Some of the world’s most beautiful structures have risen up only because of the creative vision of the architects. The field dates back to the ancient times, when it served simple purposes of erecting basic shelter for people, to live and work etc. With rapid urbanization, modern architecture came into existence. Spaces within extraordinary structures that go beyond standard ideas and are more inspired by layout, location and function. Todayt, this discipline is of great significance and the demand for skilled architects is growing exponentially across the globe.
The thing about Architecture:
Faculty views
Peter Di Sabatino, Dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Design at American University of Sharjah says, “Architecture has been considered as the ‘mother of the arts’ by many and, in general, it is one of the oldest disciplines and professions. It has existed, in ways, since the first hut or cave dwelling. It has been instrumental in fulfilling the basic needs and desires of human beings.”
Dr. Georges Kachaamy, Associate Professor of Architecture at the American University in Dubai says the field of architecture is as old as the early human settlements and the discipline extends to both the arts and the sciences. “The formal architectural education varied in style and content and must not be extracted from its geographical context and timeline. Therefore, one must not look at one single source for it. For instance, in France, L’Académie royale d’architecture, established in 1671, was one of the academies that formed the Académie des Beaux-Arts (Academy of Fine Arts). Afterwards, L’Ecole des Beaux-Art that incorporated a rigorous architectural curriculum became one of the most prestigious and influential art schools. Alternatively, in the United States, the North American formal architectural education began in 1865 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology followed in 1867 by the University of Illinois at Urbana and in 1871 by Cornell University.”
Dr. Kachaamy adds, “Currently, according to Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA), in the United States there are three common pathways for professional architectural education: the 5 year Programmes (B. Arch or M. Arch), the 4+2 Programmes, and the 3 year Graduate Programmes. No matter how challenging, architecture is one of the fundamental fields that will always impact and be impacted by cultural, economical, and political subjects.”
Architecture needs in the UAE: in public and private sectors
There is no doubt that the UAE in general, and Dubai in particular, is perceived as one of the most successful models in the region. The city is cosmopolitan and plays a major role in providing opportunities to many fields including architecture says Dr. Kachaamy. “The leaders of this country are providing opportunities not only for local and regional architects but also for international ones. They are allowing them to contribute to the ongoing genius of creation that this city is going through and Mohammed Bin Rashid City is but one example,” he adds.
“One can hardly narrow down the opportunities that architects can pursue following their graduation. Whether owning private practice, working for renowned architect or prominent design firm, or even pursuing further higher education, our graduates will acquire problem-solving ability of design thinking that will prepare them for the many challenges of the profession. Our role as an architecture school is to create generations of well-rounded “Dubai Architects” that can impact and be impacted by the evolution of the city, the country, the region and the world,” says Dr. Kachaamy.
Dean Di Sabatino says, “We live in a relatively urbanised place that contains a substantial number of people. The importance of urbanism and architecture is significant for the country, since how we design places is pivotal in reflecting how we interact and show our presence to the world. Our university is the first to offer a stand alone architecture degree in the UAE, and is the first and only fully NAAB-accredited (National Architectural Accrediting Board) programme outside North America. Recently, two professional architecture societies have also moved in to the UAE and region, namely the RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) with a Gulf chapter and AIA (American Institute of Architects) with a Middle East chapter, thus building a strong community base of architects who are contributing significantly in the country. With the country’s rapid development and interest in architecture, the demand for architects in the UAE is likely to grow.”
Career options
Architecture professionals can pick a career from several options available:
• Architect.
• Interior Designer.
• Urban/town planner and designer.
• Developer.
• Various leadership roles in civil and civic society (Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, was an architect, for example)
Who should do the course?
• If you like to create well-designed structures, systems, and places.
• If you have keen interest in art and design.
• If you are interested in sustainable and meaningful environments.
• If you have a strong interest in the history of art.
• If you are creative and inquisitive by nature.
• If you like to solve problems, and work with systems creatively and innovatively.
• If you like to design and construct forms and spaces.
• If you are interested in the science of design.
• If you want to create a safe, clean, efficient and beautiful environment.
Do you have the aptitude for architecture?
To be able to compete for those jobs, students have to be:
• Focused.
• Creative.
• Good analysts.
• Visionaries.
• Able to visualise structure, designs, forms and spaces before they materialise.
• Good with problem-solving.
• Critical thinkers.
• Technology savvy
Campus overview
AUS offers a distinct, standalone program of architecture that is taught in the College of Architecture, Art and Design. “This is typically the way architecture is taught in the West and in America. Unlike many other programs, our program does not focus on engineering aspects alone but also focusses strongly on general design issues pertaining to architecture, urbanism, and landscape.
“We encourage students to have a boarder thinking about society and culture, and how architecture affects people, the environment and communities. Our highly-qualified faculty is truly international and includes several licensed architects who are proving the inspiration and knowledge in teaching our very dedicated students,” says Dean Al Sabatino
Dr. Kachaamy adds, “AUD is one of the few universities that offers a 5-year program (B. Arch) in Dubai. The quality and content of the diverse courses offered by the AUD Department of Architecture prepares highly qualified graduates for professional employment. The curriculum covers many topics that educate students in the fundamental knowledge and skills in architecture. These topics span from history, theory, design to building technologies, visualization, and professional practice. At the heart of the curriculum is the design studio. It is the place where all aspects of learning are put to practice and the sentence “learning by doing” is concretized. It is in this location where students develop analytical and creative process of design thinking. Furthermore, the program emphasis on digital technology and architectural software training is but an added value to graduates’ abilities and therefore increases their potential employment rate.”
“In an effort to provide students the highest level of exposure to the profession and to bridge the gap between academia and practice, the department pursues many memoranda of understanding with high caliber organisations such as the AIA and renowned firms in the design and building industry. In addition, as part of the curriculum design core, Internship, workshops, filed trips, and competitions are strongly recommended to our students. Further to being a member of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, the department provides opportunities for students to become certified in digital software due to the fact that AUD is an Autodesk Authorized Certification Center,” says Dr. Kachaamy.
