Master of Architecture // Master of Urbanism (MA+U) 2014 | 2015 | Tilburg
Master of Architecture // Master of Urbanism
Jolijn van den Berg student Master of Urbanism
The Master’s degree programme offers me the depth I was looking for after my Urban Design study at the NHTV in Breda. The academic level of thinking and, especially, the broadening and deepening that I experience by working together with people of different backgrounds and with different perspectives, is very inspiring. There are many things going on in the field, and no-one knows exactly where we are heading. It is clear though that things have changed compared to ten years ago. The transformation of the role of an urban designer or architect makes the profession uncertain. On the other hand, this situation also offers many openings and opportunities in developments and progress, which seemed impossible earlier. It is possible to make the most of these opportunities within the study programme in Tilburg. Because of the small-scale set-up, there is a pleasant, informal atmosphere and everyone knows each other. This makes it possible to adjust the curriculum to the personal needs and requirements of each student. Several opportunities abroad crossed my path. The department has many contacts abroad, and the switch-over to an Englishlanguage programme even offers more opportunities as regards the internationalisation of the study programme. Perhaps my future lies abroad, who knows. There are many developments going on abroad, and we can make a valuable contribution with our knowledge of design and planning. 2
Master of Architecture // Master of Urbanism (MA+U) The Tilburg Academy of Architecture and Urbanism has recently celebrated its 75th Anniversary. Rarely have we faced more challenging conditions for architects and urban designers as in the past five years. Many of the current social, economic and ecological issues have spatial consequences that architects and urban designers are well prepared to confront. We strongly believe that design thinking is a powerful competence that is key to addressing the range of complex and interrelated challenges the world is facing. Therefore, all issues connected with design thinking define our curriculum. Educating designers with a relevant set of powerful skills, applicable knowledge and a fundamental collaborative attitude is the core of our four-year Master degree programmes. A unique aspect of the programmes is that they are taught in a ‘concurrent’ way, combining the school curriculum with a relevant professional practice. Working in a
professional practice offers students experience and education beyond the school curriculum. The MA+U programmes in Tilburg are part of Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts, an inspiring community of around 1500 students pursuing creative careers. We are located in a wonderful group of historic and new buildings surrounding a former monastery garden. Tilburg is part of a thriving region in the south of the Netherlands closely connected to the Randstad. It has a great Modern Art Museum, a leading Textile Museum and Textile Lab and accommodates over 20.000 students in a large number of departments. The MA+U itself is a coherent community of about 90 students and a staff of 10, with a large number of additional freelance tutors and visiting critics. Apart from the two Master programmes we offer an international postgraduate programme focusing on cities worldwide (www.stadslab.eu). 3
Master of Architecture Architects are spatial designers. They have a masterly skill in integrating complex ranges of functional and technological requirements into coherent, attractive and feasible spatial designs. Design assignments can range from individual homes or small interventions in public spaces to large commercial or public buildings, such as shops, offices, schools or hospitals. Most contemporary projects involve such a large variety of topics that architects work in multidisciplinary teams of experts and consultants, all aimed at implementing a project within time and budget constraints. The ability to synthesise diverse sets of usually conflicting requirements into spatial designs on different scales is the core competence of the architect. However, many more skills are necessary to successfully practise the profession. Architects need to be convincing
communicators as well. They need a collaborative attitude towards solving technological, functional or financial problems. Projects take a long time from first ideas to realization. Therefore, process management skills are required, as well as the ability to safeguard the financial aspects of a business. In summary, an architect combines creative competences at a very high level with an inquisitive attitude and open mind, with the additional business skills required to be a successful practitioner. In our view, it is one of the most fulfilling academic courses. Exciting times are ahead due to increasing speed of innovation in IT, new manufacturing technologies, and new collaborative models for the creation of smart buildings and cities. In Europe, the production of new buildings has been at a low level due to economic conditions. But an
increase in creative re-use and re-programming of now redundant buildings and complexes provides new challenges for architects. Globally, there is still a major building boom, notably in emerging economies. For architects pursuing an international career, these are exciting times!
Master of Urbanism Urban designers are spatial and functional organisers of cities and regions. Their field consists of safeguarding consistency in public spaces, good streets and neighbourhoods, and a balanced lay-out of streets, parks and squares. Just like architects, urban designers have to reconcile often conflicting spatial claims into an integrated design. Urban designers have to be strong at considering spatial aspects at different levels of scale: what does an intervention at district level mean for the urban system as a whole. Assignments for urban designers usually result from political debates and processes. Urban planning is always related to local government, and many urban designers work in planning departments of public authorities (cities and municipal departments). A similarity to architectural practice is the complex, multidisciplinary nature of the practice of an urban designer. Urban designs usually entail an even higher degree of complexity, including aspects of architecture, public space, transportation, civil engineering, law, environmental and legal issues. Moreover, decisions often derive from long and complex political processes and include public dialogues and participation. The task of an urban designer in this process is to propose integrated design proposals that structure the use and layout of urban spaces. An urban design is also aimed at safeguarding spatial quality in the long term. Cities need continuous maintenance, and due to changing economic, social and political conditions areas in cities may change dramatically. Contemporary practice ranges from these far-reaching transformations of complete districts (such as waterfronts or station areas), to qualitative improvements of city centres and residential neighbourhoods. Urban designers need to be strategic thinkers, weighing the different stakes in city planning.
Programme The MA+U programmes are collaborative, topical, creative and practice-based. The design studio is the heart of the Master programme. In the studio students 4
5
Facilities are trained to apply all kinds of skills and methods aimed at realizing ever-more convincing synergetic design proposals for complex problems. Most projects are based on cases directly derived from real-life situations, with the stakeholders involved. Students are trained to think in a conceptual manner, but they will also have to be capable of presenting their work to more general or more specialist audiences. Teachers in our programmes are professionals themselves, engaging in education on a freelance, temporary basis. Another unique aspect of the programme is that students combine studio work and courses with a relevant professional practice during the Master programme.
concurrent Education The principle of concurrent education is that students are engaged in professional practice during their studies. All students are required to find a (part-time) position within an office or municipal department related to the field of their studies. The master programmes are structured around this requirement. Students follow theory classes on Tuesday evenings and will attend skills lessons and studios on Fridays. The distinctive feature of concurrent education is that students will experience critical aspects of their profession that can hardly be dealt with within the school programme, such as being engaged in the actual execution of designs and the critical assessment of designs in real political, social and legal situations. By working in practice students will also experience the challenges of convincing other parties involved of the qualities and benefits of their designs. In concurrent 6
education students can continuously reflect on how the things they learn in school can be related to their experiences in everyday practice, and vice versa. This reflection results in enhanced and deepened professional capacities. Students are responsible for finding a relevant position in a practice. Nevertheless, the school will support them in providing access to the school’s extensive network. If students are unable to find a suitable position in professional practice, the school will attempt to provide alternative ways of developing the required professionals skills and competences. This may be in dedicated research studios focused on noncommercial assignments or self-formulated fictional spatial assignments.
Competences MA+U’s educational model is based on acquiring competences at Master-degree levels. Innovations and developments in professional practice in general have stimulated this learning method. A continuouslychanging context requires a permanent renewal of skills and knowledge and the ability to respond in a flexible and strategic manner. We have defined a set of seven competences that guide both the Master of Architecture and the Master of Urbanism programmes:
design research entrepreneurship
collaborating communicating organising professionalism
Students’ levels in these competences will be tested annually through portfolio assessments.
Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts (FHK) aims to support MA+U students in the best possible way in their study-related development. Students have access to modern facilities such as a Medialab, a Printlab and Model workshops. Additionally, a large arts-related library, audio and video equipment, and studentrelated supportive offices are all accessible in our own school buildings. FHK is located in the centre of Tilburg and consists of a beautiful group of new buildings and transformed former monastery buildings, all linked and surrounding a great public garden. The approximately 90 students of MA+U share these premises with almost 1.500 students in Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts.
Career perspectives Thanks to the significant period of time spent in professional practice during the four-year Master programmes, our graduates are considered qualified professionals once they graduate. This is reflected in the fact that they can immediately apply for licensing at the Dutch Architects Register (BA) after receiving their degree. University students from non-concurrent full-day programmes are required to enrol in a twoyear professional training programme in a firm before they can apply for licensing at the BA. The career perspective for architects and urban designers are highly dependent on general economic developments. Architectural and urban projects require large investments and are subject to extensive risk assessments by both private and public parties. The economic situation in the Netherlands and many other European countries has been lagging behind
global growth rates, causing decreased demand for new real estate. On the other hand, investments in infrastructure, sustainability, and targeted social and economic support programmes partly compensate for this decrease. Architects and urban design firms in general have suffered significantly from the recent economic crisis. Firms that offer an outstanding level of products and services, firms that are highly innovative, and internationally-oriented practices have proved to be far more resilient. The English-language MA+U programmes will prepare students to engage in an international career and provide them with the necessary competences needed to stay up-to-date and competitive in their fields.
Lessons Tuesday Friday
19.30 – 22.00h 09.00 – 18.00h
Occasionally, some lessons will be on Thursday evenings.
Admissions Admission to the MA+U programmes is possible for graduates with a bachelor degree in architecture or urbanism, respectively. An extensive assessment procedure is part of the application process. This assessment includes a diploma validation, a portfolio review and an intake interview with the study coordinators. Detailed information regarding admissions and tuition fees can be found at www.fontys.edu 7
Visiting days Saturday November 9 2013 Sunday February 2 2014
09.30-15.00h 10.30-15.00h
Visiting evenings Wednesday April 9 Wednesday June 4
2014 2014
18.00-21.00h 18.00-21.00h
Master of Architecture // Master of Urbanism (MA+U) Zwijsenplein 1 Postbus 90907
5038 TZ Tilburg 5000 GJ Tilburg
Phone e-mail website
+31(0)8850 74922 FHKaas@fontys.nl www.fontys.nl/kunsten
FHK Tilburg Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts (FHK) consists of the Academy for Teacher training in Visual Arts and Design, Academy for Art, Communication and Design, Master of Architecture, Master of Urbanism, Master Art Education, Academy for Teacher training in Dance, Dance Academy, Master of Choreography, Academy for Teacher training in Music, Conservatory, Rockacademie, Master of Music, Academy for Teacher training in Theatre, Academy for Circus and Performance Art and the Academy for Music Theatre and Musical Theatre. Graphic design: Blend & Blink (www.blendblink.nl) Print: OBT BV Photography: Bart Bisschops, Sander de Bruin, Stijn Kriele, Maud de Regt en Tom van Tuijn. The content of this brochure is not legally binding.
34.23