About Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) Department of Architecture
The Department of Architecture was formed during the 1970s in the Faculty of Building Economic Science at the then University of Port Elizabeth. The Departmnet remained committed to architectural education throughout its existence under the leadership of eminent architects. The merger in 2004 of the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE), Port Elizabeth Technikon and the Port Elizabeth branch of the Vista University created the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, a new university with many of the characteristics of a comprehensive university. This also led to the creation of a School of Architecture which is sited in the Faculty of Arts, the School brings together the Department of Architecture (from the old UPE) and the Department of Architectural Technology and Interior Design (from the old Technikon) under one umbrella structure in 2007.
The Department of Architecture offers two programmes, the Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS), a three-year degree programme and the Master of Architecture (Professional) a two-year postgraduate programme.
The Department see itself firmly rooted in its regional context. This is a unique complex context with a diverse population, two large metropolitans (Port Elizabeth and East London), numerous smaller towns and villages, a variety of social-economic issues, a complex history that is central to understanding South Africa, and wide variety of landscapes and biomes. We see this complex context as the primary laboratory and informant within which we have fashioned our architecture programme.
While emphasizing the regional we have also engaged with the national and global. Global and national trends in architectural, environmental and technical thinking have been woven into our programme. Critical thinking around the appropriateness of especially these global pressures, with an understanding of our own African context is needed in order to place this in a relevant perspective.
The NMMU Department of Architecture critically engages with the making of humane architecture with a balance between theoretical and pragmatic approach shaped by the social, economic and ecological informants with a locally rooted but globally inspiring architecture.
In addition to the focus on design, the program in Architecture is a balanced program that includes strong elements of Architectural and Urban Theory and History; Building Technology, Structure and Services; Law, Management and Professional Practice; and Architectural Computer Usage.
The Departments M Arch (Professional) graduates are able to register as full professional Architects and have a history of high achievement in the architectural profession nationally and internationally
NMMU ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES CONTINUED UNCONDITIONAL VALIDATION.
The Department of Architecture was awarded continued unconditional Validation of our programme stream from the South African Council for the Architectural Profession (SACAP) and the Commonwealth Association of Architecture (CAA) in May2024.
In terms of the accreditation criteria established by the panel, the department of architecture was assessed to maintain and exceed the standard. The following qualifications within the department are awarded continued unconditional accreditation:
· Bachelor of Architectural Studies
· Master of Architecture (Professional)
The Accreditation Inspection panel furthermore recommended that the Bachelor of Architectural Studies be recognised as complying with the requirements of the CAA Part 1 qualification and the Master of Architecture (Professional) be recognised as complying with the requirements of the CAA Part 2 qualification. Furthermore, it confirms that our programmes comply with the standards associated with Architectural Learning Sites throughout the Commonwealth.
This achievement reaffirms the hard work put in by the staff and the students during the past few years.
BOBAN VARGHESE, HOD: Architecture
29 May 2024
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