MA

Sustainable Architecture
 MA Sustainable Architecture

The ‘sustainable’ word has become increasingly important in our modern changing world. However, what
does it really mean and who are the professionals properly equipped to engage creatively with the
challenges? Through its rapidly changing forms, unprecedented expansion and frenetic layers of activity,
the city continues to instil feelings of both elation and fear, presenting to us the best and the worst of
civilisation’s achievements. How can we create a more sustainable architecture and sustainable cities?

This MA is ideal for recent graduates
who want to specialise in sustainable
architecture and for professionals in
architecture, environment and planning,
who wish to build upon their passion for
the design of the twenty-first century urban
environment.
The course provides opportunities for
participants to engage in current debates
about the potential role of professionals
in the generation of sustainable cities. It
will involve participation from architects,
planners and social scientists to creatively
engage in the design of our cities, relating
architecture to its urban context and
dealing with all the complexities inherent in
creating well-designed settlements. Staff are
passionate about sustainable design and
have many years of experience in teaching
this subject.
Portsmouth School of Architecture
Portsmouth School of Architecture has
acquired a strong reputation for the
quality of its professional courses since the
1930s. Architects and designers need a
rare combination of creativity, enthusiasm
for their subject and technical ability. The
courses we offer develop outstanding
creative design skills and flexible thinking,
as well as the professional and technical
abilities that provide our students with the
confidence to pursue successful professional
careers.
Course content and structure
The course uses the experience and skills of
teaching staff with a proven track record
in sustainability-related studies, practice
and research. It is lecture and studio based,
culminating in a written or design-led thesis
project, and builds upon established links
with national, regional and local agencies
such as CABE (Commission for Architecture
and the Built Environment), SEEDA (South
East England Development Agency), PUSH
(Partnership for Urban South Hampshire), tEC
(the Environment Centre, Southampton) and
SCA+D (Solent Centre for Architecture and
Design), with whom the School is engaged in
research and regeneration projects.
Core units will include:
• Research Methods, which provides
core research skills and methodologies.
• Practice Possibilities, which gives you
the opportunity to develop knowledge
of contextual and professional skills
through engaging with practice-based
projects.
• Specialist Theoretical Studies, which
aims to interrogate history and theory
so you can articulate the theory that
informs your practice.

MA SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH • SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE www.port.ac.uk/arch
• Manifesto, which encourages you to
set out a theoretical position.
• Research Investigation, which
interrogates a proposal for the thesis.
• Group Collaboration, which offers you
the opportunity to work collaboratively
through ‘studio-based’ work. Discussion
of the relationship of research to the
process of design and exploration of
the issues inherent in the conception of
research as an action are central to the
unit.
• Specialist Studies (Optional), which
will enable you to further interrogate
practice and research through specialist
project-based work.
• Work-Based Learning (Optional),
which allows you to engage with work-
based practice alongside your research
interests.
• Thesis Independent Project, which
gives you the opportunity to sustain
independent study through a text-based,
design-based or practice-based thesis.
You will generate evidence-based
sustainable design decisions and guidance,
utilising analytical research methodologies
and, where appropriate, computing
skills. The School is also engaged in the
regeneration of the region and has many
connections and contacts, allowing you to
test and develop ideas and potentials.
Our facilities and resources
Portsmouth School of Architecture is housed
in the award-winning Portland Building,
designed by RIBA Gold Medallist, Sir Colin
Stansfield Smith, who is Emeritus Professor
of Design at the School. Along with
extensive computing and printing facilities,
the School has a fully equipped workshop
with further extensive workshop facilities in
the Eldon Building. We have also invested
in new equipment, including new CNC
milling and laser cutting machines, which
have automated the production of complex
models.
architecture and sustainable cities. We are
ideally placed within the heart of Portsmouth
city and the dynamic south coast conurbation
to provide these skills through this course.
If you are a recent graduate or an
experienced professional who would like to
develop specialist skills and gain experience
in sustainable architecture, in a School of
Architecture recognised for its pragmatic
approach, practice orientation and high
graduate employment rate, then this is your
chance.
Graduates from the course will be adept in
sustainable practice and able to work within
environmental design-specific practices,
architectural firms and cross-disciplinary
environments, as well as engage in issues
exploring the sustainable urban environment.

Your learning experience Career prospects

The course is lecture and studio based,
culminating in a written or design-led thesis
project. It will involve group work, discussion
and planning of sustainable environments,
as well as independent study to develop
design or research-based responses to
sustainable problems. Case studies and
precedents will inform the process of
investigation.
In the UK, all schools of architecture have
recently agreed to embrace the challenges
presented by climate change. At the same
time many of our towns and cities are
experiencing rapid change, creating an
unprecedented demand for skills, which
transcend the traditional disciplines of
architecture and planning, and approaches
that are needed to shape sustainable

MA SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH • SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE www.port.ac.uk/arch
Entry requirements Find out more How to apply

You should have a good honours degree in
architecture or a discipline associated with
design and the built environment.
A combination of relevant work experience
and other professional/academic
qualifications will be considered.
International students will also need a
minimum IELTS score of 6.5.
You will also be required to submit a
portfolio of professional work and may be
asked to come for an interview.
If you are interested in studying sustainable
architecture at Portsmouth, you can meet
us at one of our Postgraduate Information
Days. We will be happy to answer any
queries that you have and tell you even
more about ourselves. Please contact us for
an invitation. We look forward to meeting
you.
Applications can be made directly to the
University and are welcome any time.
Although there are no formal deadlines
for postgraduate applications, for the best
advice please contact our Admissions
Centre.
You can apply online at www.port.ac.uk/
courses/postgraduate/howtoapply
or print off an application form from the
web page.
Information on fees can be found at
www.port.ac.uk/fees.

For further information on postgraduate

courses or to request an application form,
please contact the Admissions Team (details
below).

University of Portsmouth
Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries
Admissions Centre, Mercantile House (7th Floor) T: +44 (0)23 9284 2421
Hampshire Terrace F: +44 (0)23 9284 5192
Portsmouth PO1 2EG E: create.admissions@port.ac.uk
United Kingdom W: www.port.ac.uk/arch

MD3680 0709