Design for Sustainable Development – (M.Sc.)

Contents

Each semester consists of a combination of courses and design studios.

* A course is mostly based on lectures, literature and seminars, but may also contain shorter assignments.
* A design studio focuses on the development of a design project. It is normally case study based.

The pedagogical point of departure is to support students to develop their design skills through a series of design studios, dealing with complex design tasks in very different situations and contexts: e.g., neighbourhoods and municipalities in Sweden, informal settlements in developing countries, and technical and social challenges of sustainable building and transformation.

This approach challenges and develops the abilities of the students to analyse and situate local situations in relation to broader contexts. Such design studios contain experience-based learning, fieldwork, tailored lectures, literature studies, seminars, workshops and exhibitions. A common thread through the studios is the use of a systems approach to design although both problems and potential solutions will vary significantly.

The programme offers a selection of courses and design studios, distributed over the fall and spring semesters. These courses and studios should be seen as a palette, from which the individual professional profile is shaped during two years.

Compulsory courses
* Sustainable Development and the Design Professions

Elective courses
* Design Systems
* Architectural Conservation and Transformation
* Design Thinking in Research
* Nordic Architecture
* Design Processes and Management
* Building Design Lab
* Leadership in Architectural Professions (Master’s thesis preparation course)
* Advanced Theory and Methodology (Master’s thesis preparation course)

Design studios
* Planning and Design for Sustainable Development in a Local ContextThe thematic of the studio is planning and design for sustainable development in a small or medium sized municipality in Sweden.

* Suburbs-Design and Future ChallengesGives knowledge about the significance of the social dimension of sustainable development, focusing on urban development in suburban areas built in the 1960s and 70s in Sweden. Public participation of citizens
is a central aspect.

* Reality Studio Kisumu at Lake Victoria, KenyaFor students of diff erent disciplines in the form of a real-life project in Sub-Saharan Africa.Reality Studios are simultaneously student projects and real projects where the students act as consultants and researchers to improve the quality of daily life.

* Architectural Heritage and Urban TransformationAims at introducing the students to the field of architectural and urban conservation and transformation in a historic and contemporary context and to test new knowledge in a critical and reflective way.

* Sustainable BuildingIntroduces the concept of “sustainable building”, both as principles and as chosen elements in concrete design assignments. Integrates the environmental issues of sustainable building into an architectural project, combining functional and aesthetical qualities with low environmental impact. Cultivates a deeper understanding of selected issues of sustainable building and to develop these issues into a thoroughly elaborated design proposal. (This studio is under development and is likely to participate in the on-going international competition Solar Decathlon.)

* Sustainable Building CompetitionThe aim is to practice design for sustainable building, to introduce findings from design for energy and environmental efficiency, to promote cooperation between architects and engineers and to implement this knowledge into a competition. (This studio is under development and is likely to participate in the on-going international competition Solar Decathlon.)

* Design for Extreme EnvironmentsBasic human needs of everyday life become visible where life support systems are required. If resources are very scarce and one needs to sacrifice something, what are the basic requirements for physical and mental health? The studio is focusing on what architecture and design do over time.(This studio is under development and is likely to participate in the on-going international competition Solar Decathlon.)

Master's thesis
The last semester is assigned for the Master’s thesis. The aim is to display knowledge and capability for independent work, and related to the students undergraduate profile, within the field of design for sustainable development.