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
I am delighted to welcome you, either as new or returning
As we begin this education journey with you, we have
The NUS Master of Architecture (M Arch) programme
The strategic objective of the M Arch programme
students, to NUS Department of Architecture (DOA). With
worked to achieve better clarity in our studio direction
is Asia’s leading design and research course for
is to prepare students for a professional career in
the pandemic still raging, this new Academic Year (AY)
and pedagogy. Our programmes focus on design, which
architecture. Our concurrent two-year professional
architecture amid a rapidly changing global context,
will continue to be disruptive and a great challenge to us
we see as evidence-based problem solving skills that
degree programme cultivates a comprehensive and
and to equip them with knowledge and experiences
all. Renovations of SDE3 are still on-going, and hopefully
has the potential to transcend the confines of everyday
deep understanding of Asia’s and the equatorial region’s
developed from within Singapore and through regional
we will be able to move back to SDE3 towards the end of
experience. The required modules in our programmes
design opportunities and challenges. Students acquire
and international perspectives. Facilitated by a team of
AY2021/22. In the meantime, our studios will continue
open doors to different domains of knowledge, which
knowledge as designers, intellectuals and citizens
world-class academics and practitioners, the M Arch
to be scattered with hot desking arrangements. I hope
in turn inform design decisions. The elective modules
who can then go on to shape and influence the built
programme focuses on research-driven thinking and
we can persevere and adapt to the studio condition with
further expand and enrich students’ knowledge in their
environment.
methods through six research clusters: Research by
COVID-19 safety guidelines and measures. Regardless of
chosen topics of interest. By creating and navigating
the disruption, we at DOA, pledge to do our best to deliver
a path through the entire curriculum, you will then be
The M Arch design studio is supported by a rigorous and
an excellent learning experience for you, as you journey
empowered to pursue your own aspirations and interests in
expansive curriculum of graduate-level electives and
with us through the year. The pandemic has led us to
architecture.
core professional modules. Conducted over a duration of
The programme allows students to expand design
four semesters, through the Design Option Studios and
intelligence and creative practice research at an
question a number of the essential values at the heart of
Design, History, Theory and Criticism, Technologies, Urbanism, Landscape Studies, and Design Education.
how we operate in society, such as gatherings, community,
The values that we champion in our programmes relate
the graduate level design thesis, this curriculum trains
advanced level, and to further discourse within the
work and living patterns, nature, technology, and digital
both to architectural and spatial form, and pertain to
students to think critically and materially; and to produce
discipline of architecture. A series of seminars,
capacity. These values are, and should be, expressed in
current social conditions, environmental responsibility,
independent work of individuality, rigour, and vision.
symposiums, guest lectures, internship opportunities,
spatial terms, which you shall explore this year.
well-being and health, urban liveability, memory and
exchange, and field research work, complement this
identity, and relationship with nature. At this moment,
Directing their own learning experience, M Arch I
AY2021/22 also marks the beginning of a common
these issues are particularly relevant, poignant and ripe
students embark on a selection of options studios and
curriculum structure for the undergraduate degree,
for reflection, research, re-affirmation, and redefinition.
aligned electives. During their second semester of
With this, our graduates are poised to become design
designed for the School of Design and Environment
A number of design studios planned for the new academic
M Arch II, students concentrate on independent and
leaders for Asia, and for the world.
and Faculty of Engineering. This new approach
year are addressing these issues directly, and we await
individual design thesis, covering a wide variety of
to undergraduate education aims to focus on
with anticipation the innovative answers and outcomes
disciplines as well as cross-cultural dimensions. Core
interdisciplinary learning and allows students to craft
that they will generate.
professional and technical modules will support the
E R I K G. L’H E U R E U X
student’s advanced learning.
Dean’s Chair Associate Professor, Vice Dean
multiple pathways in their education and future careers. Architecture education has often been interdisciplinary;
We are turning the coming year’s challenges into
however, the new curriculum will usher in a structural
opportunities for robust spatial responses to future
approach to undergraduate education to prepare you for
conditions. However, we are also mindful of the mental
a fast-changing world in the future. You will be exposed
challenges the coming year might bring to your studies.
to fundamental modules that will offer exposure in
We care about your well-being and we are open to meet
professional skills, values, methodology and pedagogy in
and help you, should you face stressful situations during
design and engineering. In the upper years, you will also be
your studies. I invite you to come talk with me and we can
able to pick up some minors or a second major, which will
face the issues together. I am confident that we will rise
enhance your career resilience. While the new curriculum
above our challenges and work to create design solutions
is applicable to first year students, we will also take the
that will address pertinent issues of importance for
opportunity to assess our curriculum, and make changes
current and future communities. My colleagues and I,
to the structure and learning outcomes of different
look forward to working together with you, and bringing
modules.
our passion, creativity and intelligence together with
advanced design programme.
Master of Architecture Programme Director
yours, in this education journey. I wish you an exciting and rewarding new academic year.
H O P U AY P E N G Professor and Head of Department
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