Architecture

Athugið að upplýsingar um umsóknar- og inntökuferli á alþjóðlegum meistaranámsleiðum eru eingöngu á ensku.

WHAT SHOULD ARCHITECTURE BECOME?

We care.
We know one thing - what got us here will not get us there.
The challenges of our time call for new measures, measures that are radical, responsive, and revolutionary. In an environmental clinic for the man-made environment, we want to explore these dimensions, seek the next steps on a collective journey to a sound world. We invite you on that journey through a program that will be an ongoing melting pot of experiments, knowledge, ideas from theorists, thinkers, institutions, practitioners, specialists, artists, and other contributors.

We will use Iceland and its unique context as our laboratory, sitting inside a cultural harmonic that vibrates between the local and the global.

Each studio embraces three aspects of the design process:

Thinking Architecture explores the critical questioning of important local and global systems and the challenges, the responsibilities, and role of architecture in that context. Thinking architecture brings a diversity of thinkers and institutions into a dialogue with students and teachers for collective reading and discussion. Diverse analytical tools, design research methods and theories that are at the base of the architectural practice are being explored. Thinking Architecture provides a contextual framework that is able to feed, inform and challenge the entire design work.
Making Architecture is about translating theories, knowledge, and suppositions into informed-informative-reactive-sensitive design work. This translation includes: writing, strategizing, story-telling, diagramming, mapping, drawing, model making, digital visualization. Making Architecture is supported by radical thinkers, professional practicing architects, specialists in the fields of the built environment and beyond.
Engaging Architecture is a critical reflection of the studio's research work within a larger context and the translation and dissemination of the body of work towards a broader audience. This is done by exploring different media and settings as public events, exhibitions and publication series.

Each autumn semester starts with collective thematic research in studio 4 and studio 5 – Collective Research. The research relates to critical current agendas and can be a part of a larger research program. The themes chosen directs a selected line of inquiry in order to investigate and deepen understanding of a particular condition or phenomenon. Multiple lines of inquiries can be pursued, engaging in dialogue with diverse stakeholders and partners in the field. The teaching plan will orient and describe the different agendas, tasks and research processes undertaken whilst collaborative processes, individual and collective lines of inquiries pursued become further defined by students in dialogue with educators.

During the spring semesters and the Studios - Independent Propositions, the focus shifts from the collective thematic research to student’s personal projects. Students develop individual strategies and propositions of change which are supported and informed by the collective body of knowledge gained during autumn semester. Students further define their own projects regarding new insights gained during the research process in autumn. An important aspect of the independent project is for students to develop a sense of their own professional agency and spatial practice, and to build a network of agents capable of supporting the development of the design work: student learning oriented focus.

Program structure:

There are three core elements of the MArch program:

Studios form the core of the curriculum integrating theoretical and practical work, through the process of research and experimentation their outcomes feed into laboratories.
Hosting Platform is a form of infrastructure designed to foster an exchange of research and knowledge at national and international levels. Through time, it will accumulate the findings of the March community, allowing present and future students and participants to benefit from collective contributions.
Laboratories are long time research bodies led by IAA academic faculty.

The programme leads to a professional title in Iceland.

Application Process

IUA employs a standard electronic application form.
The application process is in two steps, first submit the application and then pay the application fee. Please note: It is possible to save the application while working on it.

The Application

An application is not valid until the applicant has submitted the application and paid the application fee. Applicants must submit the following documents:

1. Certified copy of degree certificate(s) and programme / course transcript(s) (PDF)
Applicants should submit a detailed record of higher education up to the present, including programmes of study taken and grades achieved. This may be submitted in Icelandic or English.

2. References from two referees (PDF)
Applicants must submit references from two referees, at least one academic reference. Each reference should not exceed one page. The references may be submitted in Icelandic or English.

Applicants add two referees (names and emails) in the application form. When applicants have submitted the application, the referees will receive an email from the IUA asking them to submit a reference for the applicant.

Applicants will receive a confirmation when the referees have submitted the reference.

3. Statement (PDF)
Applicants for the Master of Architecture must write a short explanation about their decision to apply for this specific programme, and this place, Iceland, and how they see the programme's emphasis tie in with their aims towards a future professional role as architects. The Statement should be written in English.

4. Curriculum Vitae (PDF)
Applicants must submit a CV of relevant education and professional experience, language proficiency, and general information about the applicant. The CV should be written in English.

5. Portfolio of works (PDF/URL)
Applicants for the Master of Architecture must gather prime examples of their work into a digital portfolio, which they submit with their formal application. This can include a PDF document or links to external websites, videos, audio, images etc. The submitted work should reflect the applicant's character, shed light on main interests, demonstrate skills and competencies, and make it accessible to comprehensively read the applicant's ability for original creation and communication of ideas.

Admission Process

In assessing applications, applicants‘ work experience is taken into consideration along with submitted original material (portfolio).

Furthermore, interviews are conducted with selected applicants where attention is paid to how well the relevant individual is likely to absorb the teaching and the methodology of architecture.

A specially appointed admission committee assesses the applications on the grounds of assessment of submitted material and interviews. If the applicant is considered for acceptance the required documents will be discussed, in English, with the applicant in an interview following review by the application committee.

Admission Requirements

Applicants will have completed a BA Degree in Architecture, and it is desirable that they have acquired work experience in a field related to the occupational sphere of architects.

Language Requirements

The Master of Architecture is an international programme conducted in English.

Students must be proficient in spoken and written English in the academic context. If there is doubt concerning language skills, applicants may be required to submit evidence of English proficiency.