Architecture courses are not under threat

Cardiff University professor tells Notes that the subject remains popular among students and makes for a very rewarding career

Phil Jones, Head and Professor of Architectural Sciences at the Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff University, dreams of building a sustainable future.

It is natural then that his ideas are all about creating sustainable buildings, architecture and environments.
Jones is also President of the International Society of the Built Environment and a consultant on research projects in the UK, Europe, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

He visited the British University in Dubai (BUiD) at the Dubai Knowledge Village recently and met students, professors, architects and engineers. He spoke about the various sustainable approaches to design and building construction.

In his lecture he described advanced computer and scale modelling tools to design the environment in and around the buildings. He illustrated these techniques with case studies from Europe and Asia.

He focused on innovation in facade design and environmental services for ventilation and cooling and provided a holistic approach to overall environmental assessment.

Notes met Jones during his visit and talked to him about architecture as a career, its prospects and what Cardiff's school of architecture has to offer.

"Architecture is all about designing a built environment and integrating aesthetics with technology. It is a mixture of arts and sciences," he said.

Architecture is very popular, especially among students who want to do well and take up a worthwhile profession, he said.

Yet success does not come easily. "One must be prepared to work really hard. Architecture is an interesting programme that needs lots of work, but is very rewarding in the end," he said.

There are some special characteristics that a person must have in order to suceed in the field.

"Students should have visual skills, an interest in arts, the ability to draw by hand even though we use computerised graphics nowadays, and knowledge in basic sciences to help understand issues of light, acoustics, economics and others," said Jones.

So what does Cardiff University have to offer? "We concentrate on studio work in design projects, yet this is also accompanied by lectures," he said.

"We want students to be able to use the information they get from these lectures in their work. Also, one should not forget research. Our students are exposed to the basic levels of research."

Cardiff research works closely with the industry, especially on issues of sustainability. A staff of 17 works on project research that is either funded by the government or industry.

Asked about the threat of closing the School of Architecture at Cambridge University and whether architecture programmes are in jeopardy, Jones said that the School of Architecture at Cambridge University faced a problem of two reviews of the faculty's quality of research in 2001 and 2003.

He has heard, however, that they have changed their decision.

He added that architecture has always been popular, especially in the UK, and is not in any way under threat.

New BUiD masters programme
British University in Dubai (BUiD) in collaboration with Cardiff University will be launching a new masters programme, which David Lock, Registrar and Acting Chief Executive of BUiD, called a "world class opportunity".

The new course will integrate architecture and engineering. It aims at providing the community with solutions, said Phil Jones, Head and Professor of Architectural Sciences at the Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff University.

"Conflicts between architects and designers arise sometimes. For example, an engineer would want to put an air conditioner in a place where the architect thinks would ruin the design. This course provides a way of working together in an innovative system."

The course has been under development for a year now and is research based, said Lock.

"This course is based on what the market needs. So it is the right course at the right time in the right place."

A study feedback will be submitted for accreditation to the Ministry of Higher Education in March. The course is expected to begin in September.