course is to familiarize the students with the concept of creating structural model and structural behaviour under load, in order to specify the internal forces which are fundamental for designing and forming of structures and to provide safety of the structure. The course presents all basic types of load-bearing structures.
  • Students will know all types of load-bearing structures.
  • Students will be able to analyse the internal forces in different types of structures.
  • Students will gain substantial knowledge and principles of dimensioning.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

ALLEN, Edward; ZALEWSKI, Waclaw. Form And Forces: Designing Efficient, Expressive Structures. John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2009. ISBN: 9780470174654. (EN)
ENGEL, Heino. Tragsysteme Structure Systems. 1st Ed. Stuttgart: Deutsche Verlags – Anstalt, 1967, 352 s. ISBN 37-757-0706-9. (EN)
GARRISON, Philip. Basic structures for engineers and architects. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2005, 278 s. ISBN 14-051-2053-3. (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme NE_A+U Master's 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
    specialization --- (2023) , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme BE_A+U Bachelor's 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
  • Programme BX_A+U Bachelor's 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
  • Programme NE_A+U Master's 1 year of study, summer semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Seminar

36 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Monika Petříčková, Ph.D.