Appropriate technology and design-build program in architectural education

Abstract

Architectural education may face challenges to successfully integrate appropriate technology and participatory approach in the design course program. The present work aims at clarifying the privilege of adopting the design-build program in architecture design studio and how this was achieved and fulfilled by the faculty members in architecture department in MSA University. The study has a multi-stage structure; staff perception and observation of students' performance, implementation of a questionnaire on the course program and gained experience in the different topics and activities, and the evaluation of questionnaire results. The questionnaire contains 12 topics and activities covered in Architecture Design V Fall2015, MSA University, and was delivered to 150 students. They were asked to rate the importance of the course components and their gained experience. Their perception was measured through the analysis of the questionnaire results. They were enthusiastic about dealing with residence and by the hands-on activities. This was what made the studio different than the traditional ones. Hands-on activities proved to be crucial in architecture education. There is a need to incorporate design-build program for design studios and students engagement with the community through the participatory approach. Integrating appropriate technology in architectural design studios will raise awareness for architectural students of its importance in professional practice.