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About the programme
At Spatial Design, we investigate the relationship between architecture, design, and people. Our point of departure is the interior, which we perceive not only as a field dedicated to a specific profession of interior designers or architects, but rather, as a starting point for an investigation into the surrounding architecture, contexts, and the things contained within our rooms.
We educate both architects and designers because we believe that the exchange and tension between the different approaches and foci within these disciplines is fruitful.
Contemporary interiors seem to be in a metamorphosis towards a higher degree of spatial and social hybridization and polyvalence. Formerly juxtaposed zones (such as public, private, intimate, welfare-oriented, or collective zones) tend to become blended into each other, whereby the meaning, use, design, and aesthetics of these merged spatial entities are transformed.
At Spatial Design, architecture should always be informed by such transformations and their spatial and architectural implications. As part of our design process, we work with three core perspectives: a historical perspective, an anthropological perspective and a perspective related to materiality and tectonics. These three perspectives mirror strong research environments and design practices associated with the programme.
Structure
Structure
The programme is organized over four semesters entitled:
1. “Contexts”
2. “Production and Practice”
3. “Positioning”
4. “Thesis”
In the first semester, we work from context to space and detail; in the second semester we turn around the design process and work from detail to space & context.
In the third semester we encourage our students to develop their own brief by paying attention to their own positioning, context, space & detail; in the fourth semester, the students develop their own thesis project based upon the leaning outcome from previous semesters.
All the students have a desk of their own in the studio space and are encouraged to work there full-time. In addition to this, we have studio tutorials, common crits, lectures, seminars, and workshops.
Courses
Courses
In the project teaching, the students typically investigate a site in groups and develop their design individually or within groups. As part of the initial research, three booklets are developed relating to: time & space; social relations and space; materiality and space. The booklets contain collections of material, analysis, and comparisons, relevant for the design process. The booklets inform a project statement or a program, which throughout the design process is adjustable. The project concludes with a design proposal, including drawings, models and samples relating to three scales: the landscape/townscape, the building, and the detail.
The background teaching includes nine seminars on Tuesday mornings where the students meet their seminar teachers to discuss texts dealing with historical, anthropological, and tectonic issues. Some of the seminars include small excursions. In addition, the program also offers lectures with external guest lecturers. During the third semester a theoretical assignment (10 ECTS) is undertaken in tandem with the semester brief (20 ECTS).
The toolbox teaching consists of optional workshops for students who need to improve their skills in relation to Rhino, wood workshop or metal workshop. In addition, short “A good …talks” introduce themes such as space planning, architectural lighting, detailing, drawing, model building etc. You also find a career plan workshop at second semester organized by the Academy and an introduction to writing a project report during the fourth semester (mandatory for designers).
Language
Language
The programme is taught in English.