Post-Graduate master programme

The Städelschule Architecture Class (SAC) and its programme is formulated around research issues in architecture and, specifically, architectural design for the purpose of preparing its students for the future of the architectural profession. The programme seeks to explore architecture and the transformative potential of design intelligence and know-how within a larger societal context.

SAC’s programme is motivated by the ambition that architecture can and must continue to contribute to the social, cultural, economic and artistic forms of our society. It aims to bring students and professionals with a prior degree in architecture or related fields – with a keen interest in advanced, contemporary problems in architecture – further in their professional and academic training through the formulation of a highly qualified and personal master thesis based on advanced design know-how in relation to specific problems in architecture. The programme caters to each student’s individual talents and interests and cultivates these in relation to international developments in architectural practice and theory in order to explore new frontiers in both academic as well as professional fields.

SAC’s activities have, to date, comprised of advanced research and experiments that pertain to contemporary design processes, the use of computerised technology as well as design and construction of complex geometric forms with advanced material systems. These activities have formed the core of SAC’s postgraduate programme. However, from autumn 2010, SAC will offer two new specialisations alongside its existing specialisation in Advanced Architectural Design. The programme is based on a two-year structure, the first of which involves a year of introductory training common to all students, exposing them to a wide array of architectural problems, methodological design procedures and material and technical issues. After the successful completion of the first year, the students enter the second year for which they must choose one of three specialisations: Advanced Architectural Design, Architecture and Performative Design or Architecture andCritical Spatial Practice. The two new specialisations draw on the existing strengths of SAC and Städelschule not only developing but also extending the current activities of SAC. The three specialisations offered by SAC form an integrated whole exploring architectural, constructional and artistic frontiers central to the art of building design.

SAC’s academic offerings are exclusive and distinct from the few comparable programmes in Europe and the US. It is based on a continuous research structure that is combined with a fundamental commitment to the powers of architectural design. Research and project-work are conducted in an intense and demanding atmosphere and formulated in close collaboration with specialists from a wide range of professional and research fields. The programme is lead by its dean, Ben van Berkel, and its programme director Dr. Johan Bettum succeeding the Spanish architect, Enric Miralles and the British architect, Sir Peter Cook.