First year curriculum

First year curriculum have since 2007 been part of FTH tutored by a staff of six architects. During the first year, the students are given a comprehensive introduction to the complexity of the architectural practice on all scales, from the object to the building, the city and the landscape. The objective is to provide insight into and experience with the challenges of architecture through conceptual work and concretization. During the first year the students acquire a comprehensive set of methods and tools for developing ideas and projects, which forms the foundation for future architectural training at AHO. 

Each autumn the new architecture students travel to a chosen location where they study and collect material employed in number of site-related assignments throughout the year. The students work individually and in groups. In addition, to obtaining a firm and critical stance towards central architectural problems, they become familiarized with two- and three-dimensional data-assisted construction, drawing and presentation techniques and conventions as well as model techniques. The tuition consists of separate lectures, desk-crits and plenary sessions reviews. The 2009 excursion was to Odda in Norway and in 2010 to Isafjor∂ur, Iceland.

Drawing is an important part of the first year, giving the students fundamental experience with analytical free-hand drawing. This enables the students to make free-hand sketches to explain and investigate two- and three-dimensional problems on a detailed level as well as exploring spatial conditions in larger scale settings.
 
In parallel with the studio work the students attend lectures on material technology and the history of architecture and design, including individual assignments and a final examination. At the end of the spring term the students go to Rome on a program set up by Professor Thomas Thiis-Evensen.

Professor Beate Hølmebakk and architect Erik Langdalen are in charge of the full first year tuition, in cooperation with part-time teachers Anna Røtnes, Christine Petersen, Sindre Grønli and Søren Sandved. Professor Oddvar Løkse and lecturer Carsten Loly are responsible for the drawing training. Professors Thomas Thiis-Evensen, Mari Hvattum and Jan Michl lecture on the history and theory of architecture and design.

For the full study plan for first year students, see: aho.no