ARCH564 Sustainability in Contemporary Architecture and Urban Design Practice
ARCH564 Sustainability in Contemporary Architecture and Urban Design Practice
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2026
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Architecture
Benjamin Duraković
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course aims to equip students with the advanced design methodologies and critical thinking skills necessary to: • Apply a holistic perspective to sustainability in contemporary architecture and urban design practice through the critical assessment of sustainable design best practices; • Implement a series of advanced passive and active design techniques within their own projects; and • Design resilient building and community concepts under realistic conditions of systemic vulnerability in existing energy, digital, water, and food supply chains.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Material will be provided during the lecture
Additional Literature
Duraković, B. (2020). PCM-based building envelope systems: Innovative energy solutions for passive design (2020th ed.). Springer Nature. Duraković, B. (2026). Zero energy buildings: Fundamentals, materials and technologies for a sustainable future. Springer Nature. Schröpfer, T. (2012). Ecological urban architecture: qualitative approaches to sustainability. Walter de Gruyter.Teaching Methods
1
Class lectures, 2
Individual exercises, 3
Team-based workshops - critical thinking/problem-solving assignments
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction - Structural Course Roadmap for the Semester | Schröpfer, T. |
| 2 📍 | Zero Energy Concept | Schröpfer, T. |
| 3 | Renewable Technologies | Schröpfer, T. |
| 4 | Computation and Materials in Sustainable Design | Schröpfer, T. |
| 5 | Sustainable City Infrastructure | Schröpfer, T. |
| 6 | Biomimicry, Biophilia and the Return of Nature’s Inspiration to Architecture | Schröpfer, T. |
| 7 | Project presentation and discussion: Mid-term | |
| 8 | Green Architecture | Schröpfer, T. |
| 9 | Biohilic Design | Schröpfer, T. |
| 10 | Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Sustainable Design Methods for Architects | Schröpfer, T. |
| 11 | Collaborative Exercises: Critical analysis of cases studies | Schröpfer, T. |
| 12 | Collaborative Exercises: Critical analysis of cases studies | Schröpfer, T. |
| 13 | Collaborative Exercises: Critical analysis of cases studies | Schröpfer, T. |
| 14 | Collaborative Exercises: Critical analysis of cases studies | Schröpfer, T. |
| 15 | Project presentation and discussion |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARCH564.1 | Course | Friday 17:00 - 19:50 | A F3.10 - Architecture Classroom | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 15:00 - 17:00 | A F1.15 | |
| Wednesday | 14:00 - 15:00 | A F1.15 | |
| Friday | 15:00 - 17:00 | A F1.15 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam - workshops
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Mid-term - workshops
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
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:
Lecture Hours
39 hours ⏳ (13 week × 3 h)
Exercises
6 hours ⏳ (6 week × 1 h)
Exercises-group
6 hours ⏳ (3 week × 2 h)
Home study
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Mid-term exam study
10 hours ⏳ (1 week × 10 h)
Final exam study
11 hours ⏳ (1 week × 11 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 [ARCH564] 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, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| ARCH564 | Sustainability in Contemporary Architecture and Urban Design Practice | 3 | 0 | 4 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Benjamin Duraković | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 15:00-17:00 Wednesday: 14:00-15:00 Friday: 15:00-17:00 |
|||||||
| bdurakovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course aims to equip students with the advanced design methodologies and critical thinking skills necessary to: • Apply a holistic perspective to sustainability in contemporary architecture and urban design practice through the critical assessment of sustainable design best practices; • Implement a series of advanced passive and active design techniques within their own projects; and • Design resilient building and community concepts under realistic conditions of systemic vulnerability in existing energy, digital, water, and food supply chains. |
|||||||||
| Textbook | Material will be provided during the lecture | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | 1. Class lectures, 2. Individual exercises, 3. Team-based workshops - critical thinking/problem-solving assignments | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction - Structural Course Roadmap for the Semester | Schröpfer, T. | ||||||||
| Week 2 | Zero Energy Concept | Schröpfer, T. | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Renewable Technologies | Schröpfer, T. | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Computation and Materials in Sustainable Design | Schröpfer, T. | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Sustainable City Infrastructure | Schröpfer, T. | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Biomimicry, Biophilia and the Return of Nature’s Inspiration to Architecture | Schröpfer, T. | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Project presentation and discussion: Mid-term | |||||||||
| Week 8 | Green Architecture | Schröpfer, T. | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Biohilic Design | Schröpfer, T. | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Sustainable Design Methods for Architects | Schröpfer, T. | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Collaborative Exercises: Critical analysis of cases studies | Schröpfer, T. | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Collaborative Exercises: Critical analysis of cases studies | Schröpfer, T. | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Collaborative Exercises: Critical analysis of cases studies | Schröpfer, T. | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Collaborative Exercises: Critical analysis of cases studies | Schröpfer, T. | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Project presentation and discussion | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam - workshops | 3 | 50 | 1, 2, 3 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Mid-term - workshops | 3 | 50 | 1, 2, 3 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 13 | 39 | Exercises | 1 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Exercises-group | 2 | 3 | 6 | Home study | 2 | 14 | 28 | |||
| Mid-term exam study | 10 | 1 | 10 | Final exam study | 11 | 1 | 11 | |||
| 0 | ||||||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 100 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 4 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 02/10/2026 | |||||||||