Architecture is the result of people's engagement with the built environment. The central content is the planned design and creation of buildings according to functional, structural, social, economic and ecological requirements. The fulfillment of this demanding task is supported by a holistic design and planning process.

In this process, the design of supporting structures is to be considered as an integral part of the architectural context. The Chair of Structural Design teaches architecture students on the Bachelor's and Master's degree courses the interrelationships between the fundamentals of structural design, the independent design of structures and the handling of supporting structures for existing buildings.

Students learn the fundamentals and the necessary vocabulary for communicating with other specialist planners in the subject "Structural Design". The focus is on cross-material design and the rough dimensioning of simple load-bearing systems. The initial experiences are supplemented by scientific explanations and illustrative model experiments.

In the subject "Structural Design", the focus is on the independent design of supporting structures. In order to expand the general design repertoire, different and more complex supporting structures, from beams and columns to cable structures, arches and frames to flat surface supporting structures as well as shells, membrane and cable net structures are presented and explained in a structured manner and then applied in subsequent exercises.

Building in Existing Contexts is an in-depth focus of the Master's degree course in Architecture at the University of Siegen. Supporting structures of existing buildings are analyzed qualitatively and possibilities for upgrading supporting structures for planned conversions are shown and discussed. The central aim is to develop a general understanding of load-bearing structures.