Housing Design Education: in between Urban Planning and Architecture

Abstract

Housing design exercises at Middle East Technical University (M.E.T.U.) department of architecture constitute a suitable ground to introduce to students issues of site planning and urban design. This study is intended to be a contribution to the research field of architectural education. It partially explores the educational system of the Faculty of Architecture at METU by focusing mostly on its core subject which is design studio. The aim of the research is to make an overview of the way housing design projects are conducted in the third year architectural design studio. The objectives and the learning outcomes expected from these studio exercises, the approaches and tendencies that determine the way the project exercise is given and lastly the teaching methods, strategies and tools will be studied through observation and interviews with the studio critics. The research will focus on the question related with the introduction of students with urban design in this context in particular.