Program Overview

University Program Information

The University of Patras, School of Architecture, offers a comprehensive program in architecture, covering various aspects of the field.

Program Structure

The program is divided into ten semesters, each with a unique set of courses and focus areas. The semesters are as follows:

• SEMESTER 1
  • ARC_0100 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 1
  • ARC_2100 VISUAL ARTS 1
  • ARC_3100 HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 1
  • ARC_3101 HISTORY OF ART 1
  • ARC_4101 SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 1
  • ARC_4102 STRUCTURES 1
• SEMESTER 2
  • ARC_0200 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 2
  • ARC_2200 VISUAL ARTS 2
  • ARC_3200 HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2
  • ARC_4201 SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT 2
  • ARC_4202 STRUCTURES 2
  • ARC_3201 HISTORY OF ART 2
• SEMESTER 3
  • ARC_0300 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 3
  • ARC_2300 VISUAL ARTS 3
  • ARC_2301 DIGITAL MEDIA 1
  • ARC_2302 GEOMETRY
  • ARC_3300 HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3
  • ARC_4300 BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 1
• SEMESTER 4
  • ARC_0400 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 4
  • ARC_2400 VISUAL ARTS 4
  • ARC_2401 DIGITAL MEDIA 2
  • ARC_3400 HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE 4
  • ARC_3401 HISTORY AND THEORY OF THE CITY
  • ARC_4400 BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 2
• SEMESTER 5
  • ARC_0500 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 5
  • ARC_1500 URBAN DESIGN AND PLANNING 1
  • ARC_3501 THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE 1
  • ARC_4500 BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 3
• SEMESTER 6
  • ARC_0600 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 6
  • ARC_1600 URBAN DESIGN AND PLANNING 2
  • ARC_3601 THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE 2
  • ARC_4600 BUILDING TECHNOLOGY 4
• SEMESTER 7
  • ARC_0700 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 7
  • ARC_3701 THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE 3
  • ARC_4701 SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
  • ELECTIVE COURSES
• SEMESTER 8
  • ARC_0800 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 8
  • ARC_8800 RESEARCH THESIS
  • ELECTIVE COURSES
• SEMESTER 9
  • ARC_0900 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 9
  • ARC_0901 ADVANCED DESIGN STUDIO
  • ARC_9900 DESIGN THESIS 1
  • ELECTIVE COURSES
• SEMESTER 10
  • ARC_9000 DESIGN THESIS 2

Course Details

One of the courses offered in the program is ARC_3501 THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE 1. This course introduces students to the particular modes of thinking and producing in architecture, and to the mutations that occur under the influence of external factors and ideological approaches.

Course Description

The course covers the specificity of architecture as a discipline, types of knowledge converging into architectural thought and production, and the position of architectural discourse in relation to art, science, technology, and politics. It also explores the language analogy in architecture, the idea of order, form and content, image and idea, and architectural meaning in context.

Course Topics

The course topics include:

• Introduction to architectural theory
• Types of architectural theory: normative, speculative, interpretative
• The language analogy in architecture
• The idea of order: formal and intellectual order
• Form and content, image and idea
• Architectural meaning in context
• Sources of architectural form: model, precedent, type
• The notion of transformation: combination, assemblage, deformation, collage, displacement
• Typology vs Iconography, typology as iconography
• The problem of repetition: reproduction and invention
• Creativity in architecture

Elective Courses

The program also offers various elective courses in the autumn and spring semesters, including:

• ARC_AN701 INDEPENDENT STUDY 1
• ARC_E1701 TOPICS OF URBAN DESIGN 1
• ARC_E1704 MUSEOLOGY 1
• ARC_E2701 TOPICS IN VISUAL ARTS 1
• ARC_E2702 TOPICS IN VISUAL ARTS 3
• ARC_E3701 TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY 1
• ARC_E3702 TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURAL THEORY 1
• ARC_E3703 TOPICS IN ARCHITECTURAL THEORY 3
• ARC_E3704 TOPICS IN THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE 5
• ARC_E4701 TOPICS IN BUILDING TECHNOLOGY
• ARC_E4703 TOPICS IN CONSERVATION 1
• ARC_E4706 TOPICS IN DIGITAL DESIGN 3
• ARC_ENGL 1 ARCHITECTURAL TERMINOLOGY IN ENGLISH 1
• ARC_702 INDEPENDENT STUDY 3

Advanced Design Studios

The program offers advanced design studios, including:

• ART IN PUBLIC SPACE
• COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN / DIGITAL MECHANISMS
• CONSERVATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS
• INNOVATIVE SPACE-STRUCTURES FOR URBAN EVENTS
• SPATIAL STRATEGIES FOR RURAL SUSTAINABILITY
• SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN OF URBAN OPEN SPACES

Faculty and Facilities

The School of Architecture has a faculty list, administration, architecture archive, city planning lab, and various facilities, including a computer centre, fabrication lab, library, and alumni website. The school also offers various activities, such as lectures, workshops, conferences, exhibitions, and department publications.