Master of Architecture

Cities in transition
Program for incoming exchange students campus Brussels
Academic year 2010/2011

Master of Architecture - Cities in transition

1st year master program

Semester 1
Course name

Teacher(s)

Design studio

Livia de Bethune, Chotima Ag-Ukrikul, Aurelie De Smet

15

Mapping the urban

Marijke Brondeel, Corneel Cannaerts

Erik Geens, Bruno Depr, Dirk Jaspaert

Caroline Newton

PIE - integration exercise

(Building technology integration)

Critical urban theory

ECTS-credits

30

Semester 2
Course name

Teacher(s)

ECTS-credits

Design studio

Bruno Peeters, Martine De Maesseneer, Caroline

Newton

15

Management

Nele Boussemaere, Johan Rutgeerts

Reconversion

Yves Willems, Dirk Jaspaert, Bruno Depr

Urban anthropology

Koen De Wandeler

30

Semester 1

Design studio

Program

Course unit

Semester

Master of Architecture

Architectural Design

Study year

Credits

Teacher(s)

1 Ma AR (int'l)

15

Livia de Bethune, Chotima AgUkrikul, Aurelie De Smet

Course contents
The program focuses on designing architecture in a new urban context, taking into account the changing societal and spatial
context, as well as the specific characteristics and regional and cultural identities of the European urbanity. The transformation and
refocus of the economic activity due to globalisation, knowledge economy, aging society, growth of the non-active population,
tourism, the multicultural society etc. forces us to develop new working methods for the built environment. Students will be trained
to cope with, plan and design architecture, based on their understanding of the urban culture in those new conditions. The program
emphasizes on the specific combination of design and research, by exploring the impact of the complex urban processes on
architectural design. Design is seen as a creative way to explore and look into those new soicetal challenges. The Design studio
track Urban Architectural Design consists of two elements. The first element is the 'Design Studio' where the student focuses on
the design of architecture. An important key issue is the relation of the architectural project with the urban environment. The student
investigates the impact of and the potential within the different urban contexts. In his design activity the student concentrates on the
development of design strategies and design methodology. During the first semester, students are trained to read, analyze and
formulate their personal interpretation on basis of a project-based potential. Students hereto are initiated to process objective and
subjective information, statistical, historic and social data, maps and urban strategies, and as such can confront and control the
acquired information in a coherent vison and individual interpretation, concluding to a Master-Plan. In close collaboration with the
content of the design studio, a Theoretical Course (TC) is organized: 'Mixed Media - Mapping Techniques and GIS Systemspossibilities'. In this course specific theory courses in GIS (Geographic Information System) enable students to get acquainted with
digital data processing, and actively use GIS-based tools to support their design assignment. The course also gives an introduction
to appropriate mapping and presentation techniques and strategies for combined communication of analyzed data and design
optimizing design-generated research and visualization of acquired knowledge and results.

Teaching methods
Project based education: a mix of colleges, lectures, seminars, international workshop, fieldwork and accompanied design projects.

Assessment methods
The student gives an oral presentation of his/her practical design project to an evaluation team, which is composed of the studio
teacher and the responsables for the theoretical component.

Mapping the urban

Program

Course unit

Semester

Master of Architecture

Mixed Media

Study year

Credits

Teacher(s)

1 Ma AR (int'l)

Marijke Brondeel, Corneel

Cannaerts

Course contents
Mapping Techniques and GIS Systems-possibilities'. In this course specific theory courses in GIS (Geographic Information System)
enable students to get acquainted with digital data processing, and actively use GIS-based tools to support their design
assignment. The course also gives an introduction to appropriate mapping and presentation techniques and strategies for
combined communication of analyzed data and design-generated research and visualization of acquired knowledge and results.

Teaching methods
Project based education: a mix of colleges, lectures, seminars, international workshop, fieldwork and accompanied design project.

Assessment methods
The student gives an oral presentation of his/her practical design project to an evaluation team, which is composed of the studio
teacher and the responsables for the theoretical component.

PIE - integration exercise

Program

Course unit

Semester

Master of Architecture

Building Technology

Study year

Credits

Teacher(s)

1 Ma AR (int'l)

Erik Geens, Bruno Depr, Dirk

Jaspaert

Course contents
Introduction sessions to building technology (including rules of thumb and concepts for structural design, indoor air quality, thermal
comfort, building energy uses, construction techniques and architectural detailing).
The major part is a technical studio where teams of students (2 to 3 persons from a different nationality) elaborate an earlier
design-studio project towards a realizable building. The aim of this technical design studio is not to keep the initial architectural
concepts, but to RE-DESIGN the project considering building physics (orientation, cold/heat, comfort, tightness), structure,
implementation of technical installations, evacuation. Important goal is to develop problem-solving attitudes towards the building
technology problematic, systematic research competences on different building solutions and the ability to integrate building
technological aspects into the architectural design process.
Special attention is given to: technically correct drawings, the quest for optimized structural schemes and estimated dimensions (+
the calculation of some elements with FEM-software), elaboration of concepts, routings and dimensions of major technical
installations, detailing of important construction elements (while avoiding trivial solutions), fine-tuning and integration of the
different aspects (architectural picture and different technological requirements), aspects of buildable and sustainable architecture.

Teaching methods
Lectures, technical design studio.

Assessment methods
Continuous assessment based on pro-active participation of scheduled activities (70%).
Final workbook and oral presentation (30%).

Critical urban theory

Program

Course unit

Semester

Master of Architecture

History & Theory

Study year

Credits

Teacher(s)

1 Ma AR (int'l)

Caroline Newton

Course contents

The course is an advanced seminar in architectural and urban theory and criticism. It gives a close reading of important theoretical
debates and discourses in architecture and urbanism in relation to society. It analyzes the different manners in which theoreticians
have perceived the complex interrelation in architecture, urbanity and landscape. The role of theoretical ideas in conceptualizing,
the designing, and interpretation of buildings and urban settings, is critically discussed. Lectures cover a broad range of topics, with
special focus on year to year different contemporary issues.

Teaching methods

Classroom lectures (ex cathedra), and group discussions based on self-study under supervision of the lecturer.
All texts from the reader are to be prepared for the reader-based discussion which starts with a brief descriptive sum-up and
continues with specific questions or statements for debate.

Assessment methods
The course is assessed in two ways:
1. Contribution in class assignments and reader-based discussions serve as a basis for permanent evaluation.
2A. Literature study close reading and discussion of a contemporary text on architectural/urban theory within the framework of a
certain theme - group work part 1 (40%).
2B. Academic paper and presentation before the group. (60%) Authenticity is stressed in the essay. References to other peoples
work or thoughts is explicitly stated, both in the text as well as in the bibliography.
The final output for the essay should approximately be 12 pages (text only, excl. title, visualisations or bibliography) and clearly
structured, starting from a distinct question or problem statement (accompanied by a personal motivation). A coherent set of
arguments should lead to a concise conclusion at the end. There is an oral presentation of the essay for the entire group. More
details are provided during the lectures.

Semester 2

Design Studio

Program

Course unit

Semester

Master of Architecture

Architectural Design

Study year

Credits

Teacher(s)

1 Ma AR (int'l)

15

Bruno Peeters, Martine De

Maeseneer, Caroline Newton

Course contents
The Design studio track Urban Architectural Design consists of three elements. The first element is the 'Design Studio' where the
student focuses on a project-based design strategy in an urban context. During the second semester, the student focuses on the
notion of comparative studies. He/she develops specific architectural programs through a re-interpretation of the results of
semester 1, by means of a guided design-confrontation, instigating parallel solutions within the project assignment. Students
synthesize and explore developed strategies and solutions in regard to the urban context and assignment. Students hereto process
objective and subjective information, statistical, historic and social data, maps and urban strategies, and as such present the
acquired information into a coherent vision and individual architectural and urban interpretation. In close collaboration with the
content of the design studio, a Theoretical Course (TC) is organized: 'History and Theory: Societal Shifts'. This course concentrates
on the discipline of urban sociology in relation to the design strategies, design concepts and the studio.

Teaching methods
Project based education: a mix of colleges, lectures, seminars, international workshop, fieldwork and accompanied design project.

Assessment methods
The student gives an oral presentation of his practical design project to an evaluation team, which is composed of the studio
teacher and the responsables for the theoretical component.

Management

Program

Course unit

Semester

Master of Architecture

Professional Practice

Study year

Credits

Teacher(s)

1 Ma AR (int'l)

Nele Boussemaere, Johan

Rutgeerts

Course contents
The course Comparative studies is based on law and economical principles on how building projects get realised.
Key words are: Management and entrepreneurship - company structures and culture - activating entrepreneurship - the inner circle
principle - creative and ethical entrepreneurship.

Teaching methods
Problem orientated colleges.

Assessment methods
Written and oral presentation of a paper.

Reconversion

Program

Course unit

Semester

Master of Architecture

Building Technology

Study year

Credits

Teacher(s)

1 Ma AR (int'l)

Yves Willems, Dirk Jaspaert, Bruno

Depr

Course contents
The goal of this course is to obtain general understanding of the structure of existing buildings in a broader meaning. Analysing an
ancient building as a project to discover its specific values of construction and its weakness. These values and weaknesses will
then be used to redesign this building into a contemporary volume using modern design and simulation technology.
Course build-up:
Introductory courses on building pathology and building research.
Visit of the project site and measurements on site.
Technical design-studio for an existing building in the Brussels area with emphasis on program, structure and comfort, using
simulation software (fem, ecotect).
Visit to some sample projects.
Elaboration including analysis of the existing building, structural schemes (existing-new), defining major pathologies and their
remediation. Subsequently the design proposals will be discussed and tested and tuned towards the new function.
The technical studio results in a technical concept note and (a limited number of) technical drawings. Important during the course is
the integration of structure, building services and construction with building physics.

Teaching methods

Lectures, workshop technical design studio, study trip.

Assessment methods

Continuous assessment based on pro-active participation of scheduled activities (70%).

Final workbook and oral presentation (30%).

Urban anthropology

Program

Course unit

Semester

Master of Architecture

History & Theory

Study year

Credits

Teacher(s)

1 Ma AR (int'l)

Koen De Wandeler

Course contents
Urban anthropology covers a wide range of issues that vary from one socio-cultural context to another. The conurbations of
Western Europe and the USA are primarily viewed as remnants of the Industrial Age which needed to be revitalized, branded and
marketed. Debates focus on the problematization of the public realm, the reconversion of brownfields and other efforts in urban
renewal, as well as the mediatisation of the home environment and the ageing of the caucasian, previously dominant population
groups. Underlying these considerations are delicate issues of a multi-ethnic society on the rise and the need to manage the
coexistence of religions, life styles and cultures.
The current drive of urbanisation, however, has shifted towards the South. Virtually all of the worlds expected population increase
between now and 2100 (some 3.2 billion) will be in the cities of the developing world, mostly in Asia. By contrast to the Western
experience of urbanization, urban growth in the South is taking place under conditions of extreme cultural diversity, vast
demographic pressures, and unprecedented speeds of social change. This trend also implies that the ongoing negotiations of
collective concerns (climate change, resource scarcity, violent conflict) are increasingly shifting towards the developing world. The
global implication is that sustainability of the present economic growth model increasingly becomes dependent on a more inclusive
approach towards development.
This course explores a series of theoretical framings juxtaposed with relevant case studies from various socio-cultural contexts.
Each case will examine the cultural operation of architecture and urban form within a specific context and how this operation relates
to contemporary challenges in architecture and urbanism. Some of the issues examined include the concepts of development,
religious identity, colonial power structures, the role of women, the rise of civil society, heritage conservation, national housing and
new town efforts, time-space compression, tourism, mega-projects, globalization/counter-globalization, social dualisms, critical
regionalism, migratory patterns and various phenomena of hybrid cultural formation.
As this course takes place in Brussels, the European capital, this cosmopolitan city will be taken as a testing ground for the issues
mentioned above. This investigation will examine how the increasing number and ever more diverse character of economic and
political immigrants in Brussels move through this city. Which places do they create or appropriate to satisfy their social, religious
and cultural needs? This will be investigated in a fieldwork situation supported by theoretical reflections on previous experiences in
this field. In this manner, we will try to establish a subjective map of Brussels in an attempt to uncover the territorial mechanisms of
globalization.

Teaching methods
This course unit combines four teaching methods:
- Classroom lectures (ex cathedra) and group discussions (24 hours), based on self-study under supervision of the lecturer (16
hours).
- Excursions in and around Brussels (6 hours) complemented with self-study for preparation and reporting (4 hours).
- Field work on multiculturalism in Brussels (12 hours, in groups, coordinated by the lecturer) complemented with self study (18
hours).
- Concluding seminar (6 hours) with presentation of group-work prepared through self-study (4 hours).

Assessment methods

Intermediary assignments linked to classroom lectures and excursions (60%).

Fieldwork and final presentation (40%).