MSc Sustainable Engineering: Architecture & Ecology

Program Overview

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Why this course?

This course will provide you with a critical understanding of the relationship between architecture and ecology, looking at both from a theoretical perspective. This will be done by instructional modules taken at Strathclyde in Glasgow during the first three months of study. The practical demonstration of this relationship will be through project work at the urban laboratory

Arcosanti

in Arizona.

The Cosanti Foundation, established by Dr Paolo Soleri in 1964, is an education-based architecture and urban design not-for-profit organisation located in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. The Foundation established the world-renowned Arcosanti project in 1970 as an urban laboratory focused on researching alternatives to urban sprawl, based on Soleri's work on ecological architecture, and his proposals for the design of future cities.

This is a unique opportunity to study your Masters degree while living and working at Arcosanti, helping to research, design and construct an alternative to urban sprawl, joining thousands of people who, since Arcosanti’s launch in 1970, have already been part of “one of the most important urban experiments in our lifetime” (Newsweek).

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What you'll study

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Work placement

You'll work and study at the urban laboratory of Arcosanti in Arizona for three months, with the option to remain there for a further three months to complete an individual project.

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Major projects

This course is delivered in collaboration with The Cosanti Foundation who have over 40 years’ experience teaching architecture and ecology. Foundation staff will deliver the Arcology instructional module and oversee the group projects. You can also be involved with Arizona State University and the ECOSA Institute. Both are based in Arizona and have extensive experience in teaching architecture and ecology specific to the Arizona climate.

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Guest lectures

Throughout Semester 1, you'll have lectures by a number of experts in the fields of architecture and ecology, covering both theory and practice.

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Facilities

We're a modern university with great support for students including a large campus library and IT facilities. The Department of Architecture also has an on-site library with an extensive collection of architecture and urban design books and journals. You'll also be provided with individual desk space within a postgraduate research hub with access to printing facilities.

When at Arcosanti, you'll have room and board in addition to a dedicated working space equipped with printing and scanning facilities and site-wide Wi-Fi.

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Teaching staff

Course Director,

Dr David Grierson

, has expertise in teaching and research in sustainability. He's Deputy Head of Architecture, Director of Internationalisation, Director of the Sustainable Engineering Programme, and Chair of the Graduate School of Engineering.

Program Outline

Course content

Semester 1

Semester 2

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Sustainability

This class will provide you with an understanding of the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development. The social, environmental and economic impact of development strategies will be identified and the mitigation of negative impacts discussed. The class will cover:

Shifting world views

Green politics

Green Perspectives

Climate change

Sustainable development

Limits to growth

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Ecology & the Built Environment

This class will give you an awareness of both the historical and theoretical context of environmental sustainability and offer a critical examination of the way in which issues of sustainability relate to the built environment. The class will cover:

the relationship between the biosphere and the urban environment

sustainable development and the built environment

architecture, ecology and sustainability in theory

architecture, ecology and sustainability in practice

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Urban Theory

This class will develop your knowledge of the theoretical debate around urban form in relation to economic, environmental, cultural issues and social issues. It'll cover:

historic and contemporary issues of urban theory

the impact of urban theories on our cities and hinterlands

repercussions on lifestyles and sustainability

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Energy Resources & Policy

You'll gain an understanding of current trends in the energy market, and will enable a critical evaluation of emerging ideas, technologies and policies, particularly in relation to new and renewable energy supply systems. We'll cover:

historical trends in energy production

nuclear plants

renewable energy sources

energy efficiency measures

the transport sector

policy issues

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Design Management

This class will provide a structured introduction to the design management process, issues and tools. It'll cover:

organisation structures for effective design

design models, approaches and methods

the importance of costs and good design

innovation in design management

design performance

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Information Management

You'll be introduced to information management and develop basic skills in information storage and retrieval. We'll cover:

modelling and using information

representing information

computer software packages relevant to industry

information storage and retrieval, acquisition and use

basic skills in developing information systems

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Project Management

You'll gain project management skills with particular emphasis on the effective and efficient use of resources. The class will cover:

project management techniques and project control

project teams; project features; project constraints and resources; quality assurance

presentation techniques as used in industry

budgetary control including cash flow, financial borrowing and investment

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Arcology

You'll gain a critical understanding of the relationship between architecture and the earth’s ecology, as developed at the urban laboratory Arcosanti in central Arizona, USA. The class will cover:

the historical work of Paolo Soleri, including early examples of bioclimatic architecture

the Arcology Theory: urban design as human ecology

construction techniques and environmental strategies at Arcosanti

lean alternatives to urban sprawl

principles of ecological design in action

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Group Project

You'll work collaboratively with students from different themes to develop solutions for specific projects addressing social, economic, or environmental aspects of sustainability within a practice-based environment.