Pixel International Conferences

The master course “Scarcity and Creativity Studio”, SCS, is a design and build studio within the Oslo School of Architecture and Design, AHO. The studio works with research and development within architectural pedagogy, and aims to let students take part in the full architectural process, from initial meetings with the client, site analyses and concept design to structural analyses, detailing and building. The whole process is carried out together with tutoring professors of architecture and structures.

Since 2012 the SCS studio has designed and built 9 projects in Chile and Norway. The projects range from small pavilions to a more than 100 m² community center. The outcome of each project varies, and gives input to the planning and picking of future projects.

We believe in building as a pedagogical instrument to educate good architects. In addition we place great emphasis on teamwork.

We believe that knowledge about the whole design and building process in 1:1 scale helps the students to understand the role of the architect, engineer and construction worker, and enhances the chance for fruitful cooperation in the future. Through teamwork the students also learn about their own strengths and weaknesses, and about cooperation.

In this paper I would like to analyze how this design and build studio has been organized and pedagogically managed from the beginning in 2012 until now, and discuss positive and negative experiences.

I would also like to compare our teaching methods with top sport coaching. Especially I would like to look at the way The Norwegian Female National Handball Team was led by the very successful coach Marit Breivik (1994-2009). I would like to look at similarities and differences, and evaluate these. The basis for this comparison will be a PhD thesis  written by Associate Professor and Manager for the Norwegian Top Sports Coaching (Olympiatoppen), Liv Hemmestad. She followed the National Handball Team during 2003 and 2004, studying the effects of a leadership emphasizing involvement, shared leadership and empowerment, with a special focus on power relations.