H E A D’S M E S S A G E
M A STER O F A RC HITEC T U RE 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
E R I K G. L’H E U R E U X
The NUS Master of Architecture programme is Asia’s leading design and research course
Professor and Head
of Architecture. This new academic year will be a great challenge to us all, not least
Dean’s Chair Associate
for architecture. Our concurrent two-year professional degree programme cultivates
of Department
due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the scattering of members of our facilities and
Professor, Vice Dean
a comprehensive and deep understanding of Asia and the equatorial region’s design
studios. Regardless of the mode of teaching, we at DOA pledge to do our best to deliver
Master of Architecture
opportunities and challenges. Students acquire knowledge as designers, intellectuals
an excellent learning experience to you as you journey through the year. The pandemic
Programme Director
and citizens who can then go on to shape and influence the built environment.
has led us to question a number of the essential values at the heart of how we operate in society, such as gathering, community, work and living patterns, nature, technology and
The M Arch design studio is supported by a rigorous and expansive curriculum of
digital capacity. These values are, and should be, expressed in spatial terms.
graduate level electives and core professional modules. Conducted over a duration of four semesters, through the M Arch I Design Option Studios and the graduate level design
As we begin this education journey with you, we have worked to achieve better clarity
thesis, this curriculum trains students to think critically and materially, and to produce
in our studio direction and pedagogy. Our programmes focus on design, which we see
independent work of individuality, rigour, and vision.
as evidence-based problem solving that has the potential to transcend the confines of everyday experience. The required modules in our programmes open the door to
Directing their own learning experience, M Arch I students embark on a selection
different domains of knowledge, which in turn inform design decisions. The elective
of options studios and aligned electives. During their second thesis year, students
modules further expand and enrich students’ knowledge in their chosen topics of
concentrate on independent and individual design trajectories, covering a wide variety
interest. By creating and navigating a path through the entire curriculum, you will then be
of disciplines as well as cross-cultural dimensions. Core professional and technical
empowered to pursue your own aspirations and interests in architecture.
modules support the student’s advanced learning.
The values that we champion in our programmes relate both to architectural and spatial form, and pertain to current social conditions, environmental responsibility, well-being
The strategic objective of the M Arch programme is to prepare students for a
and health, urban liveability, memory and identity, and relationship with nature. At
professional career in architecture amid a rapidly changing global context, and to
this moment, these issues are particularly relevant, poignant and ripe for reflection,
equip them with experiences developed from within Singapore and through regional
research, re-affirmation and redefinition. A number of design studios planned for the
and international perspectives. Facilitated by a world-class team of academics and
new academic year are addressing these issues directly, and we await with anticipation
practitioners, the M Arch programme focuses on research-driven thinking and methods
the innovative answers and outcomes that they will generate.
through five research clusters: Research by Design; History, Theory and Criticism; Technologies; Urbanism; and Landscape Studies.
We are turning the coming year’s challenges into opportunities for robust spatial responses to future conditions. Our programme, curriculum, module design and
The programme allows students to expand design intelligence and creative practice
studio learning outcomes have been formulated and refined in order to achieve design
research at an advanced level, and to further discourse within the discipline
excellence in this environment. I am confident we will rise above our challenges and work
of architecture. A series of seminars, symposiums, guest lectures, internship
to create design solutions that will address pertinent issues of importance for current
opportunities, exchange and field research complement this advanced design
and future communities. My colleagues and I look forward to working together with you,
programme.
and to bringing our passion, creativity and intelligence together with yours, to bear on these issues. I wish you an exciting and rewarding new academic year.
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With this, our graduates are poised to become design leaders for Asia, and for the world.
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