This is what I discovered at FAUP (Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto) in 2015 when I did the Erasmus Mundus exchange programme. The "architecture design process" is not confused with the "art process" in the first year course, unlike in many other schools of architecture. This is my kind of school!
Where else should I have went in search of the roots of architecture but in Porto. In terms of architectural heritage and education, FAUP, is definitely not old school but a fervent follower of the modernist tradition. I had many discussions with each of the year’s studio tutor at FAUP. I am very much an admirer of FAUP's architecture curriculum. My criticism is that a school of architecture like University of Malaya should immediately start with an architecture process or the very least (referring to FAUP's first year projects) artistic process of a hypothetical site with a scale to it. At FAUP, the learning process is step by step rather than complicated in the beginning, directly working with models and the material, in dealing with space. The first year studio master, Mario explained about how the first projects helped to provide for the basic design skills, seamlessly taking abstract (artistic) exercises and converting into a more architectural design process. (Read my blog explanation: at https://designthesis.wordpress.com/2020/08/15/an-academics-journey-in-search-of-the-roots-of-architecture/
Do subscribe for premium content and special features which will help to support and sustain Talk Architecture podcast on a more in-depth explanation on design thesis and processes. These special commentaries and ‘how to’ explanations are valuable insights and knowledge not found elsewhere!
This is what I discovered at FAUP (Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto) in 2015 when I did the Erasmus Mundus exchange programme. The "architecture design process" is not confused with the "art process" in the first year course, unlike in many other schools of architecture. This is my kind of school!
Where else should I have went in search of the roots of architecture but in Porto. In terms of architectural heritage and education, FAUP, is definitely not old school but a fervent follower of the modernist tradition. I had many discussions with each of the year’s studio tutor at FAUP. I am very much an admirer of FAUP's architecture curriculum. My criticism is that a school of architecture like University of Malaya should immediately start with an architecture process or the very least (referring to FAUP's first year projects) artistic process of a hypothetical site with a scale to it. At FAUP, the learning process is step by step rather than complicated in the beginning, directly working with models and the material, in dealing with space. The first year studio master, Mario explained about how the first projects helped to provide for the basic design skills, seamlessly taking abstract (artistic) exercises and converting into a more architectural design process. (Read my blog explanation: at https://designthesis.wordpress.com/2020/08/15/an-academics-journey-in-search-of-the-roots-of-architecture/
Do subscribe for premium content and special features which will help to support and sustain Talk Architecture podcast on a more in-depth explanation on design thesis and processes. These special commentaries and ‘how to’ explanations are valuable insights and knowledge not found elsewhere!