Public Building Design Studio

The Public Building Group's MSc. 1 Studio introduces the master's level architectural design studio on public buildings in the twenty-first century. It emphasizes the design of hybrid buildings and sustainable public architecture and aims to address fundamental questions, including:

- What constitutes public architecture in the twenty-first century?

- What role does public architecture play in global cities?

- How can architecture promote publicness, inclusion, and diversity?

The Studio addresses the significance of public architecture in the broader social and cultural milieus. It encourages design processes and proposals that imagine innovative and diverse models of symbiosis among design intent, construction, users, and stakeholders. In addition, it promotes the exploration of hybridity to replace the limitations of monofunctional buildings and neighborhoods

Each year, the Studio is set in a different European city, exploring the unique site conditions as a foundation for designing a medium-sized hybrid public building (approximately 3.000-5.000 square meters of floor area). The resulting design should catalyze new urban dynamics, featuring areas for leisure, contemporary media and cultures, education, and innovation. By designing a building that serves the diverse purposes and needs of the given community, the Studio advocates for vibrant and sustainable urban environments.

The Studio collaborates closely with the Building Engineering Studio (BES, AR1A080) to promote new sustainable designs, materials, and construction. The BES instructors take responsibility for the technical, mechanical, and structural aspects of the design exercise, implementing a collaborative educational agenda focused on sustainability, energy efficiency, designing-for-disassembly, and adaptability to climate change. The BES instructors prioritize specific materials, emphasize CO2-neutral and net-zero energy buildings, and reflect a circular economy. By working together, Architecture and BES instructors aim to develop innovative and environmentally responsible designs.