Admission requirements
The course is connected to the following study programs
- Master of Architecture
Course description
Studio Positions focuses on the critical rethinking and questioning of contemporary architectural practice and the built environment. The building culture of Japan, the background for our spring 2026 investigations, can be perceived as a process of continuous and unique development extending into our time. Japan is an island nation, geographically separated from continental influences. For several centuries (Sakoku – 1603-1868) Japan was politically secluded as the Tokugawa shogunate instituted isolationist foreign policy. The semester task is to reflect on architectural qualities found in given case studies (Japanese houses) and to develop and transform these qualities into new architecture for everyday life – HOUSES, on a fictional site.
Study trip, international workshop – DYNAMIC LANDSCAPES: Réunion Island 3.-9.5.2026. To study historical and contemporary interactions between local building cultures and dynamic geological and political conditions. AHO students will receive an ERASMUS+ travel grant. Exchange students must enquire with their home institution for financial support.
Learning Outcome
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of historic and contemporary discussion and theory of time, matter and motion
- Spatial, material and structural knowledge through architectural design (semester project)
Skills:
- Work based, artistic and theoretical research skills
- Conceptual architectural thinking
- Programming.
- Use of architects´ tools
- Defend an innovative project by argumentation communicated in drawing, physical spatial structures, written and oral speech.
General competence:
- Develop an architectural project from a conceptual position.
- New and fundamental approaches to architecture that facilitate more liveable (sustainable) futures
Teaching
Working and learning activities:
The semester is organized in three phases, where projects are developed continuously with the following progression:
- Development of an architectural concept: spatial and constructive principles
- Introduction of scale, materiality, structure, and activity.
- An architectural project
The weekly schedule is organized as following:
- Mondays 10:00 – 12:00: Lectures, reading together, discussions, film screenings etc.
- Wednesdays all day: Tabletalks, reviews
- Thursdays all day: tabletalks, reviews
Physical attendance at lectures, supervision, and other educational activities is expected and necessary to achieve the learning outcomes.
Examination
Form of assessment: Project
Grouping: Individual
Grading scale: Pass/fail
Description of the assessment: All material from the cumulative project (three phases) is to be presented for an external sensor in the final review, and must be assessed as passed in order to pass the course.