Architecture
aims at serving a society through wilful conceptualisation
and strategic construction of physical environments.
Minimally and essentially, these architectural environments
must facilitate the functions and maintain the structures
of a civilized life in a safe, sustainable and above
all inspired manner.
Design is manifest as a quality of functional optimality,
aesthetic delight and economic affordability in things
and systems that surround us. From machines that extend
our capabilities to accessories that embellish our
environments and from things that adorn our bodies
to almost all objects that constitute our physical
and sensory contexts, a presence of design is either
manifestly appreciable or its absence sadly felt.
Beyond the normally understood passive role of architecture
and design in sustaining human systems, they can in
fact become active agents in shaping the very art
of life through which a society can claim its identity,
nourish its traditions and envision its futures.
The emergent respectability of architecture and design
related careers in Pakistan heralds the possibilities
of design-based economies, enjoying broad national
and international support beyond the traditional crafts
with limited patronage. Career opportunities have
highlighted the shortcomings of architecture and design
education as it exists today and the need for programmes
that can lead to specialized career paths without
compromising the ideals of a comprehensive, integrative
university education.
ScAD at BNU has established an innovative, interdisciplinary
programme that gives students an opportunity to challenge
their own potential through a demanding and stimulating
set of experiences inside and beyond the lecture rooms
and the design studios. A carefully structured balance
is created between the studies of historical precedents,
critical analysis of contemporary issues, theoretical
formulations, applied sciences and technology and
project based studios. All attempts are made to create
an interdisciplinary educational atmosphere through
shared electives with various Schools at BNU while
ensuring that the essential academic-professional
focus of each degree programme is not compromised.
The School of Architecture and Design offers three
professional degrees in Architecture, Textile Design
and Jewellery Design respectively. In all three areas,
Pakistan has rich histories and is heir to traditions,
which stretch back thousands of years. Exploring these
legacies with a critical eye, and interpreting this
history and heritage in context of the ideals and
realities of the contemporary world, is a challenge
put before the designers of the future studying at
ScAD.
The special relationship between the School of Visual
Art and the School of Architecture and Design at BNU
is mutually supportive and crucial to both. An active
interdisciplinary approach, starting with the common
Foundation Studies, is crucial both for design discipline
and artistic freedom.
With critical disposition, artistic imagination, problem
solving attitude, technical skills and specialized
knowledge of their professional discipline, ScAD graduates
will go on to pursue careers in industry, as entrepreneurs,
market strategists, researchers; and as individual
practitioners and leaders in the architecture and
design world.
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