Honours
The Department of Architectures' honours design programmes in Architecture and Landscape Architecture offer a studio-based, interdisciplinary experience grounded in real-world practice and research. Through national and international collaborations, students engage with complex social, cultural, and environmental challenges, developing holistic and regenerative design solutions that bridge academic knowledge and professional application.
Module: Research Field Projects (RFP)
Studios are designed as stand-alone quarter modules, with the option of linking studios per theme or site of investigation in each quarter or across different quarters. Integration with ongoing research projects and collaboration with communities and practitioners results in a rich variety of studio experiences. Examples over the last few years have included participatory research and co-design studios, human-centred and interface design, archive and heritage studios, biodiversity enhancement and ecological design, climate adaptation and sustainable precincts, as well as urban strategy studios. The course comprises design methodologies, methods, and techniques relevant to the field, discipline or practice of architectural design, and an understanding of how to apply such knowledge in a particular context. Appropriate theoretical underpinning is assimilated by way of seminars and discussions. As the Department of Architecture offers studies in multiple architectural disciplines, students are encouraged to participate in studios other than their own discipline for two quarters, where the possibility exists, retaining one design quarter in their own discipline and the final quarter for their own disciplinary focus.
Module: Continuing Practice Development (CPD)
The Continuing Practice Development stream considers the practical, technological, legal and practice related aspects of the professions in the built environment to establish an ecosystemic understanding of the scientific, natural, and cultural settings within which designers work, together with the impacts of construction (building science) on individuals and society. During the first quarter, advanced construction, technology and structural systems are considered from a philosophical perspective, to embed environmental stewardship in the mind of the designer. In the second quarter, the module explores the application of a variety of building technologies and their implementation. The objective is to develop cognisance of the origin, application, and long-term performance of specific building technologies. During Quarter 3, a series of CPD electives focus on multiple specialised themes such as generative design and/or computational design, BIM workflow management, and GIS for environmental or architectural design application. Students will choose to complete one elective in Quarter 3. In the final quarter the module aims to enable the student to technically develop and assess the performance of a design considering critical technical and sustainable design considerations such as thermal comfort, water consumption, daylighting, carbon footprint and energy consumption. This is done through continued development and assessment of the performance of the design in terms of above-mentioned criteria.
Module: Research Field Studies (RFS 701)
Research Field Studies comprise the basics of good research practice, along with research methodologies, methods and techniques relevant to the field, discipline or practice of architectural design, and how these are introduced and applied in a particular context. In essence students are led to work across the four quarters on a research report. The course is structured around four main study themes, which deal with data gathering research instruments and the practical application of research to form design principles and design guidelines; the research process; research methodology and finally research outcomes that considers the skills and considerations for research write up and dissemination.
• Quarter 1: Research methodology and basic research skills
• Quarter 2: Data capture and literature review
• Quarter 3: Data analysis and report
• Quarter 4: Research report
2025 Design Studios
Urban Citizenship: Community Action Planning in Melusi
Studio leaders: Prof Carin Combrinck, Mr Jason Oberholster (PhD candidate), Ms Alexia Katranas
Quarter 1
Zoo Sauvage: Nature-Based Planning and Design
Studio leader: Ida Breed with Stephanie le Grange
Quarter 1
Urban Design: The Architecture of Urban Space
Studio leader: Dr Dario Schoulund
Studio assistant: Sameeya Moola
Quarter 1
Human-Centred Studio: Critical Spatial Practice through Performance Design
Studio leaders: Janri Barker & Bongisa Msutu
Quarter 2
Urban Citizenship: CoDesign Studio
Studio leaders: Mr Jason Oberholster (PhD Candidate), Mr Christian Greyling & Prof Carin Combrinck
Quarter 2
Design with Nature: Groenkloof Nature Reserve
Studio leader: Dr Karen Botes
Studio assistants: Mr Marc Sheratt, Miss Ruth Manda
Quarter 3
Human-Centred Studio Adaptive Reuse & Exhibition Design
Studio leader: Janri Barker Studio Assistants: Duren Moodley, Rene du Toit, Sandeep Nicha.
Quarter 3
Architectural Alchemy: Learning by Remaking
Studio leader: Janri Barker and Christo van der Hoven
Studio Supervisors: Neil Crafford, Christian Greyling, Ruann van der Westhuizen
Quarter 4
2024 Design Studios
Urban Citizenship: Human Scale Development in Melusi
Studio leaders: Dr Carin Combrinck, Mr Jason Oberholster
Quarter 1
Studio leaders: Dr Calayde Davey, Dr Taiwo Afinowi (postdoctoral student).
Quarter 1
Interface Studio: Reverse Curation - Edu-Curation
Studio leader: Dr Anika van Aswegen, Collaborators: The Javett Curatorial Team
Quarter 1
Interface Studio: Play Matters for Children in Distress
Studio leader: Dr Anika van Aswegen
Quarter 2
Urban Citizenship: CoDesign Studio
Studio leaders: Dr Carin Combrinck & Mr Jason Oberholster
Quarter 2
Architecture
Studio Leaders: Christo van der Hoven, Christian Greyling & Niel Crafford
Quarter 4
Landscape Architecture: Technical Development Studio
Studio leader: Dr Karen Botes
Studio assistants: Charldon Wilken and Tania du Plessis
Quarter 4
Interior Architecture
Studio leader: Janri Barker
Studio Assistants: Duren Moodley, Rene du Toit, Sandeep Nicha
Quarter 4
2023 Design Studios
Urban Citizenship: Plastic View and Melusi
Studio leaders: Dr Carin Combrinck, Mr Jason Oberholster (PhD candidate)
Quarter 1
Urban Citizenship: CoDesign Studio
Studio leaders: Dr Carin Combrinck & Mr Jason Oberholster
Quarter 2
Design for Service -in SPACE- towards Circular Economy
Studio leaders: Nonkululeko Grootboom and Amy van der Walt
Quarter 3
Architectural Alchemy: Learning by Making
Studio Leaders: Dr Calayde Davey, Cobus Bothma & Christo van der Hoven
Quarter 4
Landscape Architecture: Technical Development Studio
Studio leader: Dr Karen Botes
Studio assistant: Charldon Wilken
Quarter 4
Interior Architecture: Circular Interior Construction through Reflection and Iteration
Studio leader: Dr Anika van Aswegen, Construction expert: Amy van der Walt
Quarter 4
