The Department has a clear commitment to the fundamental qualities which create a healthy, efficient, beautiful and life-enhancing built environment: good design, sound buildings, efficient management and social responsibility.

These qualities underlie all courses in all our programmes. The department is dedicated to the academic formation, creative and intellectual development, and professional preparation of each individual student, so empowering them to shoulder their future responsibilities, whether as practising professionals, academics, administrators, researchers or citizens, with confidence, sound judgment, secure knowledge, and sensitivity to the needs of the community and of the environment.

Architecture is not a subject taught at high school, and for many, the meaning and essence of architecture is probably still something of a mystery. The Bachelor‘s degree program in Architectural Studies is concerned with the whole of the built environment: architects are creators of the built environment, and custodians also. The responsibilities of such a dual role requires that the course curriculum in architecture gives future architects not only the skills to design buildings and plan for urban development in the modern world, but also a deep understanding of people’s need for housing; and for buildings for a very wide range of functions and purposes.

So the course is a heavy one, a demanding one; it requires students who are both literate and numerate and blessed with an artistic sensitivity and creativity. It requires students who can understand the complex technological processes of the modern construction industry and master the skills of computer-aided architectural design and information technology. And it requires students who are willing and able to collaborate with those of other related professional and academic disciplines in the realization of complex integrated development projects.

To assist students to acquire such skills and capabilities, a wide range of courses and resources are made available to students of architecture. These provide the means whereby students may most effectively develop their natural talents and potential, and maximize their capabilities in chosen areas of specialization, in a programme which offers students alternative areas of specialist study through elective courses.

The Design Studio Course is central to the programme of study for each year, for it is through the integrated activity of architectural and environmental design that the student is enable to apply the accumulating body of knowledge that is acquired throughout the course in a holistic manner, and to demonstrate his or her competence as a creator and as a custodian of the environment.

The Bachelor of Architectural Studies Honours Programme is a five-year design-oriented programme structured to integrate the basic elements of architecture (construction, structure, function, form and space) with the professional requirements of architectural practice responsive to the changing needs of society in the contemporary world.5 years.

DRAWING EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS for use in the Design Studio

• Technical drawing pen Set – 0.25, 0.35, 0.50, 0.70mm (Rotring, Staedtler or Faber Castell)
• Scale Rulers
• Set Squares Adjustable and fixed (45 dg. and 60 dg)
• Parallel motion (for attachment to drawing board)
• Clutch Pencils (0.5mm & 2mm)
• Leads H, HB, 2B
• Pencil 3B, 4B, 6B
• Drawing Ink. (black)
• Erasers
• Lettering Stencils 0.25 mm, 0.35 mm, 0.5
• Measuring Tape - 3m *
• Rotring Compass Set
• Paper: Tracing, Cartridge, Bond, Butcher
• A1/Size/AO Size Portfolios and/or Rolling Tube
• A4 or A5 size sketchbook or sketchpad
• Set of water colour paints and brushes
• Set of coloured pencils or felt pens
• Pocket calculator
• Model making materials (glue, etc as advised by Design Studio staff)
• Stanley Knife

Stationery for Theoretical Courses

All students need to provide themselves with the above equipment and materials. The Department will provide Drawing Boards and Tee-squares for use in the Design Studio. Students are encouraged to have their own drawing boards and Tee-Square and/or Parallel motion set for use at home/lodging.