Architecture, spatial planning

As an architect, you need an eye for the big picture: you need to know the needs of the people for whom you are designing a building, keep an eye on the budget and building law requirements and, of course, your buildings should also look good. 

Regardless of which area of architecture you later work in, it's all about striking a balance between the artistic and creative design of the buildings on the one hand and a technically and economically mature implementation on the other. Ecological aspects such as energy efficiency and sustainable building materials are now an integral part of architecture courses. In addition to looking to the future, architects also need an eye for history: issues relating to the protection of listed buildings play a decisive role, particularly in urban planning.

The later fields of application for architects are as broad as the degree courses, but the necessary basic knowledge is the same in most degree courses: knowledge of construction planning, urban planning and architectural theory is taught. Modules in the subject groups (urban planning) design / building construction, building science, interior design, social, cultural and historical foundations (sociology, culture of life), representation and design (design methodology, fine arts, aesthetics, descriptive geometry, digital design techniques) and scientific and technical foundations (structural engineering, materials science and building physics, technical building equipment) are used for this purpose. Modules such as energy use, energy-efficient refurbishment, sustainable building materials and resource-conserving construction are playing an increasingly important role in the course and thus meet the requirements of modern construction projects. Monument protection, architectural law, building regulations and planning law as well as construction project management and construction economics are also usually covered.

In addition to the traditional study of architecture, this field of study also includes courses in the independent disciplines of interior design, landscape architecture and urban and regional planning.

• Interior design deals with the structural nature and use of rooms and requires the same technical and scientific knowledge as classical architecture. Design nonetheless plays an elevated role in these courses.

• Landscape architecture and open space planning refers to the management of structural and spatial development in rural and urban areas. This includes issues relating to transport infrastructure, supply and disposal, land management and nature and landscape conservation.

• Graduates in urban and regional planning, on the other hand, must be aware of and take into account the interactions between political, social, ecological, economic and technical problems. As experts, they advise local authorities and companies and present them with various possible solutions, for example in the form of land use and development plans or conversion and redevelopment concepts.

Depending on the university and degree program, a certain grade point average is required to apply for a place in architecture. In order to determine the artistic or creative talent of applicants, many universities also carry out an aptitude test before admission. Applicants must then submit a portfolio with sample works. Many universities also require a pre-study internship, although this can often be completed during the semester break.

Architecture courses are offered at universities as well as art colleges and universities of applied sciences. Advanced degree courses in particular offer plenty of scope for specialization, for example in the form of “MediaArchitecture”, “Communication in Space” or “Urbanism”. 

In most degree courses, internships in a construction company or a planning office are mandatory, often as part of a full internship semester. Dual study models are also being offered more and more frequently.