Course detail

Specialized project 1

FAST-BHA031-AAcad. year: 2025/2026

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

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

Ing. Karel Struhala, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Building Structures (PST)

Entry knowledge

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

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Final evaluation on basis of consulted and completed assignments and their oral presentation. Classification according to ECTS degree at the BUT Brno.


Extent and forms are specified by guarantor’s regulation updated for every academic year.

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.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Not applicable.

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Elearning

eLearning: currently opened course

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-EVB Bachelor's 4 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Exercise

26 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Mgr. Ing. Zdeňka Schormová, Ph.D.
Ing. Karel Struhala, Ph.D.

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.

Elearning

eLearning: currently opened course