Changing architectural education for reaching sustainable future: A contribution to the discussion

Abstract

This paper discusses potential changes for the architectural education in response to rapid environmental, economic and socio-political situations, globally and locally. Unpredictability and complexity of those changes on one side and increasing exclusion of architects in urban developments on the other side, are forcing us to rethink the role and purpose of architects and architecture in society in general. We started to question methodology and the substance of architectural education which would create professional architects that would be able to deliver and implement creative sustainable solutions. It is evident that the need for the sustainable architectural design, sensitive to environment and energy issues, has reached a critical level in both public and professional circles. However, the issue of social sensibility is still not adequately taken into consideration by professionals. We argue that it is a consequence of archaic academic curricula which must be changed in order to support a paradigm shift. This change would be from the 'architect provider' to the 'architect enabler'. As a result of this issue, we introduce a new educational methodology to support: (1) building student's capacity for being engaged in collaborative design process, and (2) building bridges between the different disciplines in order to reach integral education.