ARCH352 Bioclimatic Architecture
ARCH352 Bioclimatic Architecture
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2025
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Architecture
Nerma Omićević
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Bioclimatic architecture is the design of buildings and spaces based on the local climate to provide thermal and visual comfort, using solar energy and other environmental sources. Basic natural elements of bioclimatic design are passive solar systems which are incorporated into buildings utilizing the sun and other environmental sources like air movement, vegetation, water evaporation, and shading for heating, cooling and to provide day lighting. This course will introduce the students to the fundamentals of bioclimatic architecture and its main design principles. Historical examples will be examined and analyzed to give the students a frame of reference while class discussions and presentations will enable them to be more critical of their work and the built environment. The students will be given exercises to develop conceptual bioclimatic solutions in various urban settings. This will culminate in developing a master plan for an urban area to enhance it using air movement, evaporative cooling, landscaping, and green roofs. The final evaluation will be based on the students ability to analyze, evaluate, and propose a successful bioclimatic design for the selected urban area.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Garcia-Pulido, L. (2012). Bioclimatic devices of Nasrid domestic buildings. AKPIA@MIT, Boston.
Additional Literature
El-Akkad, T. (2016). Historical sustainability concepts & contemporary architecture. BUE, Cairo.Teaching Methods
Face-to-face tutorial
Practical learning
Project-based learning
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to course. Syllabus overview | |
| 2 | Introduction to bioclimatic architecture - Introduction to Assignment 1 | Handouts |
| 3 | Principles of bioclimatic design and historical references | http://plus.usgbc.org/bioclimatic-design/ |
| 4 | Bioclimatic design in context - Field trip, Sarajevo - Assignment 2 | Stefano Boeri - Vertical Forest |
| 5 | The Re-use of old neglected sites: Transformation of former industrial sites - Industrial landscapes | Handouts |
| 6 | Project site analysis and proposals | Handouts |
| 7 | Midterm exam | |
| 8 | Case study: Desert climate university campus - Assignment 3 | https://www.aucegypt.edu/about/visitor-information/new-cairo-campus |
| 9 | Field trip: Project site | |
| 10 | Preliminary technical assessment of biolclimatic design proposals | https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/ecologiaurbana/sites/default/files/Barcelona%20green%20infrastructure%20and%20biodiversity%20plan%202020.pdf |
| 11 | Design Project Tutorials – Studio | |
| 12 | Design Project Tutorials - Studio | |
| 13 | Students’ Presentations | |
| 14 | Design Project Tutorials - Studio | |
| 15 | Design Project Tutorials - Studio |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Project
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 4 5
Midterm exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 4
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1
Assignment
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 5
Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 4 ECTS credit course corresponds to 100 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Final exam
2 hours ⏳ (1 week × 2 h)
Midterm exam
2 hours ⏳ (1 week × 2 h)
Tutorials
24 hours ⏳ (12 week × 2 h)
Field trip
2 hours ⏳ (1 week × 2 h)
Students' presentations
2 hours ⏳ (1 week × 2 h)
Home study
52 hours ⏳ (13 week × 4 h)
Final exam study
16 hours ⏳ (2 week × 8 h)
100 Total Workload Hours
4 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [ARCH352] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Oct 10, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| ARCH352 | Bioclimatic Architecture | 0 | 2 | 4 | TBA | |||||
| Prerequisite | Senior Standing | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Nerma Omićević | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Wednesday: 9:30-12:00 Thursday: 9:30-12:00 |
|||||||
| nomicevic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | TBA | Assistant E-mail | ||||||||
| Course Objectives | Bioclimatic architecture is the design of buildings and spaces based on the local climate to provide thermal and visual comfort, using solar energy and other environmental sources. Basic natural elements of bioclimatic design are passive solar systems which are incorporated into buildings utilizing the sun and other environmental sources like air movement, vegetation, water evaporation, and shading for heating, cooling and to provide day lighting. This course will introduce the students to the fundamentals of bioclimatic architecture and its main design principles. Historical examples will be examined and analyzed to give the students a frame of reference while class discussions and presentations will enable them to be more critical of their work and the built environment. The students will be given exercises to develop conceptual bioclimatic solutions in various urban settings. This will culminate in developing a master plan for an urban area to enhance it using air movement, evaporative cooling, landscaping, and green roofs. The final evaluation will be based on the students ability to analyze, evaluate, and propose a successful bioclimatic design for the selected urban area. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Garcia-Pulido, L. (2012). Bioclimatic devices of Nasrid domestic buildings. AKPIA@MIT, Boston. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Face-to-face tutorial, practical learning, project-based learning | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction to course. Syllabus overview | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Introduction to bioclimatic architecture - Introduction to Assignment 1 | Handouts | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Principles of bioclimatic design and historical references | http://plus.usgbc.org/bioclimatic-design/ | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Bioclimatic design in context - Field trip, Sarajevo - Assignment 2 | Stefano Boeri - Vertical Forest | ||||||||
| Week 5 | The Re-use of old neglected sites: Transformation of former industrial sites - Industrial landscapes | Handouts | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Project site analysis and proposals | Handouts | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Midterm exam | |||||||||
| Week 8 | Case study: Desert climate university campus - Assignment 3 | https://www.aucegypt.edu/about/visitor-information/new-cairo-campus | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Field trip: Project site | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Preliminary technical assessment of biolclimatic design proposals | https://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/ecologiaurbana/sites/default/files/Barcelona%20green%20infrastructure%20and%20biodiversity%20plan%202020.pdf | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Design Project Tutorials – Studio | |||||||||
| Week 12 | Design Project Tutorials - Studio | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Students’ Presentations | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Design Project Tutorials - Studio | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Design Project Tutorials - Studio | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Project | 1 | 30 | 4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm exam | 1 | 30 | 4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 1 | 10 | 1 | Not Allowed | |
| Assignment | 1 | 20 | 1,2,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Participation | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Final exam | 2 | 1 | 2 | Midterm exam | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Tutorials | 2 | 12 | 24 | Field trip | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||
| Students' presentations | 2 | 1 | 2 | Home study | 4 | 13 | 52 | |||
| Final exam study | 8 | 2 | 16 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 100 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 4 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/10/2025 | |||||||||