Since its inception in the year 2017, the School of Architecture has evolved its academic programs with robust and rigorous curricula. The programs are designed to develop skills, creative and critical thinking while fostering values of empathy and community engagement. Approved by the Council of Architecture New Delhi and AICTE, the school offers a Bachelor’s Degree Program in Architecture (B Arch) and Master’s Degree Program in Architecture (M Arch). The curriculum us built upon three core principles – the teaching andragogy of experiential learning, service through outreach programs, along with ‘Studio on Wheels’, a unique travel based studio program.
Since its inception in the year 2017, the School of Architecture has evolved its academic programs with robust and rigorous curricula. The programs are designed to develop skills, creative and critical thinking while fostering values of empathy and community engagement. Approved by the Council of Architecture New Delhi and AICTE, the school offers a Bachelor’s Degree Program in Architecture (B Arch) and Master’s Degree Program in Architecture (M Arch). The curriculum us built upon three core principles – the teaching andragogy of experiential learning, service through outreach programs, along with ‘Studio on Wheels’, a unique travel based studio program.
The Programmes intend a deep immersion in an ecosophical perspective of built environment, as part of an inspired understanding of larger discourses: environmental, social, political, artistic and technological. The B Arch Programme sensitises students to be socially and environmentally responsible and to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams within the field of human habitat; engaging them in community outreach programs and assimilate knowledge in built environment related disciplines that are relevant to ethical practice in architecture. The programs nurtures quality education that enables use and extension of appropriate knowledge for designing built environment; stimulating critical thinking to assess existing environment in the service of the discipline of architecture. The education at School of Architecture, offers sound knowledge in design theories and their applications, building technology, social, cultural, gender and environmental issues; learning to apply interdisciplinary knowledge and use tools that enable it. It inculcates skills necessary for the physical, social and creative realms of crafting architecture; preparing students to recognise and act upon opportunities and aspirations; instilling creative problem-solving skills, enhancing entrepreneurship, by offering active and experiential learning while working with varied materials and media. The school aims at developing skills of architectural design and effective communication of ideas to peers, clients, decision makers, and the public.
The M Arch Programme intends to provide an education in the field of built environment that recognises its interdisciplinary nature between urbanism, ecology, social, economic and political realms; to offer learning that encourages a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach and bridges the gap between academics and practice. The school offers training in research on urban and ecological issues of the global south and specifically in the context of Asia. The programme provides an education in design, advocacy and activism and offers courses that are domain specific, issue based that are relevant and contemporary. Choice based credit systems are offered to help specialise in specific disciplinary choices.
VisionThe School of Architecture CHRIST is dedicated to an architectural education through excellence and rigor in learning, research and community engagement to nurture individuals to become ethical professionals, creative designers and responsible citizens.
MissionWe believe in a responsible design thinking that is deeply sensitive to ecology, cultural diversity and social equity. Architectural education at our School will nurture inquisitiveness, creative inquiry and critical thinking towards the built environment and its related natural and cultural setting. The School commits itself to an integrated education in the art, science, history and technical skill for a sensitive, inclusive and collaborative practice in the discipline of architecture.
Architectural Education at CHRIST offers an opportunity to be part of creative innovation in design thinking, design teaching, and design learning. We are committed to providing a tremendous opportunity, to engage in an experiential learning environment using the Design studio space as a design thinking workshop, where ideas are explored and theoretical subjects are integrated. The Studio on Wheels the traveling classroom is a unique pedagogical approach adopted for an experiential teaching-learning practice in our education at CHRIST. These intensive studio sessions are designed to engage deeper learning and discourse on social and environmental issues, set within a selected geographic
Architectural Education at CHRIST offers an opportunity to be part of creative innovation in design thinking, design teaching, and design learning. We are committed to providing a tremendous opportunity, to engage in an experiential learning environment using the Design studio space as a design thinking workshop, where ideas are explored and theoretical subjects are integrated. The Studio on Wheels the traveling classroom is a unique pedagogical approach adopted for an experiential teaching-learning practice in our education at CHRIST. These intensive studio sessions are designed to engage deeper learning and discourse on social and environmental issues, set within a selected geographic area or community precinct thus rendering a global perspective to the curriculum. It is built around community-driven skill development workshops, service-learning modules, master classes, outreach projects, and detailed documentation. The learnings set the premise and research questions for the design problem conducted in the subsequent three-quarters of the semester. The productions of these studios on wheels are documented comprehensively and released as publications or exhibitions in the public domain for wider dissemination, debate, and discourse.
Our close working relationship with the existing ecosystem of the University has rendered a unique identity to the curriculum, building a deeper social and environmental responsibility within students. As we embrace the new dimensions of National education policy we extend ourselves to examine and participate in the rural reconstruction of the region. The CHRIST Rural Studio rolled out as a social outreach studio project, at semester 4 level, explores poetics in bamboo while learning appropriate technology. This funded research project is primarily intended to encourage student research and publication at the undergraduate level. With challenges such as liveability, infrastructure, climate change mitigation, culture and heritage, enforcement of existing legislative framework, and governance remaining at the forefront, our post-graduation pedagogy recognizes the interconnectedness between ecology, urbanism, and architecture. The program intends a deeper understanding of urbanism across scales and sectors including ecological, regional, urban and infrastructural, institutional, recreational, heritage, and the like. The school is currently expanding the policy of inclusiveness and encouraging more involvement of a diversity of students, developing research as a culture of the School and new multi-disciplinary collaborations. In our efforts to build inclusive classrooms, during this pandemic, we take special care to build trust with students and to stay inspired.
Dr. Anitha Suseelan, Head of the Department of Architecture at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore Kengeri Campus, has been honoured with the prestigious National Award to Teachers 2024.
The award recognises her outstanding expertise, dedication, and significant contributions to shaping the future of architectural education. The university community congratulates Dr. Suseelan on this remarkable achievement and expresses deep gratitude for her invaluable service.
