This module explores methods of management of architectural practices of various sizes and forms, including the management of its financial and human resources, and the legislation related to these. The module will enable the student to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to manage a small architectural practice, and contribute to the management of a larger architectural practice.
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
i. outline aspects of the law and legislation relating to practice management, including health and safety legislations
ii. describe the main principles of employment law, including civil liability, employment contracts, and equal opportunities legislation
iii. Give examples of appropriate marketing of architectural services, and explain how commissions are distributed and obtained, including processes of fee bidding and competitions.
iv. Explain the different forms of architectural practice and their legal and financial implications, including appropriate internal structures, financial management and management of staff.
v. Describe and evaluate techniques used in the management of staff, including motivation, group dynamics and reward structures
vi. Explain the key strategies involved in the financial management of an architectural practice, including the use of business plans, and methods of dealing with taxation and accounting
vii. Demonstrate the ability to reflect on and critically evaluates the management of a real-life practice.
viii. assess the resources necessary to offer professional services in relation to a project
ix. Apply the knowledge gained to real life situations.
This module explores methods of management of architectural practices of various sizes and forms, including the management of its financial and human resources, and the legislation related to these. The module will enable the student to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to manage a small architectural practice, and contribute to the management of a larger architectural practice.
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
i. outline aspects of the law and legislation relating to practice management, including health and safety legislations
ii. describe the main principles of employment law, including civil liability, employment contracts, and equal opportunities legislation
iii. Give examples of appropriate marketing of architectural services, and explain how commissions are distributed and obtained, including processes of fee bidding and competitions.
iv. Explain the different forms of architectural practice and their legal and financial implications, including appropriate internal structures, financial management and management of staff.
v. Describe and evaluate techniques used in the management of staff, including motivation, group dynamics and reward structures
vi. Explain the key strategies involved in the financial management of an architectural practice, including the use of business plans, and methods of dealing with taxation and accounting
vii. Demonstrate the ability to reflect on and critically evaluates the management of a real-life practice.
viii. Assess the resources necessary to offer professional services in relation to a project
ix. Apply the knowledge gained to real life situations.
x. Propose appropriate management systems for varying sizes of architectural practice, including for the management of physical, financial and human resources
xi. Be creative in the solution of problems in design and development. Critically evaluate the management systems used in an existing practice
xii. Learn independently in familiar and unfamiliar situations with open mindedness and in a sprit of critical enquiry.
xiii. Work constructively as a member of a team and to manage both time and other sources effectively to meet the deadlines.
xiv. Demonstrate general numerical skills and problem solving skills.
Urban and Regional Planning explores the purpose, practice, and theories of modern community planning for the promotion of social and economic well-being as well as a historical overview of the regional planning that has taken place throughout Africa, supplemented by pertinent case studies and examples from the rest of the world. Students will thereby gain the conceptual framework for understanding major trends of urban and regional planning internationally, as well as the complexity of issues that has resulted in uneven development in many parts of the worlds, and certainly in throughout various regions of Africa.
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to:
i. Know about and understand the important elements in the history of planning, its legal basis, planning tools and practices, types of planning, theories of planning, planning at the regional and national level, and planning in other countries.
ii. Understand a variety of significant contemporary issues in planning including planning for small towns, suburban development and new urbanism, public and alternative transportation, disaster recovery and rebuilding, and issues of public space and public participation.
iii. Understand how to read, analyze, and evaluate urban planning documents and legal documents related to planning.
iv. Be able to observe, analyze and evaluate the built environment of a city.
v. Be prepared to identify the interaction between urban and regional planning and other subfields of human geography (including urban geography, economic geography, cultural geography, population geography, environmental geography, etc.) or their own majors and vocational aspirations.
vi. Understand the impact that planning decisions have on the lives of people affected by them.
vii. Understand the value of citizen participation in planning.
viii. Care more about how cities are planned and the quality of the built environment.:
ix. Portray a thorough understanding of inherent urban design issues and be able to express these ideas in a structured and coherent way.
x. Demonstrate a familiarity with the basic geographical, chronological and cultural framework of the inception and evolution of urban design.
xi. Become more self-directed as a learner and be interested in learning more about planning issues.
xii. Analyze data collected through research and assimilate into a clear and coherent arguments.
xiii. Demonstrate skill and confidence in clarity of expression in presentations.
xiv. Learn independently in familiar and unfamiliar situations with open mindedness and in a spirit of critical enquiry.
xv. Have clear and thoughtful discussions relating the readings and various topics and themes throughout the course.
xvi. Manage a research project including topic selection, bibliography construction, outlining, and writing a final product.
- Teacher: Delphine MUTUYIMANA
Urban Design / Umudugudu Studio. This course is intended to introduce students to urban design and planning methods relevant to the development of Rwanda. Students will undertake the design of an umudugudu (a public housing / urban design scheme) at all scales, ranging from an overall masterplan to individual moments within the masterplan. Students will be immersed in a studio environment, will be working in small teams to advance their designs, and will be instructed through individual critiques and group pin-ups.
Having successfully completed the module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
i. The role of architecture as producing value in the larger society.
ii. The influence of design upon infrastructure and social activity in an urban setting...
iii. Creating exceptional urban places within a well-functioning master plan.
iv. Conceive of urban design as a foundation for the functioning of urban society.
v. Reconceived of public housing projects to improve the quality of life within them.
vi. Develop appropriate solutions to design problems based on local context.
vii. Apply precedents and research to design work.
viii. Produce coherent and thoughtful solutions to expansive design problems.
ix. Self-critique pre-conceptions of urban design and what the role of architecture within it is.
x. Effectively present projects to an interdisciplinary audience.
xi. Learn independently in familiar and unfamiliar situations with open mindedness and in a spirit of critical enquiry.
xii. Communicate ideas visually and verbally in a presentation format.
xiii. Demonstrate an ability to develop spatial and systematic solutions to complex problems.