Architecture and Landscape Education

Introduction

Architecture, Architectural Technology and Landscape Architecture remain essentially professional vocational subjects. In both cases a large proportion of graduates studying in these areas will pursue a career within their chosen subject area. That said, an education in Architecture or Landscape Architecture can provide a rich and valuable qualification for those who chose other subject careers within or without the built Environment.

Architecture

The education of an architect, is a complex process that encourages students to develop new ways of seeing, thinking and doing in order to become capable and quality-assured designers of the built environment. Most architecture students enter higher education with little experience of architecture as a discipline, and therefore a large part of architectural education is concerned with the development of new cognitive abilities, values and conceptions. Architectural education is almost universally project based, with the majority of activity centred on the design studio. By its nature, architectural education is rich, varied and interdisciplinary. The discourse on architectural education is dominated by tensions between the need to provide students with a broad liberal education and the vocational need to prepare students well for a professional career. Much of the current debate centres around a perceived "Curriculum Creep" of additional professional requirements being added to an already cramped syllabus.

Architectural Technology

Architectural Technology courses are designed to equip graduates with the skills and knowledge to design for production and performance through the use and integration of technology. These skills are normally utilised designing, constructing and managing the built environment but they are extremely transferable and a growing number of graduates are using them within production and manufacturing industries as well as in academia and research. All degree courses accredited by the professional body, British Institute of Architectural Technologists, have demonstrated compliance with the Quality Assurance Agency Subject Benchmark Statement Architectural Technology and fulfil the academic requirements for a professional career in architectural technology.

Landscape

Landscape Architecture embraces all aspects of the science, planning and design, creation and management of urban and rural landscape. This broad definition draws upon a wide range of skills and knowledge, ranging from the pure arts to the biological sciences, and the profession now divides itself into Landscape Design, Landscape Management and Landscape Science and Landscape Planning. Each accredited course in Landscape architecture focuses on one, or a combination of these areas. The focus that a department chooses will determine the teaching and learning methods used, for instance a course specialising in landscape design may well place an emphasis upon the use of the design project, whereas one specialising in landscape science may adopt other teaching methods including lectures, laboratories and field work. However in all cases a strong emphasis is placed on the interpretation, synthesis and application of knowledge and skills from a wide range of related academic disciplines

Enquiries related to Architecture and Landscape should be addressed to CEBE's Cardiff Office

Enquiries related to Architectural Technology should be addressed to CEBE's Salford Office