2011-2012 PROSPECTUS
CX LA PEDRERA . PASSEIG DE GRÀCIA, 92. 08008 BARCELONA . info@biarch.eu +34 93 542 19 07
2011-2012 PROSPECTUS
Trust of the Barcelona Institute Of Architecture
Collaborators
CONTENTS 7 The Institute
About the Institute
Board of Directors
Advisory Council
Board of Trustees
15 The MBIArch Program
About the Program
Curriculum
Faculty
29 Open Lectures and Events 31 Facilities and Resources 35 Admissions
Applying to the MBIArch
Requirements and Procedures
41 Contact Information
BIArch Open Lecture with Smiljan Radic, Fall 2009
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
The Institute
About the Institute
The Barcelona Institute of Architecture (BIArch) is an international institution set up to further interaction between academic research, specialized practice and the dissemination of contemporary architecture. Occupying a space midway between schools of architecture and professional praxis, BIArch is an open laboratory for professionals and researchers that promotes new ways of considering and practicing architecture within the context of rapidly changing technological, environmental, and economic conditions. The Institute’s academic endeavors are focused on the MBIArch postprofessional master’s degree program. Driven by a contemporary approach to architectural training, the course is aimed at those interested in further developing their analytical and operative project capacities in an environment conducive to design. The Barcelona Institute of Architecture is backed by a publicprivate foundation made up of financial, professional, academic and political institutions with the objective of continuing and extending the action-based discourse that has characterized architecture and urban planning practice in Barcelona. The Institute sets out to become a reference point for architectural discussions and practice in the globalized world.
The Institute
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“The profession has to be reinvented if it is to gain some public confidence. Architecture can, in its essence, provide cultural significance. The Institute aims to be a place that both generates and attracts intelligence.” Josep Lluís Mateo President of the BIArch Board of Directors
Josep Lluís Mateo, President of the BIArch Board of Directors with Riken Yamamoto during the 2010-2011 MBIArch Opening Ceremony
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
Board of Directors The Board of Directors of the Barcelona Institute of Architecture is in charge of defining the academic structure and contents for the MBIArch program, as well as appointing faculty and overseeing the advancement of the Institute’s broader objectives. The Board of Directors also defines the contents and continuity of complementary activities that run in parallel to the academic program: the Institute’s communication strategies, editorial line, lecture series, seminars and international symposia.
Members of the Board of Directors Josep Lluís Mateo President of the BIArch Board of Directors, Professor at ETH Zürich, and Principal of MAP Architects
Gloria Moure Vice President of the BIArch Board of Directors, Art Historian, Independent editor, art critic and curator
Iñaki Ábalos Kenzo Tange Professor at Harvard University, Professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Principal of Ábalos+Sentkiewicz Arquitectos
Josep Anton Acebillo Professor at the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, Director of Architecture Urban Systems, Mendrisio, and Chief Executive Officer of Barcelona Regional
Toni Gironès Head of Architecture Studies at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, and Principal of Toni Gironès Arquitectes
Agustí Obiol Professor at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and Co-Founder of BOMA
Pere Joan Ravetllat Associate Professor at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Founding partner of Ravetllat-Rivas Arquitectes
Pere Riera Ph.D in Architecture, ETSAB. Associate Professor until recently at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (ETSAV). Founding partner of RGA Arquitectes
Joan Roig Principal of Batlle i Roig Arquitectes
Jorge García de la Cámara Director of the Barcelona Institute of Architecture
The Institute
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“As educators, it is our responsibility not to try to tame the process of innovation with a new set of rules, but rather to teach young designers the technical and intellectual tools that will allow them to do something creative with their own reality.” Stan Allen Dean of the Princeton School of Architecture and member of the BIArch Advisory Council
“We pay respect to the history of the past because it is linked to the future. To create architecture is to create a new history.” Riken Yamamoto Professor at the Yokohama Graduate School of Architecture and member of the BIArch Advisory Council
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
Advisory Council The Advisory Council of the Barcelona Institute of Architecture aims to establish a local and international framework for the Institute’s interests. The council defines strategies for action and creates an extended academic and professional network for collaboration in a way that positions BIArch and its academic program in the context of global architectural debates. Advisory Council members are active professionals and academics with strong ties to current architecture and urban culture. The first of the yearly Advisory Council meetings was held on June 26th and 27th 2009, under the premise of “Economic Crisis and Architectural Change”.
Members of the Advisory Council David Adjaye Architect. Principal of Adjaye Associates, London
Enrique Alarcón Álvarez Engineer. Professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
Dominique Alba Architect. General Director of the Pavilion de l’Arsenal, Paris
Stan Allen Architect. Dean and Professor at Princeton University School of Architecture, New Jersey. Principal of SAA / Stan Allen Architect, New York
Oriol Bohigas Architect. Principal of MBM arquitectes
Manuel Castells Sociologist. Professor at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Research Professor at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona. Professor Emeritus at the University of California Berkeley
Yung Ho Chang Architect. Professor at the Department of Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Principal of Atelier FCJZ, Beijing
Mónica Gili Art historian. Director of Gustavo Gili publishing house, Barcelona
Irina Korobina Architect. Director of the Center of Contemporary Architecture, Moscow
Qingyun Ma Architect. Dean at the University of Southern California School of Architecture, Los Angeles. Principal of MADA s.p.a.m, Shanghai
The Institute
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Andreu Mas-Colell Economist. Minister of Economy and Knowledge, Government of Catalonia. Former Secretary General of the European Research Council and member of the Board of Trustees of the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, Barcelona
Marcel Meili Architect. Professor at ETH Zurich and Principal of Meili, Peter Architekten AG Zurich
Juan Navarro Baldeweg Architect and artist. Professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Principal of Juan Navarro Baldeweg, Madrid
Ramon Prat Publisher and graphic designer. Director of ACTAR publishing house. Director of Design Hub, Barcelona
Josep Ramoneda Philosopher and journalist. Director of the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona
Edward Soja Geographer. Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning at the University of California, Los Angeles
Erwin Viray Architect. Assistant Professor at the School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore. Editorial Associate at a+u, Tokyo
Riken Yamamoto Architect. Principal and Professor at the Yokohama Graduate School of Architecture. Principal of Riken Yamamoto & Associates, Yokohama
Advisory Council Meeting titled “Economic Crisis and Architectural Change”, June 2009
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
Board of Trustees All of the Institute’s efforts and its public program are made possible thanks to the support of the BIArch Board of Trustees.
Members of the Board of Trustees Generalitat de Catalunya Obra Social de Caixa Catalunya Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, UPC Universitat Pompeu Fabra, UPF Association of Architects of Catalunya, COAC Barcelona City Council Zona Franca Consortium
Collaborators Diputació de Barcelona
The Institute
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
The MBIArch Program
About the MBIArch Program
The MBIArch is the academic core of the Barcelona Institute of Architecture. The contents of the program are based on a contemporary approach to architectural training that combines theory and practice through reflection and analysis of design processes. Reflection that the Institute hopes will trigger critical judgment and capacity for synthesis in its students. The curriculum also emphasizes the knowledgeable approach to site and materials by reevaluating the relationship between craft and efficiency. Drawing from the rich actionbased architectural and urban tradition of Barcelona, as well as from contemporary global perspectives, MBIArch students will develop the necessary skills for exploring the analytical and operative capacities of projects, allowing for a broader professional perspective. The MBIArch program extends the architect’s scope of learning to broader areas of territorial analysis and production, energy systems, building technologies, as well as criticism and culture. The program’s open approach combines theory and practice, enabling the exchange of viewpoints and experiences in an interdisciplinary environment. The intermingling of reflection, debate and design processes represent the tools for a productive and significant architectural practice. The academic syllabus places particular emphasis on architectural design as a cornerstone for the advancement of the discipline. The school considers design centered on new environmental, social, and aesthetic concepts as a fundamental mechanism for reinventing current modes of architectural production and urban growth.
The MBIArch Program
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MBIArch Overview
ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL FOCUS: The MBIArch experience encompasses advanced theoretical and designbased research and production, with the purpose of both attracting and generating architectural intelligence. OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL FACULTY: The program will be supported by an outstanding international faculty, including members of the Institute’s Advisory Council and Board of Directors—leading academics and practitioners from around the world. INTERDISCIPLINARY CURRICULUM: The MBIArch curriculum encompasses four areas of study focusing on key issues for contemporary architectural practice: Architectural Design; Urban and Territorial Studies; History, Theory and Criticism; and Building Technologies. ENVIRONMENT CONDUCIVE TO DESIGN: The program offers access to the action-oriented design culture of Barcelona and to a prestigious network of international architectural experts. The MBIArch provides a truly global outlook while keeping a strong local foothold.
The MBIArch program requires one year of full-time study and is offered entirely in English. A post-professional Master’s degree will be awarded by the Barcelona Institute of Architecture and recognized by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra upon satisfactory completion of the program.
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
The MBIArch Program
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MBIArch Curriculum
The programs 60 ECTS* credits represent a total of 1500 hours including lectures, workshops, debates, examinations, tutorials, presentations, as well as the necessary individual work to carry out assignments and prepare for class. The program is structured according to an evolving set of phases or learning strategies: beginning with the Compulsory Sequence, designed to provide the primary concepts driving the academic year, students will elect according to their disciplinary interests and preferences the seminars and studios they will be attending in the following two phases (Specialized Theory and Design Studios). The elective seminars of the Specialized Theory phase (maximum 16 students per class) will provide students the specific knowledge and fields of research to develop their own academic proposals. Speculative in character, the Design Studios (A Core Design and a Short Design studio with 10 students per class) constitute the perfect environment to test in practice the architectural knowledge previously acquired in the different seminars that the program provides. Towards the end of the year, building technologies tutorials will help students solve the practicalities and specifications of their own designs. During the last phase (Interdisciplinary Research), every student will be prompted to develop an individual thesis proposal that will be used to assess the student’s maturity and research capacities to contribute significantly to the discipline.
* ECTS European Credit Transfer System
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
Phase I:
Compulsory Sequence (18 ECTS)
Building Technologies
Digital Culture
Urban and Territorial Studies
PLP (Productive Land Program)
History, Theory, and Criticism
Phase II:
Compulsory Sequence (6 ECTS)
Energy and Sustainability
PLP (Productive Land Program)
Specialized Theory (4 ECTS)
Building Technologies
History, Theory and Criticism
Urban Studies
Design Studio (4 ECTS)
Short Design Studio
Phase III:
Specialized Theory (4 ECTS)
Building Technologies
History, Theory and Criticism
Design Studio (8 ECTS)
Core Design Studio
Design Theory Seminar
Phase IV:
Design Studio (8 ECTS)
Core Design Studio
Tutorials
Interdisciplinary Research (6 ECTS)
Guided Research
Individual Research
In addition to the organizational phases, students are required to attend the lectures, open seminars and conferences that the Institute organizes. Moreover, students will conceptualize and design their final portfolios throughout the year in close contact with their advisors.
Cross-curricular Studies (8 ECTS)
Open Lectures
Portfolio
The MBIArch Program
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Fall TERM* Phase I SEPT-OCT W1
W2
W3
W4
Phase II NOV-DEC W5
W6
W7
W8
W9
W10
W11
W12
COMPULSORY SEQUENCE SPECIALIZED THEORY DESIGN STUDIO
COMPULSORY SEQUENCE
Building Technologies Digital Culture Urban Studies History, Theory and Criticism
2 ECTS
PLP
4 ECTS
(Productive Land Program)
Energy and Sustainability
2 ECTS
PLP
4 ECTS
2 ECTS 2 ECTS 2 ECTS
(Productive Land Program)
12 ECTS
SPECIALIZED THEORY Elective 1:
Building Technologies History, Theory and Criticism Urban Studies
Students will choose 2 SEMINARS from a variety of topics according to the following distribution:
2 ECTS
Elective 2:
Building Technologies History, Theory and Criticism Urban Studies
2 ECTS
DESIGN STUDIO Students will choose 1 SHORT DESIGN STUDIO from a variety of options.
Elective 3:
Short Design Studio
8 ECTS Credits are allocated to Cross-curricular studies that run throughout the MBIArch curriculum: Open Lectures and Portfolio. *BIArch reserves the right to adjust or modify the course program to better suit course objectives and curriculum.
4 ECTS
14 ECTS
Spring TERM* Phase III FEB-MAR W1
W2
W3
W4
Phase IV APR-MAY W5
W6
W7
W8
W9
W10
W11
W12
SPECIALIZED THEORY DESIGN STUDIO INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
SPECIALIZED THEORY Elective 1:
Building Technologies History, Theory and Criticism Urban Studies
Students will choose 2 SEMINARS from a variety of topics according to the following distribution:
2 ECTS
Elective 2:
Building Technologies History, Theory and Criticism Urban Studies
2 ECTS
Core Design Studio
6 ECTS
Core Design Studio
6 ECTS
Design Theory Seminar
2 ECTS
Tutorials
2 ECTS
DESIGN STUDIO Students will choose 1 CORE DESIGN STUDIO and 1 DESIGN THEORY SEMINAR from a variety of options:
Students will continue the Core Design Studio previously chosen in Phase III
12 ECTS
INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH Guided Research
4 ECTS
Individual Research
2 ECTS
14 ECTS
Interdisciplinary Curriculum: Areas of Study
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN The pressure brought to bear on design practices by advances in technical knowledge and expertise, along with the dissolution of the traditional tasks and instruments brought about by digital technologies is paradoxically leading to a lack of intensity in creative responses, erasing the capacity for true individual expression. Through its focus on Architectural Design, the MBIArch program will operate within this contemporary landscape, resisting complacent design and pushing for innovative approaches to architecture. Departing from a technical and scientific base, students will question contemporary attitudes towards the environment, society and culture at large, placing particular emphasis on the relationship between architecture and landscape as a source of design intelligence. The different studios involved in the curriculum respond to specific questions of scale, context, and objecthood to encourage critical reflection on design practices. In addition, short term design studios are intended to improve the student’s ability to respond promptly and aptly to design demands regardless of time constrains and contingencies. Lead by internationally renowned professionals, the architectural design department aims for global interaction between design strategies, ecological and sustainable conditions in a globalized economy.
URBAN & TERRITORIAL STUDIES A challenging contemporary context paves the way for a revision of our basic inherited urban and territorial understanding. This context prompts architects and urban designers to adopt difficult design strategies—and to undertake controversial decisions in policies— in order to improve our urban environment. The target of Urban and Territorial Studies within the MBIArch framework is the observation and analysis of the increasingly socio-technical nature of cities. We aim to explore the impact of networks on territorial phenomena and identify the homeostasis of urban systems, while revealing
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
BIArch Advisory Council member and visiting professor David Adjaye during his Open Lecture ‘Themes and Works’. Adjaye led the MBIArch Design Studio ‘Re_Rec: Igualada’ in the 2010-2011 Spring term.
The MBIArch Program
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the shared aspirations that make-up our urban ideals. Cities as connective patterns prove that, in urban discourse, knowledge becomes inseparable from significant public action. An accurate analysis of our increasingly complex societies must take into consideration the evolution of three driving factors: technology, economy and governmentalism. The department is a survey for a deep understanding of the evolving urban thesis, from industrial to neotertiary societies, within the framework of global technological conditions.
HISTORY, THEORY & CRITICISM What is the cultural paradigm for architectural practices nowadays? How does architecture respond to its cultural environment without disrupting the constitutive elements of the discipline? How should architects reclaim a significant sphere of knowledge and production in a constantly changing and technologically oriented society? The seminars in theory, history, and criticism will try to promote the reflection around these questions (among others) by prompting students to review the historical context of architectural debates and its current significance. Writing and designing can no longer be understood as impervious to each other but constantly determined and mutually influenced. We would like to reinforce the idea that designing, thinking, and writing are intimately linked and entail a central and unitary process in the production of architecture. In doing so, we expect to increase students’ consciousness about the relevance of critical practices as well as to stir them into self-reflection in the final production of architecture. We intend to develop students’ critical awareness of the cultural milieu that will affect their future approach to design culture. The series of seminars proposed will frame the discussion by juxtaposing an array of thoughts and objects around issues such as interdisciplinarity, fragmentation, agency, mass culture, mediation, alterity, or architectural autonomy. The initial assumption is that during what has normally been labeled as postmodernity, a paradigm shift took place that entailed a recalibration of culture and art in its relation to society. This paradigm provided new concepts and mechanisms that seem to be relevant today. The critical seminars are designed to encourage the students to revisit some of those inherent notions and to reassess the historical moment in order to evaluate its current relevance.
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES The rapid and overwhelming evolution experienced by building technologies in the last decades as well as the multiple findings and improvements in construction materials have shifted and complicated the traditional tasks entrusted to the architect. Informed by the technological and economic situation, architects are now surrounded by a team of consultants who provide the necessary expertise in the manifold subjects that the design and construction processes entail: structures, MEP systems (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), façades, acoustics, as well as digital design and representation. Accordingly, under such conditions of production, the architect becomes reluctant to be held as the only responsible party to contribute to the overall technical knowledge. Nevertheless, in order to successfully control the design development, architects need to understand certain concepts and to master practical skills of the different disciplines involved in the construction process. This expertise becomes translated in the use of a common lexicon and technical jargon that allow architects and designers to be an active part in the process of decision, contributing precisely and in a timely manner to the professional discussion. As expected, the purpose of this department is not to shape students as specialists in any of the technological domains that we will touch upon during the semester, but to provide them with the sufficient background as to formulate specific, valid, and efficient proposals in every field. These proposals require a comprehensible dialogue with the involved agents in order to reach a satisfactory result. Moving between buildings and urban or territorial scales, the department’s sequence on energy will focus on instances of collection, production, storage, distribution and use of energy—emphasizing renewable energy sources. The department also promotes the understanding of digital media, asking students to maximize these tools potential in order to open up areas of innovation in architectural processes and design strategies. Moreover, the department aims to merge different fields of expertise to accomplish a more compelling and sustainable integration of digital media and environmental concerns.
The MBIArch Program
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CROSS CURRICULAR STUDIES
Portfolio The evaluation of the personal portfolio—including samples of the work carried out in the different courses and studios—will be the most important means of assessment in the program. The portfolio will follow a specific narrative illustrating the student’s interests, concerns, and accomplishments throughout the academic year. Containing graphic documentation, design samples, critical and theoretical essays or papers, the portfolio should present a visual account of the student’s year at BIArch to use for future professional or academic endeavors. Each student will be assigned a tutor to assist them in the critical analysis and development of the portfolio.
Open Lectures and Events MBIArch students will receive course credit for attending the Open Lectures hosted by the Barcelona Institute of Architecture. These lectures, which are also open to the public, provide a platform for renowned guest speakers to present the concepts and conclusions drawn from their personal experience in their fields of practice. BIArch also organizes different public formats—such as master classes, dialogues, or symposia—in order to make the events more productive for students and promote participation between the realms of academia and professional practice. A portion of the bi-annual publication, the BIArch Journal, compiles a reflection of the findings and discussions presented during the Open Lecture series. Open Lectures are considered part of the curriculum and attendance is compulsory for BIArch students.
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
Faculty The MBIArch program is supported by an outstanding international faculty, comprised of leading academics and practitioners from around the world. Faculty for the MBIArch includes the following members of the Institute’s Board of Directors and Advisory Council: Iñaki Ábalos Josep Anton Acebillo David Adjaye Stan Allen Toni Gironès Gloria Moure Agustí Obiol Joan Roig
Visiting faculty includes: Pier Vittorio Aureli Architect. Head of the PhD Program “The city as a Project” and of the Research Unit “Labour, City, Architecture” at the Berlage Institute, Co-founder of DOGMA, Rotterdam
Pedro Gadanho Architect, Assistant Professor at the Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade do Porto, Editor in Chief of Beyond, Lisbon
Juan Gallostra Engineer. General Director of Grupo JG, Barcelona
Hans Ibelings Art historian, architecture critic, and curator. Editor in chief of A10, Rotterdam
Aleksandar Ivancic Engineer, Barcelona Regional, Barcelona
Enrique Walker Architect. Adjunt Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University, New York
The MBIArch Program
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
Open Lectures and Events The Barcelona Institute of Architecture hosts a series of Open Lectures and events throughout the academic year which aim to provide a platform for the interaction between academic research, specialized practice and the cultural dissemination of contemporary architecture in the framework and as a complimentary extension of the MBIArch curriculum. The events transcend the traditional boundaries that separate architecture schools from professional practices and wider communities of interest, keeping with BIArch’s strong international focus and spirit of active engagement in terms of both theory and practice. During both the Fall and Spring terms BIArch will invite renowned guest speakers to draw from their experience and present conclusions relating to their fields of expertise. Public event formats such as Open Lectures, Seminars, Dialogues, Symposia and Master Classes are continuously generated by the Institute to provide analytical forums and compliment the Institute’s fundamental theoretical, technical and academic concerns.
Past lecturers and seminar guests include: Vito Acconci Designer, landscape architect, performance and installation artist, New York
Stan Allen Principal SAA/Stan Allen Architect, Dean at the School of Architecture at Princeton University
Pier Vittorio Aureli Architect. Head of the PhD Program “The city as a Project” and of the Research Unit “Labour, City, Architecture” at the Berlage Institute, Co-founder of DOGMA, Rotterdam
Yung Ho Chang Architect. Professor at the Department of Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Principal of Atelier FCJZ, Beijing
Pedro Gadanho Architect, curator and auther. Assistant Professor at the Faculdade de Arquitectura de Universidade do Porto. Editor and Chief of Beyond, Short Stories on the Post-Contemporary, Amsterdam
Toni Gironès Head of Architecture Studies at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, BIArch Board Member, Toni Gironès Arquitectes
Open Lectures and Events
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Hans Ibelings Art historian, architecture critic, and curator. Editor in Chief of A10, Amsterdam
Juan José Lahuerta Architect. Professor Escola Técnica Superior d’Arquitectura (ETSAB). Senior Curator, Picasso Museum, Barcelona
Chus Martínez Chief Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA), Barcelona
Smiljan Radic Architect. Chile’s Colegio de Arquitectos award for most promising architect under 35 in 2001, Architectural Record “Design Vanguard” in 2008, American Institute of Architect Honorary Fellow
Yoshiharu Tsukamoto Architect. Atelier Bow Wow, Tokyo
Isabel Valverde Art Historian. Professor of Art History at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)
Enrique Walker Architect. Adjunt Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University, New York
Riken Yamamoto Architect. Principal and Professor at the Yokohama Graduate School of Architecture. Principal of Riken Yamamoto & Associates, Yokohama
David Adjaye Architect. Principal of Adjaye Associates, London
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
Facilities & Resources Facilities The Casa Milà, also known as “La Pedrera” is the official head office of the Barcelona Institute of Architecture. The building was designed by Antoni Gaudí and completed in 1910. La Pedrera is a major cultural center and one of the city’s key reference points, regularly holding numerous activities and exhibitions. All of BIArch’s public events and activities, including the Open Lecture Series, dialogues, seminars and Advisory Council Meetings will be held at this location. BIArch’s daily activities are held in the idEC building of the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. The facilities are ideally located in the heart of the Eixample district and only a few minutes from ‘La Pedrera’. The building offers a variety of facilities for students enrolled in the MBIArch, including classrooms and model workshops, personal workspaces and computer and printing resources. Students will have full access to spaces provided for project development such as studios, workspace, workshops and digital resources.
Facilities and Resources
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Libraries & Archives Students enrolled in the MBIArch program enjoy full access — including consultation and borrowing services—to the library of the Col.legi Oficial d’Arquitectes de Catalunya (Architects Association of Catalonia). The COAC Library network is one of the largest and most important libraries in Europe specializing in architecture and design, and the Barcelona library holds 73,000 resources between books, CDs, videos, DVDs, websites, etc. Students will also have access to the Universitat Pompeu Fabra library network, namely the Center of Resources for Learning and Researching (CRAI).
Technology and Computer Resources Computer resources have become an integral part of design and architectural practice, and BIArch is committed to providing students with the latest in advanced design technologies, information resources and computing tools. Students will have access to a computer lab with desktop PCs provided by the Institute, yet are expected to have their own computers (preferably a portable laptop) for a range of applications including communication, Internet use, and specific design tools. BIArch will offer access to and/or temporary licenses for 2D/3D modeling, simulations, calculation, GIS, image processing, animation, rendering, and desktop publishing software, as well as on-campus wireless Internet access. Students will also be able to connect to the BIArch Intranet, a webbased platform which provides access to course related materials (syllabus, calendar and lectures), personal BIArch e-mail accounts and news. In addition and in support of the importance of Architectural Design in the course curriculum, students will have access to an online portfolio application to aid in organizing and presenting the work developed throughout the academic year.
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
Model Making and Presentation Resources Program facilities include an 80m2 fully-equipped model workshop, offering technical assistance and equipment to construct models and prototypes, as well as small power tools and digital prototyping resources. Equipment includes a laser cutter, foam cutter and 3D model printer that students will be taught to use during the Fall semester. Students will also have access to other presentation resources such as B&W and color printers, plotters, digital imaging equipment, desktop publishing software and photocopiers.
Facilities and Resources
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
Admissions
Applying to the MBIArch
MBIARCH STUDENT PROFILE The MBIArch Program is open to applicants holding a professional degree in architecture from an accredited college or university. Students will come from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, with an international mindset and normally a minimum of two years professional experience. PROGRAM LENGTH AND DEGREE AWARDED The MBIArch program requires one year of full-time study and is offered entirely in English. A post-professional Master’s degree will be awarded by the Barcelona Institute of Architecture and recognized by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra upon satisfactory completion of the program.
Application Requirements and Procedure APPLICATION DEADLINES The BIArch admissions committee will be reviewing applications for the 2011-2012 MBIArch post-professional master’s degree program according to the following application deadlines: 1st Application Deadline: March 7, 2011 2nd Application Deadline: May 9, 2011 Late Application Deadline: July 15, 2011
Admissions
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APPLICATION CHECK-LIST All candidates for admission are required to submit the following materials to be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Details on each requirement follow. 1. MBIArch Online Application Form 2. Application Fee 3. Curriculum Vitae* 4. Statement of purpose 5. Transcripts and Certified Copies of Academic Certificates* 6. Letters of recommendation* 7. Portfolio* 8. Proof of English proficiency for non-native English speakers* 9. Copy of Valid Passport*
* Materials that must be sent by post to BIArch.
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
APPLICATION MATERIALS 1. MBIArch Application Form which can be found on the Institutes website: http://www.biarch.eu/apply/ 2. Application fees for the 2011-2012 academic year are:
75 € for applications received by March 7
100 € for applications received after March 7
The Application Fee is non-refundable and payable through the BIArch website or by bank transfer using the following bank details: Caixa Catalunya Provenca, 296-298 08008 – Barcelona, SPAIN SWIFT: CESCESBBXXX BANK: 2013 BRANCH: 0691 CONTROL: 31 ACCOUNT Nº: 0200825796 IBAN: ES3620130691310200825796 Note: Please reference the MBIArch Program & your full name.
3. Candidates Curriculum Vitae should list all Academic and Professional Experience including dates and places of study/work. 4. The Essay, or Statement of Purpose, should be between 300-500 words describing your interests and objectives for applying to the MBIArch program, with mention of your previous design and academic experience as well as your future goals. 5. Original transcripts and certified copies of academic certificates and diplomas should be provided by the applicant and/or University. A full list of subjects and the results obtained should be included. Applicants who are currently completing a degree must include official documentation stating the name and dates of the degree they will be awarded. Transcripts and degrees from non-English or Spanish speaking Universities must be translated into English and officially certified. If applying to the program with a degree from a non-European Union Institution please contact the Admissions Office (admissions@biarch.eu) for specific certification details.
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6. Applicants are required to obtain three letters of recommendation: two related to their academic experience and, if applicable, one related to professional experience. These individuals should be qualified to attest to the applicant’s professional potential and academic ability. Candidates may include sealed letters in the Application Package or have their references send them directly by post or e-mail to the BIArch Admissions Office. 7. MBIArch applicants are required to submit a portfolio with representative examples of design and research work demonstrating the ability to pursue study at an advanced level. If including collaborative work, the applicant’s contribution must be clearly identified. The portfolio must be securely bound in size A4 (210x297mm). The front of the portfolio must have the applicant’s name, address, date, year and the university or college from which she/he received the architectural degree. Also, each project should be labeled indicating when and where the work was produced, stating whether the project was academic, professional or personal, together with a one to two sentence description.
Note: Electronic, CD and oversized portfolios submissions will not be accepted. Portfolios will not be returned.
8. English is the official language at BIArch. All applicants whose first language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency by including language test scores or certifications in the application package. The internationally recognized exams/ certificates accepted by BIArch are: • Europe’s Common European Framework for language report at level C1 or above. • Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) • IELTS: 6.0 • TOEFL: iBT (internet-based): 78; cBT (computer-based): 210; pBT (paper-based): 547
Test scores may be waived for non-native English speakers who have successfully studied in English speaking schools.
BIArch reserves the right to request a personal or phone interview to test the applicants English proficiency level.
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
9. Copy of Valid Passport (Spanish and EU candidates may submit a copy of their National Identification Card)
Application Packages should be mailed to the Admissions Office located at:
Barcelona Institute of Architecture
Balmes 132-34, 3rd Floor
Barcelona, Spain 08008
SELECTION PROCESS Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by the Institutes Admissions Committee once all required materials have been received. The BIArch Admissions Office will notify candidates of their admission status within three weeks by telephone and/or e-mail followed by a letter that will be sent by regular mail.
PROGRAM FEES The tuition fees for the 2011-2012 MBIArch program are 15,700 Euros which are to be paid in three installments: • Tuition deposit – a 15% non-refundable deposit of 2,355 € is required of all admitted students accepting BIArch’s offer for admission. The fee must be paid up to 20 days after notification of acceptance. • 2nd Payment: 50% by September 2, 2011: 7,850 € • 3rd Payment: 35% by January 9, 2012: 5,495 € Note: Study-related expenses such as reproduction costs, printing, model making and book purchases are not included in the tuition fees.
Admissions
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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Visas Non-European Citizens are urged to apply to the program as early as possible to allow sufficient time for the Visa Application procedure. BIArch recommends that all international applicants contact their local Spanish Embassy or Consulate for the Visa Requirements and Procedures for entering and staying in Spain for the duration of the program. Housing BIArch does not currently provide student housing but upon enrolment participants will be sent a Welcome Guide which includes helpful information when searching for accommodation options in the city. The Welcome Guide will serve as a general overview of life at BIArch including tips when arriving and settling into Barcelona.
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BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus
Contact Information
OPENING HOURS The BIArch offices are open Monday to Friday, from 8:00h to 14:00h and 15:00h to 17:00h. The office is closed on public holidays. For information or questions regarding Admissions or to organize a visit to BIArch, please contact the Admissions Office:
admissions@biarch.eu Skype: biarch.admissions For more information, please visit
www.biarch.eu General inquiries may be directed to
info@biarch.eu
BIArch Barcelona Institute of Architecture Passeig de GrĂ cia, 92 08008 Barcelona, Spain +34 93 542 19 07
Contact Information
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BARCELONA INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE LA PEDRERA PASSEIG DE GRÀCIA, 92 08008 BARCELONA. SPAIN info@biarch.eu +34 93 542 19 07