Sustainable Sustainable Architecture

blended course

Sustainable-Sustainable Architecture is an English-taught postgraduate programme structured into online courses and practical workshops. The program focuses on architecture practices that consider the layered dimensions of sustainability. It combines 90 hours of theory with 210 hours of hands-on-experience bridging topics of sustainable construction, natural building, just urban development, participatory design and social project management. The programme is initiated by Critical Concrete in collaboration with ESAP – Escola Superior Artistica do Porto and assisted by guest lecturers and mentors with recognized experience.

Students will co-design and build real social projects in Portugal, as the course is embedded in a project aimed at refurbishing houses of low-income families and public spaces for local communities.

MODULES:
Sustainable Construction focuses on environmentally friendly and socially relevant approaches to building and (self-)construction by introducing low-tech solutions and circular economy logic.

Natural Building introduces natural materials that can be applied in architecture to substitute harmful materials in structure, insulation, finishing and treatment.

Ecological Cities takes a look at urban practices and approaches to answer the current environmental and climate emergencies.

Social Cities asks the question what sustainability means in the societal dimension of architecture and cities in order to create a just habitat for all.

Vernacular Architecture trains the ability to disclose the potential and applicability of vernacular techniques to contemporary contexts.

Participatory Processes presents tools and strategies to empower communities and to confront biases and preconceptions.

Sustainable-Sustainable Projects gives impulses how to start and run a social project in an ethically moral manner while simultaneously being economically stable.

Course leader

Esap teachers, Critical Concrete instructors and and mentors from a very broad geographical and professional background.

Target group

Young professionals and dedicated students in the area of Architecture, Urbanisms, Social field and more.

Course aim

The programme aims to set up a conceptual base for an ecological and social approach to architecture and urbanism and gives its graduates competencies in starting and managing projects in the respective field.

Credits info

20 EC
We aligned the volume of the content to traditional postgraduate programmes, which is 280h of contact hours, plus homeworks. 210 hours will be dedicated to the workshops (3*70 hours), and the rest will be divided in online courses and co-design of the projects.

Fee info

EUR 2950: 1 Scolarship available covering the full course fee for one dedicated applicant who express their interest