mbiarch prospectus 2011-2012

CX LA PEDRERA . PASSEIG DE GRÀCIA, 92. 08008 BARCELONA . [email protected] +34 93 542 19 07

PROSPECTUSPROSPECTUS2011-20122011-2012

PROSPECTUSPROSPECTUS2011-20122011-2012

Trust of the Barcelona Institute Of Architecture

Collaborators

CONTENTS

7 TheInstitute

About the Institute

Board of Directors

Advisory Council

Board of Trustees

15 TheMBIArchProgram

About the Program

Curriculum

Faculty

29 OpenLecturesandEvents

31 FacilitiesandResources

35 Admissions

Applying to the MBIArch

Requirements and Procedures

41 ContactInformation

6 BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus

BIArch Open Lecture with Smiljan Radic, Fall 2009

7The Institute

The Institute

AbouttheInstitute

The Barcelona Institute of Architecture (BIArch) is an international

institution set up to further interaction between academic research,

specialized practice and the dissemination of contemporary

architecture. Oc cupying a space midway between schools of

architecture and professional praxis, BIArch is an open labo ratory for

professionals and researchers that promotes new ways of considering

and practicing architecture within the context of rapidly changing

technological, environmental, and economic conditions.

The Institute’s academic endeavors are focused on the MBIArch post-

professional master’s degree program. Driven by a contemporary

approach to architectural training, the course is aimed at those

interested in further developing their analytical and operative

project capacities in an environment conducive to design.

The Barcelona Institute of Architecture is backed by a public-

private foundation made up of financial, professional, academic and

political institutions with the objective of continuing and extending

the action-based discourse that has characterized architecture and

urban planning practice in Barce lona. The Institute sets out to become

a reference point for architectural discussions and practice in the

globalized world.


“The profession has to be reinvented if it is to gain some public confidence. Architecture can, in its essence, provide cultural significance. The Institute aims to be a place that both generates and attracts intelligence.”

Josep Lluís Mateo President of the BIArch Board of Directors


Josep Lluís Mateo, President of the BIArch Board of Directors with Riken Yamamoto during the 2010-2011 MBIArch Opening Ceremony

9The Institute

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors of the Barcelona Institute of Architecture

is in charge of defining the academic structure and contents for

the MBIArch program, as well as appointing faculty and overseeing

the advancement of the Institute’s broader objectives. The Board of

Directors also defines the contents and continuity of complementary

activities that run in parallel to the academic program: the Institute’s

communication strategies, editorial line, lecture series, seminars and

international symposia.

MembersoftheBoardofDirectors

JosepLluísMateoPresident of the BIArch Board of Directors, Professor at ETH Zürich, and Principal of MAP Architects

GloriaMoureVice President of the BIArch Board of Directors, Art Historian, Independent editor, art critic and curator

IñakiÁbalosKenzo Tange Professor at Harvard University, Professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Principal of Ábalos+Sentkiewicz Arquitectos

JosepAntonAcebilloProfessor at the Accademia di Architettura di Mendrisio, Director of Architecture Urban Systems, Mendrisio, and Chief Executive Officer of Barcelona Regional

ToniGironèsHead of Architecture Studies at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, and Principal of Toni Gironès Arquitectes

AgustíObiolProfessor at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and Co-Founder of BOMA

PereJoanRavetllatAssociate Professor at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya.Founding partner of Ravetllat-Rivas Arquitectes

PereRieraPh.D in Architecture, ETSAB. Associate Professor until recently at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (ETSAV). Founding partner of RGA Arquitectes

JoanRoigPrincipal of Batlle i Roig Arquitectes

JorgeGarcíadelaCámaraDirector of the Barcelona Institute of Architecture


“As educators, it is our responsibility not to try to tame the process of innovation with a new set of rules, but rather to teach young designers the technical and intellectual tools that will allow them to do something creative with their own reality.”

Stan AllenDean of the Princeton School of Architecture

and member of the BIArch Advisory Council

“We pay respect to the history of the past because it is linked to the future. To create architecture is to create a new history.”

Riken YamamotoProfessor at the Yokohama Graduate School of Architecture

and member of the BIArch Advisory Council

11The Institute

Advisory Council

The Advisory Council of the Barcelona Institute of Architecture aims

to establish a local and international framework for the Institute’s

interests. The council defines strategies for action and creates an

extended academic and professional network for collaboration in a

way that positions BIArch and its academic program in the context of

global architectural debates.

Advisory Council members are active professionals and academics with

strong ties to current architecture and urban culture. The first of the

yearly Advisory Council meetings was held on June 26th and 27th 2009,

under the premise of “Economic Crisis and Architectural Change”.

MembersoftheAdvisoryCouncil

DavidAdjayeArchitect. Principal of Adjaye Associates, London

EnriqueAlarcónÁlvarezEngineer. Professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

DominiqueAlbaArchitect. General Director of the Pavilion de l’Arsenal, Paris

StanAllenArchitect. Dean and Professor at Princeton University School of Architecture, New Jersey. Principal of SAA / Stan Allen Architect, New York

OriolBohigasArchitect. Principal of MBM arquitectes

ManuelCastellsSociologist. Professor at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Research Professor at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, Barcelona. Professor Emeritus at the University of California Berkeley

YungHoChangArchitect. Professor at the Department of Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Principal of Atelier FCJZ, Beijing

MónicaGiliArt historian. Director of Gustavo Gili publishing house, Barcelona

IrinaKorobinaArchitect. Director of the Center of Contemporary Architecture, Moscow

QingyunMaArchitect. Dean at the University of Southern California School of Architecture, Los Angeles. Principal of MADA s.p.a.m, Shanghai


AndreuMas-ColellEconomist. Minister of Economy and Knowledge, Government of Catalonia. Former Secretary General of the European Research Council and member of the Board of Trustees of the Barcelona Graduate School of Economics, Barcelona

MarcelMeiliArchitect. Professor at ETH Zurich and Principal of Meili, Peter Architekten AG Zurich

JuanNavarroBaldewegArchitect and artist. Professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and Principal of Juan Navarro Baldeweg, Madrid

RamonPratPublisher and graphic designer. Director of ACTAR publishing house. Director of Design Hub, Barcelona

JosepRamonedaPhilosopher and journalist. Director of the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona

EdwardSojaGeographer. Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning at the University of California, Los Angeles

ErwinVirayArchitect. Assistant Professor at the School of Design and Environment, National University of Singapore. Editorial Associate at a+u, Tokyo

RikenYamamotoArchitect. Principal and Professor at the Yokohama Graduate School of Architecture. Principal of Riken Yamamoto & Associates, Yokohama

Advisory Council Meeting titled “Economic Crisis and Architectural Change”, June 2009

13The Institute

Board of Trustees

All of the Institute’s efforts and its public

program are made possible thanks to the

support of the BIArch Board of Trustees.

MembersoftheBoardofTrustees

Generalitat de Catalunya

Obra Social de Caixa Catalunya

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, UPC

Universitat Pompeu Fabra, UPF

Association of Architects of Catalunya, COAC

Barcelona City Council

Zona Franca Consortium

Collaborators

Diputació de Barcelona

14 BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus14 BIArch 2011-2012 Prospectus

15The MBIArch Program

The MBIArch Program

AbouttheMBIArchProgram

The MBIArch is the academic core of the Barcelona Institute of

Architecture. The contents of the program are based on a contemporary

approach to architectural training that combines theory and practice

through reflection and analysis of design processes. Reflection

that the Institute hopes will trigger critical judgment and capacity

for synthesis in its students. The curriculum also emphasizes the

knowledgeable approach to site and materials by reevaluating the

relationship between craft and efficiency. Drawing from the rich action-

based architectural and urban tradition of Barcelona, as well as from

contemporary global perspectives, MBIArch students will develop the

necessary skills for exploring the analytical and operative capacities

of projects, allowing for a broader professional perspective.

The MBIArch program extends the architect’s scope of learning to

broader areas of territorial analysis and production, energy systems,

building technologies, as well as criticism and culture. The program’s

open approach combines theory and practice, enabling the exchange of

viewpoints and experiences in an interdisciplinary environment. The

intermingling of reflection, debate and design processes represent the

tools for a productive and significant architectural practice.

The academic syllabus places particular emphasis on architectural

design as a cornerstone for the advancement of the discipline. The

school considers design centered on new environmental, social, and

aesthetic concepts as a fundamental mechanism for reinventing

current modes of architectural production and urban growth.


MBIArchOverview

ACADEMIC&PROFESSIONALFOCUS:

The MBIArch experience encompasses advanced theoretical and design-

based research and production, with the purpose of both attracting

and generating architectural intelligence.

OUTSTANDINGINTERNATIONALFACULTY:

The program will be supported by an outstanding international

faculty, including members of the Institute’s Advisory Council and

Board of Directors—leading academics and practitioners from around

the world.

INTERDISCIPLINARYCURRICULUM:

The MBIArch curriculum encompasses four areas of study focusing

on key issues for contemporary architectural practice: Architectural

Design; Urban and Territorial Studies; History, Theory and Criticism;

and Building Technologies.

ENVIRONMENTCONDUCIVETODESIGN:

The program offers access to the action-oriented design culture of

Barcelona and to a prestigious network of international architectural

experts. The MBIArch provides a truly global outlook while keeping a

strong local foothold.

The MBIArch program requires one year of full-time study and is offered entirely in English. A post-professional Master’s degree will be awarded by the Barcelona Institute of Architecture and recognized by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra upon satisfactory completion of the program.

17The MBIArch Program


MBIArchCurriculum

The programs 60 ECTS* credits represent a total of 1500 hours

including lectures, workshops, debates, examinations, tutorials,

presentations, as well as the necessary individual work to carry out

assignments and prepare for class.

The program is structured according to an evolving set of phases

or learning strategies: beginning with the CompulsorySequence,

designed to provide the primary concepts driving the academic

year, students will elect according to their disciplinary interests

and preferences the seminars and studios they will be attending in

the following two phases (SpecializedTheory and DesignStudios).

The elective seminars of the SpecializedTheory phase (maximum 16

students per class) will provide students the specific knowledge

and fields of research to develop their own academic proposals.

Speculative in character, the DesignStudios (A Core Design and a

Short Design studio with 10 students per class) constitute the perfect

environment to test in practice the architectural knowledge previously

acquired in the different seminars that the program provides. Towards

the end of the year, building technologies tutorials will help students

solve the practicalities and specifications of their own designs.

During the last phase (InterdisciplinaryResearch), every student

will be prompted to develop an individual thesis proposal that will

be used to assess the student’s maturity and research capacities to

contribute significantly to the discipline.

* ECTS European Credit Transfer System

19The MBIArch Program 19

PhaseI: CompulsorySequence (18 ECTS)

Building Technologies

Digital Culture

Urban and Territorial Studies

PLP (Productive Land Program)

History, Theory, and Criticism

PhaseII: CompulsorySequence (6 ECTS)

Energy and Sustainability

PLP (Productive Land Program)

SpecializedTheory (4 ECTS)


History, Theory and Criticism

Urban Studies

DesignStudio (4 ECTS)

Short Design Studio

PhaseIII: SpecializedTheory(4 ECTS)


History, Theory and Criticism

DesignStudio (8 ECTS)

Core Design Studio

Design Theory Seminar

PhaseIV: DesignStudio(8 ECTS)

Core Design Studio

Tutorials

InterdisciplinaryResearch (6 ECTS)

Guided Research

Individual Research

In addition to the organizational phases, students are required to

attend the lectures, open seminars and conferences that the Institute

organizes. Moreover, students will conceptualize and design their final

portfolios throughout the year in close contact with their advisors.

Cross-curricularStudies (8 ECTS)

Open Lectures

Portfolio

DESIGNSTUDIO

Elective 3: Short Design Studio 4ECTS

SPECIALIZEDTHEORY

Students will choose 2SEMINARS from a variety of topics according to the following distribution:

Students will choose1SHORTDESIGNSTUDIO from a variety of options.

Elective 2: Building TechnologiesHistory, Theory and Criticism Urban Studies 2ECTS


Fall TERM*

COMPULSORY SEQUENCECOMPULSORY SEQUENCE

PLP (Productive Land Program) 4ECTS

12ECTS

14ECTS

Building Technologies 2 ECTSDigital Culture 2 ECTSUrban Studies 2 ECTSHistory, Theory and Criticism 2 ECTS

Energy and Sustainability 2 ECTS

PLP (Productive Land Program) 4ECTS

COMPULSORY SEQUENCECOMPULSORY SEQUENCE

SPECIALIZED THEORY

DESIGN STUDIO

Phase I SEPT-OCT Phase II NOV-DEC

W1 W3 W5W2 W4 W6 W7 W9 W11W8 W10 W12

8 ECTS Credits are allocated to Cross-curricular studies that run throughout the MBIArch curriculum: Open Lectures and Portfolio.

*BIArch reserves the right to adjust or modify the course program to better suit course objectives and curriculum.

DESIGNSTUDIO

INTERDISCIPLINARYRESEARCHINTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

Students will choose 2SEMINARS from a variety of topics according to the following distribution:

Students will choose 1COREDESIGNSTUDIO and 1DESIGNTHEORYSEMINAR from a variety of options:

Students will continue the Core Design Studio previously chosen in Phase III

SPECIALIZEDTHEORY



Individual Research 2ECTS

Guided Research 4ECTS

Design Theory Seminar 2ECTS Tutorials 2ECTS

Core Design Studio 6ECTS Core Design Studio 6ECTS

Spring TERM*

12ECTS

14ECTS

SPECIALIZED THEORY

DESIGN STUDIO

INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCHINTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH

Phase III FEB-MAR Phase IV APR-MAY

W1 W3 W5W2 W4 W6 W7 W9 W11W8 W10 W12


InterdisciplinaryCurriculum:AreasofStudy

ARCHITECTURALDESIGN

The pressure brought to bear on design practices by advances in

technical knowledge and expertise, along with the dissolution of

the traditional tasks and instruments brought about by digital

technologies is paradoxically leading to a lack of intensity in

creative responses, erasing the capacity for true individual

expression. Through its focus on Architectural Design, the MBIArch

program will operate within this contemporary landscape, resisting

complacent design and pushing for innovative approaches to

architecture. Departing from a technical and scientific base, students

will question contemporary attitudes towards the environment,

society and culture at large, placing particular emphasis on the

relationship between architecture and landscape as a source of design

intelligence.

The different studios involved in the curriculum respond to specific

questions of scale, context, and objecthood to encourage critical

reflection on design practices. In addition, short term design studios

are intended to improve the student’s ability to respond promptly

and aptly to design demands regardless of time constrains and

contingencies. Lead by internationally renowned professionals,

the architectural design department aims for global interaction

between design strategies, ecological and sustainable conditions in a

globalized economy.

URBAN&TERRITORIALSTUDIES

A challenging contemporary context paves the way for a revision of

our basic inherited urban and territorial understanding. This context

prompts architects and urban designers to adopt difficult design

strategies—and to undertake controversial decisions in policies—

in order to improve our urban environment. The target of Urban and

Territorial Studies within the MBIArch framework is the observation

and analysis of the increasingly socio-technical nature of cities.

We aim to explore the impact of networks on territorial phenomena

and identify the homeostasis of urban systems, while revealing


BIArch Advisory Council member and visiting professor David Adjaye during his Open Lecture ‘Themes and Works’. Adjaye led the MBIArch Design Studio ‘Re_Rec: Igualada’ in the 2010-2011 Spring term.


the shared aspirations that make-up our urban ideals. Cities as

connective patterns prove that, in urban discourse, knowledge becomes

inseparable from significant public action.

An accurate analysis of our increasingly complex societies must take

into consideration the evolution of three driving factors: technology,

economy and governmentalism. The department is a survey for a deep

understanding of the evolving urban thesis, from industrial to neo-

tertiary societies, within the framework of global technological

conditions.

HISTORY,THEORY&CRITICISM

What is the cultural paradigm for architectural practices nowadays?

How does architecture respond to its cultural environment without

disrupting the constitutive elements of the discipline? How should

architects reclaim a significant sphere of knowledge and production

in a constantly changing and technologically oriented society?

The seminars in theory, history, and criticism will try to promote

the reflection around these questions (among others) by prompting

students to review the historical context of architectural debates

and its current significance. Writing and designing can no longer be

understood as impervious to each other but constantly determined

and mutually influenced. We would like to reinforce the idea that

designing, thinking, and writing are intimately linked and entail a

central and unitary process in the production of architecture. In doing

so, we expect to increase students’ consciousness about the relevance

of critical practices as well as to stir them into self-reflection in

the final production of architecture. We intend to develop students’

critical awareness of the cultural milieu that will affect their future

approach to design culture.

The series of seminars proposed will frame the discussion by

juxtaposing an array of thoughts and objects around issues such as

interdisciplinarity, fragmentation, agency, mass culture, mediation,

alterity, or architectural autonomy. The initial assumption is that during

what has normally been labeled as postmodernity, a paradigm shift took

place that entailed a recalibration of culture and art in its relation to

society. This paradigm provided new concepts and mechanisms that seem

to be relevant today. The critical seminars are designed to encourage the

students to revisit some of those inherent notions and to reassess the

historical moment in order to evaluate its current relevance.


BUILDINGTECHNOLOGIES

The rapid and overwhelming evolution experienced by building

technologies in the last decades as well as the multiple findings and

improvements in construction materials have shifted and complicated

the traditional tasks entrusted to the architect. Informed by the

technological and economic situation, architects are now surrounded

by a team of consultants who provide the necessary expertise in the

manifold subjects that the design and construction processes entail:

structures, MEP systems (mechanical, electrical, plumbing), façades,

acoustics, as well as digital design and representation. Accordingly,

under such conditions of production, the architect becomes reluctant

to be held as the only responsible party to contribute to the overall

technical knowledge. Nevertheless, in order to successfully control the

design development, architects need to understand certain concepts

and to master practical skills of the different disciplines involved in

the construction process. This expertise becomes translated in the use

of a common lexicon and technical jargon that allow architects and

designers to be an active part in the process of decision, contributing

precisely and in a timely manner to the professional discussion.

As expected, the purpose of this department is not to shape students

as specialists in any of the technological domains that we will touch

upon during the semester, but to provide them with the sufficient

background as to formulate specific, valid, and efficient proposals in

every field. These proposals require a comprehensible dialogue with

the involved agents in order to reach a satisfactory result.

Moving between buildings and urban or territorial scales, the

department’s sequence on energy will focus on instances of collection,

production, storage, distribution and use of energy—emphasizing

renewable energy sources.

The department also promotes the understanding of digital media,

asking students to maximize these tools potential in order to open up

areas of innovation in architectural processes and design strategies.

Moreover, the department aims to merge different fields of expertise to

accomplish a more compelling and sustainable integration of digital

media and environmental concerns.


CROSSCURRICULARSTUDIES

Portfolio

The evaluation of the personal portfolio—including samples of the

work carried out in the different courses and studios—will be the

most important means of assessment in the program. The portfolio

will follow a specific narrative illustrating the student’s interests,

concerns, and accomplishments throughout the academic year.

Containing graphic documentation, design samples, critical and

theoretical essays or papers, the portfolio should present a visual

account of the student’s year at BIArch to use for future professional

or academic endeavors. Each student will be assigned a tutor to assist

them in the critical analysis and development of the portfolio.

Open Lectures and Events

MBIArch students will receive course credit for attending the Open

Lectures hosted by the Barcelona Institute of Architecture. These

lectures, which are also open to the public, provide a platform for

renowned guest speakers to present the concepts and conclusions

drawn from their personal experience in their fields of practice.

BIArch also organizes different public formats—such as master

classes, dialogues, or symposia—in order to make the events more

productive for students and promote participation between the realms

of academia and professional practice. A portion of the bi-annual

publication, the BIArch Journal, compiles a reflection of the findings

and discussions presented during the Open Lecture series. Open

Lectures are considered part of the curriculum and attendance is

compulsory for BIArch students.


Faculty

The MBIArch program is supported by an outstanding international

faculty, comprised of leading academics and practitioners from around

the world. Faculty for the MBIArch includes the following members of

the Institute’s Board of Directors and Advisory Council:

IñakiÁbalos

JosepAntonAcebillo

DavidAdjaye

StanAllen

ToniGironès

GloriaMoure

AgustíObiol

JoanRoig

Visitingfacultyincludes:

PierVittorioAureliArchitect. Head of the PhD Program “The city as a Project” and of the Research Unit “Labour, City, Architecture” at the Berlage Institute, Co-founder of DOGMA, Rotterdam

PedroGadanhoArchitect, Assistant Professor at the Faculdade de Arquitectura da Universidade do Porto, Editor in Chief of Beyond, Lisbon

JuanGallostraEngineer. General Director of Grupo JG, Barcelona

HansIbelingsArt historian, architecture critic, and curator. Editor in chief of A10, Rotterdam

AleksandarIvancicEngineer, Barcelona Regional, Barcelona

EnriqueWalkerArchitect. Adjunt Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University, New York

29Open Lectures and Events

Open Lectures and Events

The Barcelona Institute of Architecture hosts a series of Open Lectures

and events throughout the academic year which aim to provide a platform

for the interaction between academic research, specialized practice

and the cultural dissemination of contemporary architecture in the

framework and as a complimentary extension of the MBIArch curriculum.

The events transcend the traditional boundaries that separate

architecture schools from professional practices and wider communities

of interest, keeping with BIArch’s strong international focus and spirit

of active engagement in terms of both theory and practice.

During both the Fall and Spring terms BIArch will invite renowned

guest speakers to draw from their experience and present conclusions

relating to their fields of expertise. Public event formats such as

Open Lectures, Seminars, Dialogues, Symposia and Master Classes are

continuously generated by the Institute to provide analytical forums

and compliment the Institute’s fundamental theoretical, technical and

academic concerns.

Past lecturers and seminar guests include:

VitoAcconci

Designer, landscape architect, performance and installation artist, New York

StanAllenPrincipal SAA/Stan Allen Architect, Dean at the School of Architecture at Princeton University

PierVittorioAureliArchitect. Head of the PhD Program “The city as a Project” and of the Research Unit “Labour, City, Architecture” at the Berlage Institute, Co-founder of DOGMA, Rotterdam

YungHoChangArchitect. Professor at the Department of Architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. Principal of Atelier FCJZ, Beijing

PedroGadanhoArchitect, curator and auther. Assistant Professor at the Faculdade de Arquitectura de Universidade do Porto. Editor and Chief of Beyond, Short Stories on the Post-Contemporary, Amsterdam

ToniGironèsHead of Architecture Studies at the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, BIArch Board Member, Toni Gironès Arquitectes


HansIbelingsArt historian, architecture critic, and curator. Editor in Chief of A10, Amsterdam

JuanJoséLahuertaArchitect. Professor Escola Técnica Superior d’Arquitectura (ETSAB). Senior Curator, Picasso Museum, Barcelona

ChusMartínezChief Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA), Barcelona

SmiljanRadicArchitect. Chile’s Colegio de Arquitectos award for most promising architect under 35 in 2001, Architectural Record “Design Vanguard” in 2008, American Institute of Architect Honorary Fellow

YoshiharuTsukamotoArchitect. Atelier Bow Wow, Tokyo

IsabelValverdeArt Historian. Professor of Art History at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)

EnriqueWalkerArchitect. Adjunt Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, Columbia University, New York

RikenYamamotoArchitect. Principal and Professor at the Yokohama Graduate School of Architecture. Principal of Riken Yamamoto & Associates, Yokohama

DavidAdjayeArchitect. Principal of Adjaye Associates, London

31Facilities and Resources

Facilities & Resources

Facilities

The Casa Milà, also known as “La Pedrera” is the official head office

of the Barcelona Institute of Architecture. The building was designed

by Antoni Gaudí and completed in 1910. La Pedrera is a major cultural

center and one of the city’s key reference points, regularly holding

numerous activities and exhibitions. All of BIArch’s public events and

activities, including the Open Lecture Series, dialogues, seminars and

Advisory Council Meetings will be held at this location.

BIArch’s daily activities are held in the idEC building of the

Universitat Pompeu Fabra. The facilities are ideally located in

the heart of the Eixample district and only a few minutes from ‘La

Pedrera’. The building offers a variety of facilities for students

enrolled in the MBIArch, including classrooms and model workshops,

personal workspaces and computer and printing resources.

Students will have full access to spaces provided for project

development such as studios, workspace, workshops and digital

resources.


Libraries&Archives

Students enrolled in the MBIArch program enjoy full access — including

consultation and borrowing services—to the library of the

Col.legi Oficial d’Arquitectes de Catalunya (Architects Association of

Catalonia). The COAC Library network is one of the largest and most

important libraries in Europe specializing in architecture and design,

and the Barcelona library holds 73,000 resources between books, CDs,

videos, DVDs, websites, etc.

Students will also have access to the Universitat Pompeu Fabra

library network, namely the Center of Resources for Learning and

Researching (CRAI).

Technology andComputerResources

Computer resources have become an integral part of design and

architectural practice, and BIArch is committed to providing

students with the latest in advanced design technologies, information

resources and computing tools.

Students will have access to a computer lab with desktop PCs provided

by the Institute, yet are expected to have their own computers

(preferably a portable laptop) for a range of applications including

communication, Internet use, and specific design tools.

BIArch will offer access to and/or temporary licenses for 2D/3D

modeling, simulations, calculation, GIS, image processing, animation,

rendering, and desktop publishing software, as well as on-campus

wireless Internet access.

Students will also be able to connect to the BIArch Intranet, a web-

based platform which provides access to course related materials

(syllabus, calendar and lectures), personal BIArch e-mail accounts and

news. In addition and in support of the importance of Architectural

Design in the course curriculum, students will have access to an on-

line portfolio application to aid in organizing and presenting the

work developed throughout the academic year.

33Facilities and Resources

ModelMakingandPresentationResources

Program facilities include an 80m2 fully-equipped model workshop,

offering technical assistance and equipment to construct models

and prototypes, as well as small power tools and digital prototyping

resources. Equipment includes a laser cutter, foam cutter and 3D model

printer that students will be taught to use during the Fall semester.

Students will also have access to other presentation resources such

as B&W and color printers, plotters, digital imaging equipment,

desktop publishing software and photocopiers.

35Admissions

Admissions

ApplyingtotheMBIArch

MBIARCHSTUDENTPROFILE

The MBIArch Program is open to applicants holding a professional

degree in architecture from an accredited college or university.

Students will come from a wide range of cultural backgrounds,

with an international mindset and normally a minimum of two years

professional experience.

PROGRAMLENGTHANDDEGREEAWARDED

The MBIArch program requires one year of full-time study and is offered

entirely in English. A post-professional Master’s degree will be awarded

by the Barcelona Institute of Architecture and recognized by the

Universitat Pompeu Fabra upon satisfactory completion of the program.

ApplicationRequirementsandProcedure

APPLICATIONDEADLINES

The BIArch admissions committee will be reviewing applications for

the 2011-2012 MBIArch post-professional master’s degree program

according to the following application deadlines:

1stApplicationDeadline:March7,2011

2ndApplicationDeadline:May9,2011

LateApplicationDeadline:July15,2011


APPLICATIONCHECK-LIST

All candidates for admission are required to submit the following

materials to be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Details on each

requirement follow.

1. MBIArch Online Application Form

2. Application Fee

3. Curriculum Vitae*

4. Statement of purpose

5. Transcripts and Certified Copies of Academic Certificates*

6. Letters of recommendation*

7. Portfolio*

8. Proof of English proficiency for non-native English speakers*

9. Copy of Valid Passport*

* Materials that must be sent by post to BIArch.

37Admissions

APPLICATIONMATERIALS

1. MBIArch Application Form which can be found on the Institutes

website: http://www.biarch.eu/apply/

2. Application fees for the 2011-2012 academic year are:

75 € for applications received by March 7

100 € for applications received after March 7

The Application Fee is non-refundable and payable through the

BIArch website or by bank transfer using the following bank details:

Caixa Catalunya

Provenca, 296-298

08008 – Barcelona, SPAIN

SWIFT: CESCESBBXXX

BANK: 2013

BRANCH: 0691

CONTROL: 31

ACCOUNT Nº: 0200825796

IBAN: ES3620130691310200825796

Note: Please reference the MBIArch Program & your full name.

3. Candidates Curriculum Vitae should list all Academic and

Professional Experience including dates and places of study/work.

4. The Essay, or Statement of Purpose, should be between 300-500

words describing your interests and objectives for applying to

the MBIArch program, with mention of your previous design and

academic experience as well as your future goals.

5. Original transcripts and certified copies of academic certificates

and diplomas should be provided by the applicant and/or University.

A full list of subjects and the results obtained should be included.

Applicants who are currently completing a degree must include

official documentation stating the name and dates of the degree

they will be awarded. Transcripts and degrees from non-English or

Spanish speaking Universities must be translated into English and

officially certified. If applying to the program with a degree from

a non-European Union Institution please contact the Admissions

Office ([email protected]) for specific certification details.


6. Applicants are required to obtain three letters of recommendation:

two related to their academic experience and, if applicable, one

related to professional experience. These individuals should be

qualified to attest to the applicant’s professional potential and

academic ability. Candidates may include sealed letters in the

Application Package or have their references send them directly by

post or e-mail to the BIArch Admissions Office.

7. MBIArch applicants are required to submit a port folio

with representative examples of design and research work

demonstrating the ability to pursue study at an advanced level.

If including collabora tive work, the applicant’s contribution

must be clearly identified. The portfolio must be securely bound

in size A4 (210x297mm). The front of the port folio must have the

applicant’s name, address, date, year and the university or college

from which she/he received the architectural degree. Also, each

project should be labeled indicating when and where the work was

produced, stating whether the proj ect was academic, professional

or personal, togeth er with a one to two sentence description.

Note: Electronic, CD and oversized portfolios sub missions will not

be accepted. Portfolios will not be returned.

8. English is the official language at BIArch. All applicants whose

first language is not English must provide proof of English

proficiency by including language test scores or certifications in

the application package. The internationally recognized exams/

certificates accepted by BIArch are:

• Europe’s Common European Framework for language report at

level C1 or above.

• Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)

• IELTS: 6.0

• TOEFL: iBT (internet-based): 78; cBT (computer-based): 210; pBT

(paper-based): 547

Test scores may be waived for non-native English speakers who

have successfully studied in English speaking schools.

BIArch reserves the right to request a personal or phone interview

to test the applicants English proficiency level.

39Admissions

9. Copy of Valid Passport (Spanish and EU candidates may submit a

copy of their National Identification Card)

Application Packages should be mailed to the Admissions Office

located at:

BarcelonaInstituteofArchitecture

Balmes132-34,3rdFloor

Barcelona,Spain08008

SELECTIONPROCESS

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis by the Institutes

Admissions Committee once all required materials have been

received. The BIArch Admissions Office will notify candidates of

their admission status within three weeks by telephone and/or e-mail

followed by a letter that will be sent by regular mail.

PROGRAMFEES

The tuition fees for the 2011-2012 MBIArch program are 15,700 Euros

which are to be paid in three installments:

• Tuition deposit – a 15% non-refundable deposit of 2,355 € is

required of all admitted students accepting BIArch’s offer for

admission. The fee must be paid up to 20 days after notification

of acceptance.

• 2nd Payment: 50% by September 2, 2011: 7,850 €

• 3rd Payment: 35% by January 9, 2012: 5,495 €

Note: Study-related expenses such as reproduction costs, printing,

model making and book purchases are not included in the tuition fees.


INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS

Visas

Non-European Citizens are urged to apply to the program as early as

possible to allow sufficient time for the Visa Application procedure.

BIArch recommends that all international applicants contact their

local Spanish Embassy or Consulate for the Visa Requirements and

Procedures for entering and staying in Spain for the duration of the

program.

Housing

BIArch does not currently provide student housing but upon enrolment

participants will be sent a Welcome Guide which includes helpful

information when searching for accommodation options in the city.

The Welcome Guide will serve as a general overview of life at BIArch

including tips when arriving and settling into Barcelona.

41Contact Information

ContactInformation

OPENINGHOURS

The BIArch offices are open Monday to Friday, from 8:00h to 14:00h and

15:00h to 17:00h. The office is closed on public holidays.

ForinformationorquestionsregardingAdmissionsortoorganizea

visittoBIArch,pleasecontacttheAdmissionsOffice:

[email protected]: biarch.admissions

For more information, please visit

www.biarch.eu

General inquiries may be directed to

[email protected]

BIArch Barcelona Institute of ArchitecturePasseig de Gràcia, 9208008 Barcelona, Spain+34 93 542 19 07

LA PEDRERA PASSEIG DE GRÀCIA, 9208008 BARCELONA. [email protected] +34 93 542 19 07

BARCELONAINSTITUTE OFARCHITECTURE

mbiarch prospectus 2011-2012

Documents

biarch board of directors

instituteboard of directors

academic program

schools of architecture

mbiarch program

academic research

institutes academic

academic structure