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What is Integrated Building Design and Construction?

Advanced CAAD workshops on building information modelling are accompanied by practice sessions, improving your visualisation skills. Together with lectures on (sustainable) construction management, they support and facilitate the main assignment of the semester: the integrative project in the Architectural Design Studio.

You will work in an international team, simulating a real life architecture studio working on a design for an architecture contest. Your design will creatively integrate your knowledge of architectural technology, construction and sustainability. Coached by engineers and architects, this practicum experience will develop your personal design skills and deepen your knowledge of building sciences, as well as improve your co-operation and communication skills.

You will build your own outstanding portfolio and get acquainted with Belgian and Flemish culture. The icing on the cake is the participation in a field trip focusing on contemporary architecture, in Flanders or a neighbouring country.

This English-taught semester is organised by our Bachelor of Applied Architecture (TA).

This programme is only available in English!

Studenten aan de slag in marketing en communicatie.

What makes this semester unique?

The English-taught semester in Integrated Building Design and Construction is an excellent option to boost career opportunities if you’re a third or fourth year bachelor's student in the field of architecture, architectural technology, construction management or (sustainable) building sciences.

This semester fits into the last year of the full Bachelor of Applied Architecture programme. Having a strong reputation in the architecture and building sector in Flanders, our alumni are highly valued for their comprehensive knowledge of construction detailing and sustainable design as well as for their experience in building information modelling.

Prerequisites

Students who wish to enroll should have completed minimum 3 semesters or an equivalent of 90 ECTS in a Bachelor programme in the field of Architecture, Construction Technology or Building Sciences.

This will need to be confirmed by means of an official certificate, a survey of completed courses, or a signed letter from the sending university.

Click here for Howest language expectations.

All students should bring their own laptop, with minimally 16Gb RAM and a dedicated OpenGL Graphics Card with 1024Mb Ram or more.

The course overview above mentions which specific software is necessary for each course unit. Howest applies a very strict policy on the use of legal software. If you have not acquired a licence yet, you can do so at the beginning of the semester: you benefit from the Howest discount on the licence fee.

Non-exchange students are not able to attend this international semester.

Contact mieke.maes [at] howest.be (mieke[dot]maes[at]howest[dot]be) for more information.

Course overview

Find the course unit descriptions for this programme (course catalogue) here.

Cultural and socio-economic introduction to Belgium Survival course Dutch (3ECTS)

In this module you will learn about Belgian and Flemish politics, culture and socio-economic data, all in comparison to the socio-economic data of your home country. This module includes a survival course Dutch and visits to several important cities in Belgium.

Portfolio development (3 ECTS)

A portfolio is a primary means of communication when looking for job opportunities in the design field. This course will lead you into the process of building a strong and personal portfolio, based on the process of self-reflection and facilitated by advanced Desktop Publishing.

Required software: Adobe Creative Cloud (most recent edition) and MS Office

Architectural Design Studio A (9ECTS) (compulsory)

This design studio serves as the integrative project of the semester. You work in a small team, simulating an architecture office. After analyzing the environmental and functional prerequisites of a multi-dimensional assignment and guided by the tutors, your team integrates knowledge of construction technology and architectural design fundamentals into the design of a structurally sound, efficient, sustainable, high performance building or building complex that meets all relevant building codes. The final design will be attractively presented to a jury by means of appealing (computer) models and renderings.

Computer-aided architectural design (9ECTS) (compulsory)

In this course you will improve your skills of 3D computer modelling and apply them for the presentation to the jury of the Architectural Design Studio.
In 3ds Max Design, special attention will go to: specific materials, advanced lighting, animation, advanced modelling and specific applications.
In ArchiCAD, the emphasis will be on working with BIM server (Team Work) and BIM-exchange (IFC, BCF), interactive 3D-models, publishing sets, MEP, BEM-ecodesigner, Cine Render a.s.o.

Required Software: ArchiCAD (Graphisoft) and Autodesk (Autodesk): most recent (educational) edition, or similar BIM-software.

Important: Prior basic mastery of this software programs is an imperative.

Construction management (3ECTS)

Group assignment exploring a local construction yard, assessing its planning, site plan and cost calculation. Comparison with a building site of similar size in your home country.

International Project (3ECTS)

Participation in a field trip focusing on contemporary architecture in Flanders or optionally in a neighbouring country. Preparation and final assignment are part of the assessment for this course unit.

Welcome international students!

Discover everything you need to know about Howest.

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How to apply

Procedures, deadlines and tuitions: you will find all the information here.

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Programme in pictures

Register now!

Have you decided? We look forward to welcoming you to our Howest community! 
You can find all information about registering via the link below.

Apply now

Studenten in pauze met koffie op de campus

Contact

Do you have questions? Don't hesitate to contact us!

Mieke Maes

Mieke Maes

International Coordinator - Applied Architecture