Academic/Administrative
02.2012-present                      Head of Architecture Department, University of Nicosia

08.2011-01.2012                     Visiting Professor at Barnard and Columbia Colleges Architecture Program

11.2009-present                      Co-Head then Head of Architecture Department, University of Nicosia

09.2007-11.2009                     Associate then Acting Head Architecture Department, University of Nicosia

09.2006-present                       Lecturer to Assistant Professor, University of Nicosia

 

 The Architecture Research Center [A.R.C],
Department of Architecture, at the University of Nicosia

GENERAL INFORMATION
Degrees offered:
Professional Diploma in Architecture (DipArch) -5 years-300 ECTS
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (B.A.Arch) – 4 years – 240 ECTS
Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design (B.A.Int) – 4 years – 240 ECTS|
Master of Arts in Architecture (MA) – 1.5 years or 3 semesters- 120 ECTS
Doctoral Program in Architecture (Phd) – 3 years -180ECTS

History and Accreditation:
The Bachelor of Arts in Architecture and the Diploma in Architecture were estab­lished in 2006 and currently run under the Department of Architecture, University of Nicosia. The program provides students with a comprehensive set of skills, and professional qualifications academically accredited by the (ECPU) (Evaluation Com­mittee of Private Universities) in July 2008 and approved by ETEK (_Επιστημονικό _Τεχνικό _Επιμελητήριο _Κύπρου _– Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber) and the European Commission (Directive 2005/36/EC).
The Bachelor of Arts in Interior was established in 2004. The Master of Arts in Architecture and the Doctoral Program in Architecture were established in 2014.

Departmental Mission:
Our mission in the Department of Architecture is to create critical thinkers who are intellectually-acute, socially-aware, and technically-skilled architects/designers that find themselves in the center of contemporary architectural/design discourse. Our graduates are conceptual thinkers who are equipped both with hands-on approach methods and skills, as well as superior knowledge and understanding of cutting-edge technologies in relation to most current architectural theories and notions.

Our current program(s) acknowledge the importance of constructing a unique identity by catering for diversity in architectural/interior/post-graduate education, where global discussions merge with local conditions such as culture, climate, local market/industry and social needs. The program(s) support a pedagogy that pro­motes ecological and sustainable thinking providing the necessary tools of context, comprehension and application of social, environmental and cultural aspects.

Faculty Members:
The faculty teaching on the Department of Architecture consists of a combination of full-time lecturers who are permanent staff and visiting part-time lecturers. The faculty supporting the program are all practicing professionals, have an industry-related background, and hold postgraduate qualifications in related areas. Students are taught by a professional team with a wide range of specialties and diverse ap­proaches to architecture and design. The international faculty were educated in top Universities from around the world, and thus ensure a variety of expertise to enable students to reach their full potential.

Teaching Methods:
The Departments’ approach to teaching and learning is seen as a collaboration be­tween the teachers and the students and is structured around studio/project cours­es, and supported by a core of lectures, workshops and seminars. These provide a theoretical framework for the program and are seen as an integral part of all project development.

Studio:
Architectural design education is assessed through project-based learning, which re­quires students to understand the issues entailed in a set task, to critically appraise the potentials and challenges involved, to reflect upon the outcome and, where appropriate, to propose solutions. Many projects are carried out individually, while others require col­laboration. Frequent student presentations encourage discussion and peer evaluation. As students progress through the program, they will meet increasingly complex prob­lems requiring sophisticated and multi-faceted responses. Frequently, studio projects connect with outside faculty and practitioners on live projects and design competitions.

Lectures and Seminars:
Throughout the architecture program, lectures and seminars provide a theoretical, social and historical context for the Architectural Design Studio. Research, written analysis, and discussion are an important part of the process. Usually, lectures are delivered by faculty and supplemented by specialized contributions from invited, lo­cal and international visiting lecturers. Students are encouraged to play an active part in their own learning by participating in seminars and panel discussions.

Local Architecture:
Local contemporary and traditional architecture of Cyprus is an important part of our Program and is incorporated throughout the five years of study.

Demonstrations and Workshops:
Demonstrations facilitate learning in small groups and encourage students to de­velop specialized skills such as advanced graphics and fabrication, and to experiment with the tactile possibilities of materials. Workshops afford students an additional arena for testing out newly acquired skills and knowledge.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Department is advised by four distinguished international academics with expertise in program leadership and management.

In 2010 the Advisory Committee was composed of the following members:

• Sean Hanna, Research Councils UK Academic Fellow and Acting Director of MSc

Adaptive Architecture and Computation, at The Bartlett, University College

London.

• Professor Joeb Moore, Barnard/Columbia Undergraduate Architecture

Department, Columbia University, 1992 – present (Former Assistant Director

1996 – 2006). Visiting Professor and Studio Critic, Yale School of Architecture,

Yale University, 1996 – Present.

• Professor Solon Xenopoulos, former Director of Architectural Language,

Communication, and Design, School of Architecture, National Technical

University of Athens.

• Professor Julienne Hanson, Professor of House Form and Culture and Director

of Housing Futures Research at The Bartlett, University College London.

 

THE ARCHITECTURE PROGRAM

The program is organized into the following five themes:

1. Architectural Design

Studio courses form the core of the curriculum in the Architecture Program at the University of Nicosia. Here, students learn to develop coherent architectural designs

that integrate analytical and critical thinking. They are introduced to a variety of de­sign strategies to generate, implement and evaluate new ideas and forms at a variety

of scales, and they are encouraged to sensitively consider site, context, aesthetic

and ethical values.

2. Architectural Technology and Environment

In these courses, students learn about building technologies, environmental design, and construction methods. They practice thinking about structure in relation to hu­man activity and the natural world, and they develop an understanding of visual, ther­mal, and acoustic environments as well as properties of materials.

3. Architectural History and Theory

In these courses, students learn about the history of architecture and theory from pre-history to the present. Emphasis is placed on understanding the cultural and social contexts that have informed the design of both significant and everyday build­ings. Students are expected to develop keen analytical and research skills through frequent reading, looking, and writing assignments.

4. Architectural Communication

Students learn and experiment with standard and cutting-edge techniques for com­municating design to a wide audience. These courses encourage students to develop

their visual, verbal and written skills in a variety of media, including drawing, model­ling, and computer aided design.

5. Architectural Management and Practice

Before graduation, students need to develop an understanding of the practical as­pects of architectural practice. Through courses and internships, students learn dif­ferent strategies to manage their careers in design. In addition, they learn about con­tracts, statutory requirements, and professional responsibilities.

When students graduate from the Architecture Program they will have the following:

1. An ability to create architectural designs that satisfy both aesthetic and technical

requirements;

2. An adequate knowledge of the history and theories of architecture and the

related arts, technologies and human sciences;

3. A knowledge of the fine arts as an influence on the quality of architectural design;
4. An adequate knowledge of urban design, planning and the skills involved in the

planning process;

5. An understanding of the relationship between people and buildings, and

between buildings and their environment, and of the need to relate buildings

and the spaces between them to human needs and scale;

6. An understanding of the profession of architecture and the role of the architect

in society, in particular in preparing briefs that take account of social factors;

7. An understanding of the methods of investigation and preparation of the brief

for a design project;

8. An understanding of the structural design, constructional and engineering

problems associated with building design;

9. An adequate knowledge of the physical problems and technologies and of the

function of buildings so as to provide them with internal conditions of comfort

and protection against the climate;

10. The necessary design skills to meet building users’ requirements within the

constraints imposed by cost factors and building regulations;

11. An adequate knowledge of the industries, organizations, regulations and

procedures involved in translating design concepts

Courses description:

 

 

 

 

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