YEARBOOK 2018 - 2019 | XJTLU DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

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CARDBOARD SHELTERS
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2018-2019 YEARBOOK Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University Department of Architecture 西 交 利 物 浦 大 学 建 筑 系
Final review of cardboard shelter structures for kindergarten age children. Photographs by Milan Ognjanovic.
Level 1
( Year 2 | Semester 1 )
Event Organiser
Christiane M. Herr
Teaching Team
Richard Hay
Sandro Rolla
Number of Students
195
The Cardboard Structures event is an annual event conducted as part
of the module ARC104 (Structures and Materials). It is the culmination
of students’ first attempt at building a life-size structure made
primarily from cardboard, without the use of glue and relying purely
on mechanical connections. This year, the task was to build shelters
for kindergarten age children of about 5-6 years old. Besides additional
connection materials such as metal screws, cable binders and string, the
bridge structure must be made entirely of cardboard. Students work in
teams of five to seven, and collaborate on all stages of the design. The
project was run in cooperation with Newton International Kindergarten,
with their K2 level students performing both as ‘clients’, giving students
initial creative inspiration, and eager test subjects once structures are
completed. The shelter design proceeds through a series of interim
models, including a review of half scale prototypes at the collaborating
kindergarten. The final review takes place at XJTLU and consists of a
playful load testing and client assessment by the school children. During
the event, the children also vote for the “Best Cardboard Shelter 2018
Award” by attaching stickers to their favourite shelter designs. In this
process, architecture students learn essential skills such as design work
in teams, planning and managing the execution of work, assembly of
1:1 scale models as well as matching their design ideas with functional
requirements as well as the preferences of the users of their structures.
Other Activities