Intersections in built environment: promoting interdisciplinary higher education in the Baltic Sea Region Erasmus Project

Project Title

Intersections in built environment: promoting interdisciplinary higher education in the Baltic Sea Region

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for higher education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2015

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Quality and Relevance of Higher Education in Partner Countries

Project Summary

The THEMATIC APPROACH of the project focuses on the COMPLEXITY of current urban conditions, actual chances and challenges in the built environment; the traditional division of disciplines is no longer adequate. For example, too often engineering focuses only on the technical-economic aspects and architecture only on the aesthetical artistic ones, thus the holistic approach is neglected. Also many major projects struggle, like the new railway station for Stuttgart 21 or the Elbe Philharmonic Hall in Hamburg. Among others, part of the problem is that mistakes are quite often detected too late and responsibilities are hard to define and assign.

Thus, this COMPLEXITY requires cooperation and understanding between the disciplines. The basis for these needs to be provided already in education, and the introduction of a new TEACHING MODULE in the higher education of built environment becomes essential. Also individual disciplines do not have the necessary capacity to develop the comprehensive understanding alone. Therefore, interdisciplinary approaches are needed in order to frame and address the complexity of the praxis of contemporary built environment, in general, and the intersection between architecture and engineering, in particular.

Consequently the overall goal of the project BeInterBaltic is to enhance the quality and relevance of higher education in the Baltic Sea Region by improving and adapting the current curricula of built environment disciplines of the participating universities. The project also aims (1) to develop and test NEW TEACHING METHODS and formats, (2) to equip the students with the INTERDISCIPLINARY and INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCES and skills, (3) to strengthen an interactive DIALOGUE between the universities and non-academic sector and (4) to promote and increase the COOPERATION between the universities in the Baltic Sea Region.

The project consortium consists of 7 higher education institutions from six countries: (1)HafenCity University Hamburg, DE (Applicant), (2) Gdańsk University of Technology, PL, (3) Tallinn University of Technology, EE, (4) The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation, DK, (5) Technical University of Denmark, DK, (6) Chalmers University of Technology, SE and (7) Aalto University, FI.

The project BeInterBaltic is structured in four interlinked and parallel progressing work packages (WPs). Within the WP1 successful project implementation and dissemination of the project outcomes is ensured.

The AIM of the WP2 is to bring the teachers of disciplines of built environment together in order to evaluate existing and develop new methods as well as formats of interdisciplinary teaching. These methods and formats include (1) physical and digital modelling, (2) drawing and film and (3) rhetorics and poetics, all of them focusing on chances and challenges of the built environment. Within this WP a WORKSHOP for teachers was conducted and METHODOLOGICAL GUIDELINES for teachers were developed.

WP3 includes a paradigm shift from the methods of teaching towards the students and their motivation of understanding. To intensify these motivation different aspects of designing in the context of the built environment and at the intersection of the disciplines are applied: (1) analyzing through patterns, (2) gaining insides through “hands-on” and (3) performing through social interaction. These aspects depend on one another and develop the examination of the relationship between the designer and the design. Each of these steps is equally addressed in each of the three SUMMER SCHOOLS, which were the core activity in this WP. Within this WP the teaching material for a NEW TEACHING MODULE was jointly developed.

The AIM of WP 4 is to point out the relevance of this interdisciplinary project for society. To meet the requirements of society students need to have (1) a critical and curious mind-set, (2) a naughty and ambitious attitude and (3) an inclusive and competent responsibility. The OUTPUT of the WP4 is the creation of a DIGITAL PLATFORM for the interdisciplinary and intercultural exchange between the students, teaching staff, industry as well as other stakeholders from non-university society. For that purpose a THEMATIC CLUSTER “Intersections of Built Environment in Baltic Sea Region” was developed. The cluster serves to all project target groups and strengthens the active cooperation between universities and countries. Furthermore the cluster supports mobility, joint teaching and research activities, as well as, provides new research topics. A MULTIPLIER EVENT in Tallinn was organized in order to disseminate the project outputs and to promote stronger dialogue between the academic and non-academic society.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 367509 Eur

Project Coordinator

HAFENCITY UNIVERSITAT HAMBURG & Country: DE

Project Partners

• TALLINNA TEHNIKAULIKOOL
• CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLA AB
• POLITECHNIKA GDANSKA
• AALTO KORKEAKOULUSAATIO SR
• DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET
• DET KONGELIGE DANSKE KUNSTAKADEMIS SKOLER FOR ARKITEKTUR, DESIGN OG KONSERVERING.