Our Approach

The Architecture Design Studio modules, which are common to all the schools and account for more than half of the learning hours in each programme. are the primary site for innovation. Through these modules the Building Change project is exploring how to test, refine and embed the knowledge and skills necessary to design a zero-carbon future. This is supported by broader curricular change across the syllabus, resulting in a reconsideration of all subjects including Building Technology, Environmental Design, History and Theory and Professional Practice Studies.

Developing common project aims and design briefs, each partner school cultivates unique ecosystems locally to enable collaborations with enterprise, municipal, and community partners. This facilitates the involvement of multi-disciplinary expertise to deliver sustainable architectural solutions for Climate and Housing that considers  local areas and landscapes, a range of sites, and existing structures and infrastructures in Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Dublin, and Sligo.

An important element of Building Change is the engagement of the RIAI in the project as it develops and the reciprocal involvement of project partners in the parallel review of both the QQI and RIAI standards around the Knowledge, Skill and Competence of Architectural education. The Building Change project centres of these standards while, in parallel, new methods and understandings in the Curriculum that empower new sustainable innovations in living environments and around contemporary climatic, cultural, and socio-environmental challenges.

The CPD programme builds on the research and teaching expertise of each of the six partner schools. Each institution has developed at least one 5-credit module. The first CPD commenced at TU Dublin in January 2023, the second at UCD in September 2023, and the third CPD commenced in CCAE in the Spring semester of 2024.

The CPD programme plays a central role in the project through the upskilling of existing staff to contribute to the formation and delivery of the Building Change curriculum; through the induction of new staff into the delivery of teaching; through upgrading the skills and qualifications of graduates and practising architects; through upgrading the skills and qualifications of members of allied professions; and through network reinforcement for the six Schools of Architecture.

Whole Life Design (TU Dublin) provides a pathway toward integrated architecture via the use of interlocking theoretical and practical sustainable design strategies. It is targeted at design educators in the associated and cognate disciplines of architecture, architectural technology and engineering.

Research. Reuse. Housing (UCD) presents state-of-the-art research in the fields of reuse, with a particular focus on reuse of buildings for housing. The module will include conservation research content, best practice case study, life cycle analysis and post occupancy evaluation related to housing reuse.

Reviving Buildings: Methods and Praxis for Adaptive Reuse and Resilient Retrofit: The course is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills to implement energy-efficient upgrades and retrofits in various architectural contexts, to increase knowledge and evaluate environmental performance and aesthetic values of existing buildings; to critique and understand issues around sustainability (re-use and circularity, decarbonisation, energy use and performance/behaviour etc.) associated with repurposing existing building stock in order to create a more resilient built environment: to enhance abilities to recognise and design for potential new uses of existing buildings; to create familiarisation with different practical and/or novel methods and approaches to achieving sustainable results in building retrofits; to create awareness of new knowledge and instill an ability to effectively communicate advanced concepts to other parties including academic, public, legislative, community, professional networks

Biodiversity and Nature Conservation (TU Dublin):  This module sets out the basis for understanding and addressing biodiversity loss.  It presents the rationale for conserving natural habitats: their ecological complexity, historical continuity, and biogeographical significance.

Understanding Landscape and the Natural Environment in Architecture: An Interdisciplinary Approach (SETU): This module will deliver an interdisciplinary introduction to landscape policy, evaluation and assessment in Ireland, along with an introduction to the legislative framework and policies for ecology and biodiversity in Ireland related to planning. GIS will be used to map case studies for landscape, ecology and bio-diversity evaluation and assessment.

Digital studios in a zero carbon future (ATU): This module will examine how new digital tools and software applications can help to deliver low carbon designs. It will explore the tools available to educators and practitioners and the role they play in architecture education and practice.

LOCAL -GLOBAL (UL): This CPD will capture aspects of macro and micro concerns of varying scale from material through to territory in order to develop a robust contextual response that seeks coherent responses to the challenges posed by the climate emergency..