Changing architectural education for reaching sustainable future: A contribution to the discussion

This paper discusses potential changes for the architectural education in response to rapid environmental, economic and socio-political situations, globally and locally. Unpredictability and complexity of those changes on one side and increasing exclusion of architects in urban developments on the other side, are forcing us to rethink the role and purpose of architects and architecture in society in general. We started to question methodology and the substance of architectural education which would create professional architects that would be able to deliver and implement creative sustainable solutions. It is evident that the need for the sustainable architectural design, sensitive to environment and energy issues, has reached a critical level in both public and professional circles. However, the issue of social sensibility is still not adequately taken into consideration by professionals. We argue that it is a consequence of archaic academic curricula which must be changed in order to support a paradigm shift. This change would be from the ?architect provider? to the ?architect enabler?. As a result of this issue, we introduce a new educational methodology to support: (1) building student's capacity for being engaged in collaborative design process, and (2) building bridges between the different disciplines in order to reach integral education.

Download Full-text

Studio One: A New Teaching Model for Exploring Bio-Inspired Design and Fabrication

Biomimetics ◽

10.3390/biomimetics4020034 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 34 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Simon Schleicher ◽

Georgios Kontominas ◽

Tanya Makker ◽

Ioanna Tatli ◽

Yasaman Yavaribajestani

Keyword(s):

Collaborative Design ◽

Architectural Design ◽

Architectural Education ◽

Teaching Model ◽

Practical Application ◽

Alternative Teaching ◽

New Concepts ◽

Fundamental Research ◽

Capstone Projects ◽

Successes And Challenges

The increasing specialization in architecture has clearly left its marks not only on the general profession but also on architectural education. Many universities around the world react to this development by offering primarily conventional and overly discipline-specific courses that often lack bold new concepts. To remedy this situation, the authors propose an alternative teaching model called Studio One, which seeks to facilitate new dynamic links between architecture and other disciplines based on the interplay between fundamental research, design exploration, and practical application. The goal is to develop an interdisciplinary, collaborative design training that encompasses the best that nature has to teach us, realized through the technology that humans have achieved. At the core of this class is the study of biological structures and the development of bio-inspired construction principles for architectural design. Both aspects are rich sources of innovation and can play an important role in the training of future architects and engineers. This paper seeks to provide a coherent progress report. After a brief introduction to the general objectives of Studio One, the authors will specify the methods and 21st century skills that students learned during this class. Relying on four student capstone projects as examples, the paper will then go into more detail on how natural structures can inspire a new design process, in which students abstract basic biomimetic principles and transfer them into the construction of architectural prototypes and pavilions. Finally, the authors conclude by discussing the particular successes and challenges facing this teaching model and identify the key improvements that may give this program an even bigger impact in the future.

Download Full-text

أثر تقانات تدريس مادة نظريات العمارة في أداء الطلبة

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning ◽

10.36041/iqjap.v11i1.502 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 143-158

Author(s):

Rana Mahfooth ◽

Niam. B. Mannona ◽

Ali H. Al-Jameel

Keyword(s):

Teaching Methods ◽

Architectural Design ◽

Digital Technologies ◽

The Other ◽

Architectural Education ◽

Educational Technologies ◽

Integrative Approach ◽

Educational Goals ◽

Architectural Engineering ◽

Specific Teaching

"Recently, educational technologies have become an important issue thanks to the vast developments in the fields of information and digital technologies as new means were introduced to become essential parts of teaching methods. Because of their role in promoting education in general and the architectural education specifically, as they are new means for introducing knowledge in the theoretical lectures to accelerate the process of learning, it seems essential to provides scientific knowledge about their efficiency intended educational goals. On the other hand, Theories of Architecture is one of the principal lectures in architectural schools as the knowledge introduced in them is highly relevant for learning the design process within the lectures of Architectural Design. This research adopts the goal of testing the hypothesis of the effect of teaching technologies used in Theories of Architecture lectures in promoting students' performance by employing an experimental method within which the students of the fourth year in the department of Architectural Engineering in Mosul University were subjected to an experiment within specific theoretical framework. It is concluded that specific teaching technologies are more convenient for certain objectives and the instructor should employ different teaching technologies with integrative approach for more efficient Architectural Education to be achieved."

Download Full-text

Modern structure of the higher architectural and construction education

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/201911002136 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 110 ◽

pp. 02136

Author(s):

Olga Sotnikova ◽

Iana Zolotukhina ◽

Ekaterina Prokshits

Keyword(s):

Higher Education ◽

Sustainable Development ◽

Architectural Design ◽

Design Thinking ◽

Architectural Education ◽

Ethical Justification ◽

Sustainable Solutions ◽

Construction Education ◽

Practical Design ◽

Practical Level

The analysis of the higher education in the sphere of sustainable development shows that there is a need to include the concept of sustainable and practical design thinking at all levels, starting from ideological level (stability as conceptual and ethical justification of architecture), methodological level (the principles and strategy for the solution of various subject matters), and finally, practical level, by introducing stability concerning programs for architectural education to impart abilities to critically analyze process and to creatively find sustainable solutions which can be developed for creation of the environment. The two-level programs implemented at the universities consisting of the system of architectural education and a subsystem of steady architectural design (consisting of the steady theoretical and design training/practical courses and cross-disciplinary courses connected with education in the field of sustainable development in the architectural training program) are presented in this article.

Download Full-text

Architectural theory as a tool for architectural criticism necessarily employed for the betterment of architectural education

International Journal of ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES ◽

10.21833/ijaas.2022.01.009 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 71-83

Author(s):

Ibrahim et al. ◽

Keyword(s):

Architectural Design ◽

Analytical Study ◽

The Other ◽

Architectural Education ◽

Architectural Theory ◽

Road Map ◽

Analytical Studies ◽

Review Form ◽

Design Projects ◽

Latin Term

Criticism, or "to criticize" derives from the Greek krinein meant to distinguish, which is to separate, to silt, to make a distinction. The word "theory" comes from the philosophical Latin term "theoria" meaning spectator, while in modern days means the attempt to decide architectural right and wrong on a purely intellectual base. Pedagogically architecture students participating in a review learn from whoever provides useful criticism benefiting from critiques or reviews. This research in comparison to the ones that went through focuses on Architectural Criticism and Architectural Theory and which one stems from the other, their significance in architectural education in form of crit or review and shows a road map of how reviews are to take place by their different constituents. The purpose of the paper is to see whether the architectural theory is stemming from architectural criticism and whether it’s employed in architectural education. The methodology of this paper depends on both theoretical and analytical studies through three major fields; architectural criticism, architectural theory, and the analytical study of architectural education in form of critique or review. Finally, the paper concludes by linking architectural education mostly in its architectural design projects critique or review form with architectural theory and its dependence upon architectural criticism.

Download Full-text

Pedagogy of Architectural Education on Sustainability in Malaysia – Student Perspective

Open House International ◽

10.1108/ohi-04-2016-b0014 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 104-108

Author(s):

Nila Keumala ◽

Mohammed Amer Younus ◽

Yong Kuan ◽

Asrul Sani Bin Abdul Razak ◽

Muhammad Azzam Ismail ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Architectural Design ◽

Climate Changes ◽

Sustainable Design ◽

Architectural Education ◽

Student Perspective ◽

Design Strategies ◽

Pedagogical Approach ◽

Sustainable Solutions ◽

Survey Results ◽

University Level

The increasing global concerns about the environmental degradation and climate changes oblige architecture students to apply sustainable design approaches in their studio projects. Therefore, renewable energy raises the expectation of providing sustainable solutions for their architectural design proposals. This paper aims to investigate the learning of students in knowledge, awareness and applicability on sustainability during their first three years of the part 1 architecture programme. Surveys were conducted on 500 students from eight architecture schools from the local universities, two architecture schools from the polytechnic colleges and three architectural schools from the overseas universities. These survey results from 335 respondents confirmed that the learning on sustainability through self (51.6%), peer (48.6%) and design studio lecturers (37.0%). These results confirmed also that most respondents did rely on pre-design assessments to develop sustainable design strategies in their final architectural design proposals. These results concluded that the perception of architecture students on learning sustainability is based mainly on other sources. These findings provide knowledge for educationists and practitioners towards the planning of architecture curriculum and the implementation of pedagogical approach in sustainability. This paper determines the most important source of learning on sustainability knowledge for students in the pedagogy at university level.

Download Full-text

أثر تقانات تدريس مادة نظريات العمارة في أداء الطلبة

Iraqi Journal of Architecture and Planning ◽

10.36041/iqjap.v8i1.502 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 143-158

Author(s):

Rana Mahfooth ◽

Niam. B. Mannona ◽

Ali H. Al-Jameel

Keyword(s):

Teaching Methods ◽

Architectural Design ◽

Digital Technologies ◽

The Other ◽

Architectural Education ◽

Educational Technologies ◽

Integrative Approach ◽

Educational Goals ◽

Architectural Engineering ◽

Specific Teaching

Download Full-text

Epilogue

10.1093/oso/9780190889760.003.0009 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

José van

Keyword(s):

Paradigm Shift ◽

Information Age ◽

The Other ◽

The European Union ◽

Checks And Balances ◽

The Us ◽

Autocratic Regime ◽

Digital Strategy ◽

National Governments ◽

State Interference

The epilogue sketches a few scenarios on potential geopolitical consequences of the global paradigm shift toward multiple online platform “spheres.” Currently, the neoliberal US-based platform ecosystem dominates. This ecosystem revolves around the promotion of individualism and minimal state interference, leaving checks and balances to the market. On the other end of the ideological spectrum is the Chinese ecosystem, in which the autocratic regime controls the platform ecosystem via regulated censorship of tech corporations. Squeezed between the US and the Chinese models is the European Union, whose member states neither own nor operate any major platforms in either ecosystem. For European democracies to survive in the information age, its cities, national governments, and supranational legislature need to collaborate on a blueprint for a common digital strategy toward markets and public sectors.

Download Full-text

Evidence-Based Design in Architectural Education: Designing the First Maggie’s Centre in Israel

HERD Health Environments Research & Design Journal ◽

10.1177/19375867211007945 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 193758672110079

Author(s):

Nirit Putievsky Pilosof ◽

Yasha Jacob Grobman

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Architectural Design ◽

Early Stage ◽

Scientific Research ◽

Well Being ◽

Architectural Education ◽

Local Context ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Architecture Education ◽

The Impact

Objective The study examines the integration of the Evidence-based Design (EBD) approach in healthcare architecture education in the context of an academic design studio. Background Previous research addressed the gap between scientific research and architectural practice and the lack of research on the use of the EBD approach in architectural education. Methods The research examines an undergraduate architectural studio to design a Maggie’s Centre for cancer care in Israel and evaluates the impact of the EBD approach on the design process and design outcomes. The research investigates the impact of the integration of three predesign tasks: (1) literature review of healing architecture research, (2) analysis and comparison of existing Maggie’s Centres, and (3) analysis of the context of the design project. Results The literature review of scientific research supported the conceptual design and development of the projects. The analysis of existing Maggie’s centers, which demonstrated the interpretation of the evidence by different architects, developed the students’ ability to evaluate EBD in practice critically, and the study of the projects’ local context led the students to define the relevance of the evidence to support their vision for the project. Conclusions The research demonstrates the advantages of practicing EBD at an early stage in healthcare architectural education to enhance awareness of the impact of architectural design on the users’ health and well-being and the potential to support creativity and innovative design. More studies in design studios are needed to assess the full impact of integrating EBD in architectural education.

Download Full-text

On Strengthening the Interest of Architecture Students in Bio-informed Solutions: A Systematic Approach for Learning from Nature

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13042138 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 2138

Author(s):

Semra Arslan Selçuk ◽

Güneş Mutlu Avinç

Keyword(s):

Design Education ◽

Architectural Design ◽

Systematic Approach ◽

Point Of View ◽

System Thinking ◽

Sustainable Solutions ◽

Research Areas ◽

Biological Phenomena ◽

Architectural Structures ◽

Interdisciplinary Relationships

The bio-informed concept, which means “designing by learning from nature’s best ideas” as an approach, method, tool, discipline or strategy, is one of the most important research areas of today. It does not only shape designs, but also is based on collaborative/interactive/creative methods in education and can be integrated with contemporary educational approaches. This paper questions how to translate the bio-knowledge, which can be an effective and useful method for developing designers’ skills such as system-thinking, innovative thinking and problem-based learning, to design education in an easy and understandable way. In this context, the method of determining and applying biological phenomena/systems into architectural design process through the “natural language approach” is investigated. With this research, it is aimed to open the way to reach more innovative and sustainable solutions by establishing a bridge between architectural and biological terminology while creating architectural structures. It has been shown how to increase the biodiversity utilized for bio-informed solutions in the architectural field by proposing a systematic approach to search for biological systems. From this point of view, this study emphasizes the importance of promoting the bio-informed design approach, increasing interdisciplinary relationships and orienting individuals to nature for creativity and sustainability.

Download Full-text

Micro- and Nano-instrument Power

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-0973-bb02-01 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 973 ◽

Author(s):

Vassili Karanassios

Keyword(s):

Signal Processing ◽

Chemical Analysis ◽

Data Acquisition ◽

Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Paradigm Shift ◽

The Other ◽

Paradigm Shifts ◽

Comparable Performance ◽

Wireless Interface ◽

Capsule Size

ABSTRACTFor the last several years, we have been developing and characterizing “mobile” micro- and nano-instruments for use on-site (e.g., in the field). Although such portable, battery-operated instruments are much smaller that their laboratory-scale counterparts, sometimes they provide comparable performance and they often offer improved capabilities. As such, they are expected to cause a paradigm shift in classical chemical analysis by allowing practioners to “bring the lab (or part of it) to the sample”. Two classes of examples will be used as the means with which to illustrate the power of micro- and nano-instruments. One class involves a “patient” as the sample and an ingestible capsule-size spectrometer used for cancer diagnosis of the gastro intestinal tack as (part of) “the lab”. The other involves the “environment” as the sample and a portable, battery-operated, miniaturized instrument that utilizes a PalmPilot™ with a wireless interface for data acquisition and signal processing as (part of) “the lab”. To discuss how to electrically power such miniaturized instruments, mobile energy issues will be addressed. Particular emphasis will be paid to current or anticipated future applications and to the paradigm shifts that may prove essential in powering the next generation of miniaturized instruments.

Download Full-text