Course content

The aim of the course is to strengthen the students' depth of reflection, and to practice skills in articulating, defining important issues in the architectural profession and developing process plans for their own independent architectural work. The course emphasizes the relation between our understanding and our way of manifesting this understanding, whether it is through writing or drawing. Central architectural questions will be raised, and the course gives an overview over and repetition of architectural design methods with specific focus on developing the individual approach and methodological underpinnings for the master thesis. Within the architecture programme, the course leads towards an essay and pre-project of the master thesis which together form the basis for the thesis in the students' master's thesis in architecture.

Learning outcome

KNOWLEDGE: The students will develop their understanding of the working methods of the architectural profession on the basis of literature studies, lectures and reflection on their own practice. The understanding and knowledge will be developed to the level that will enable the students to choose the most suitable methodological approaches to an architectural problem.

SKILLS: The students will be able to formulate an approach to their task on the basis of a critical and methodological thinking and writing. Architecture students will be able to develop a process-plan for their own work, both in a specific way as underpinning for their own master thesis, and generally as underpinning for a professional practice. The student must be able to plan relevant method use in the work on the master's thesis.

GENERAL COMPETENCE: The student will, on a qualified basis, be able to take an independent position on ethical problems in society and in the profession.

Learning methods and activities

The course is organized in three main parts with separate written assignments. In the first part the students are working in groups, and here central architectural themes are raised through the study of architecture. The second part addresses the essay form, and here the theme and approach to the master thesis in the following semester are developed. The third part builds on the essay by clarifying the issue and defining the necessary knowledge base, method use and process in order to be able to give form to an architectural work.

For those of the students who will do the master's thesis in architecture the following semester, this is included in the pre-project of the master thesis. The supervisors for the students' master's theses must approve the pre-projects as the final assignment for the master's theses.

The course comprises lectures on design methods and professional design processes for architects. Reading each other's texts, literature and film studies provides a general introduction to the knowledge base of the field of architecture. Writing and reading exercises, conversations and exercises in graphic design increase the students' ability to formulate clear architectural problems, and also their ability to plan processes to solve them.

Compulsory assignments

• Attendance 70%

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

Two semesters in architectural studies in addition to the basic training at bachelor level.

Required previous knowledge

Completed three years basic courses in architecture, bachelor in architecture or equivalent. Students admitted to minor in architecture also qualify.

Course materials

Information about literature and films will be given at start of semester.