H E A D’S M E S S A G E
BAC H ELO R O F A RTS IN A RC HITEC T U R E P R O G R A M M E DI R E C T O R’S M E S S A G E
H O P U AY P E N G
I am delighted to welcome you, either as new or returning students, to NUS Department
O N G K E R-S HIN G
Your architectural education might begin at NUS Department of Architecture, but it will
Professor and Head
of Architecture. This new academic year will be a great challenge to us all, not least
Associate Professor
not end when you graduate. Those of you who do go on to practise architecture will find
of Department
due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the scattering of members of our facilities and
in Practice
this especially true. For the best in our field, the learning never stops.
studios. Regardless of the mode of teaching, we at DOA pledge to do our best to deliver
Bachelor of Arts in
an excellent learning experience to you as you journey through the year. The pandemic
Architecture Programme
At the DOA, what we provide our undergraduates is not an exhaustive download of
has led us to question a number of the essential values at the heart of how we operate in
Director
disciplinary knowledge (which would be impossible in any case), but rather, a strong
society, such as gathering, community, work and living patterns, nature, technology and
foundation in architectural thinking. Our programme takes students through a different
digital capacity. These values are, and should be, expressed in spatial terms.
design studio each semester, providing a deep dive into different facets of architecture. Studios cover 18 curated themes—sorted into six levels of three related topics each—
As we begin this education journey with you, we have worked to achieve better clarity
selected to build a paradigm from which to see and think like an architect. Learning will
in our studio direction and pedagogy. Our programmes focus on design, which we see
be cumulative, experiential, and augmented through a thorough immersion in the culture
as evidence-based problem solving that has the potential to transcend the confines
of the design studio.
of everyday experience. The required modules in our programmes open the door to different domains of knowledge, which in turn inform design decisions. The elective
Certain fundamental aspects of architecture—such as programme, site and form—will
modules further expand and enrich students’ knowledge in their chosen topics of
not appear as individual themes, but will instead be explored in all studios, at all levels.
interest. By creating and navigating a path through the entire curriculum, you will then be
Your grappling with these fundamental elements will increase in sophistication and
empowered to pursue your own aspirations and interests in architecture.
complexity as you progress through the years, with an opportunity to synthesise your
The values that we champion in our programmes relate both to architectural and spatial
knowledge and thinking in the final semester’s project.
form, and pertain to current social conditions, environmental responsibility, well-being and health, urban liveability, memory and identity, and relationship with nature. At
Within each level, tutors will teach design through different methodologies. This is a
this moment, these issues are particularly relevant, poignant and ripe for reflection,
benefit of membership in a large and diverse school, with many studios per level. You will
research, re-affirmation and redefinition. A number of design studios planned for the
have a wide exposure to varied modes of thinking and working. You will be encouraged to
new academic year are addressing these issues directly, and we await with anticipation
develop a personal—and intellectually robust—critical position as to what architecture
the innovative answers and outcomes that they will generate.
is, what it can and should do, and what you might, as a future architect, contribute to it. We value an exploratory culture, with each studio approaching design via thoughtful and
We are turning the coming year’s challenges into opportunities for robust spatial
energetic iterative processes.
responses to future conditions. Our programme, curriculum, module design and studio learning outcomes have been formulated and refined in order to achieve design
While we will teach the curriculum detailed in the following pages, you will also be
excellence in this environment. I am confident we will rise above our challenges and work
expected to play an active role in your education, and to learn more than what we teach.
to create design solutions that will address pertinent issues of importance for current
Our programme requires that you take ownership of your own learning to fully exploit
and future communities. My colleagues and I look forward to working together with you,
this environment of opportunities. You will be expected to acquire and hone both hard
and to bringing our passion, creativity and intelligence together with yours, to bear on
and soft skills along the way through your own effort. Just as you will learn to use
these issues. I wish you an exciting and rewarding new academic year.
technical tools such as AutoCAD or Rhino, you will also develop essential soft skills like collaboration, stamina, grit and resilience. You will also learn to present, debate and refine your design work, and strengthen a mindset of circumspection beyond simple notions of “right” and “wrong.” With this, an architectural education at the DOA will not only prepare students for professional practice, but will—perhaps more importantly—foster a generation of critical, creative, and articulate thinkers.
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