NTNU Live studio by trygve ohren

NTNU has a long tradition of students undertaking Live Projects. Many schools of architecture do. What sets our projects apart is that a big number are initiated, organised and managed by the students themselves. These initiatives are made possible with support from the university, and a focus on live aspects through the education. Already the first semester, architecture students at NTNU have to design and built a 1:1 timber construction. NTNU’s Live Projects have varied from small traditionally crafted Norwegian boathouses, to larger scale community development based projects in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Students employ a context-based design approach whereby they have to work closely with local municipalities, professionals, grassroots organisations and other stakeholders. It’s this collaborative focus that truly allows the projects to take flight. In recent years, students have shown a soaring interest in Live Projects, be they independent, part of self-initiated curricular course or a curricular course that focuses on building. This confronts NTNU with the challenge of responding to their enthusiasm in a way that acknowledges their contribution, but also generates academic returns. The institution must be able to be responsible for the students’ learning, well-being and the quality of the projects, yet at the same time, give them independence and entrust them with full social and professional responsibility. NTNU Live Studio is a platform from which students find support and encouragement for Live Projects, from which they discover or learn, on their own terms, what architecture is, or does, and what becoming an architect is about.

HOW TO DO A LIVE PROJECT

Are you an architecture student? Do you have an idea you want to realize? Or are you just curious? The Live Studio-framework is built up to facilitate and mentor your engangement. Feel free to contact us!

WHERE TO BEGIN?

A LiveProject is not like a course in the curriculum. To understand the idea behind the LiveProject framework, it’s good to explain through projects that have been done by students previously.

The Live Project resources make use of other students’ experiences. This is to help improve the learning outcome, while keeping independence, without removing the quality and advantages doing a project on your own. Nothing except the safety courses are mandatory, but they will likely be a good resource for you during your project.

START-UP TALKS

In the beginning of a project, you will have a talk with your mentor This is to discuss the your wishes, the project, the resources you need and reveal some of the challenges you might meet during the process. In the initial phase there will also be offered different case workshops and online lectures.

MENTORING

Architectural

If difficult problems and questions arise, you will have a mentor available for some sessions during your process. However, in general, it can also be good to discuss the project and process with the mentor, maybe they have some tips?

Student-to-Student
Former LiveProject-students are often available and glad to discuss your project. For some of the challanges, it is often easier to talk with someone that has recently been through the same issues.

Consultants
Some projects require more than architectural supervising. Maybe the construction has to be checked by an structural engineer, or maybe the project need some kind of special fire protection? Remember to keep your mentor updated on these things to be able to book the skills in time.

WorkInProgressForum

Once or twice during the semester, there will be held a WorkIn-ProgressTalk. This will be an opportunity to explain your project and your on going challenges to the other Teams and mentors. Afterwards there will be a discussion both about your project, but also a general discussion. Remember: This is not to impress the others, present what you got and tell them about your challenges.

Tip

Tip

trygve ohren, Steffen Wellinger - NTNU Live studio - 2024