School of Architecture
from: cafa.edu.cn time: 2021.2.5
The School of Architecture of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) is deeply rooted in CAFA’s profound artistic soil. Under the principles of experimentation, innovation, and critical thinking, it dedicates to the teaching of architectural creation with the features of arts and humanities, so as to cultivate high-level innovative talents in architecture with artistic qualities and to build an architectural education system with unique CAFA features.
The School of Architecture of CAFA has a first-class faculty, most of whom graduated from well-known universities in the field of architecture at home and abroad. Some world-famous architects and scholars such as Koolhaas, Peter Tarcurie, Wang Mingxian, Liu Jiakun and Zhou Rong, are also invited as visiting professors to participate in teaching.
High-level and frequent international academic exchanges and cooperation in architecture are one of the characteristics of the School of Architecture. The successful and continuous holding of “CAFAa International Forum", "CAFAa Lecture Series" and "CAFAa Young Scholars Forum" has built an academic platform for exchanges between the School of Architecture and other well-known universities and colleges of architecture, and has exerted a profound influence on international architecture education.
The School of Architecture is made up by the Architecture Department, Interior Design Department, Urban Design and Planning Department, Landscape Department, Department of Basic Courses, and Graduate Department.
Architectural Design of Architecture Major
Talent Cultivation Objectives
CAFA is the only art university in China that has passed the degree evaluation to grant a bachelor's degree in architecture. It has a first-class teaching environment and faculty, as well as a wide range of international academic exchanges and cooperation.
The teaching program of the architecture major is divided into two parts: basic teaching and architecture major teaching. The Department of Basic Courses strives to transform students into professional talents with solid fundamental skills and open and innovative thinking in two years to ensure that they will have basic design and aesthetic abilities. The Department of Basic Courses is divided into five teaching units: basic modeling, preliminary design, basic construction, performance and theory. The first-year teaching focuses on the training of space shaping ability, basic skills and professional techniques, as well as the improvement of modeling ability and the cultivation of certain aesthetic qualities; the second-year teaching focuses on the training of preliminary design ability and the understanding of basic issues concerning architecture. Meantime, some theoretical courses and courses on construction technology are provided to enrich the students' professional knowledge and equip them with certain learning and research capabilities.
In the third and fourth years, students will enter the phase of advanced professional study. The trend of contemporary architecture education is to train students to master the professional knowledge of architectural design. While attaching importance to the function of buildings, we pay more attention to the accurate grasp of the relationship between architecture and environment, as well as the innovation of architectural forms. On the basis of maintaining the professional theories, practical knowledge and skills of architecture, we have expanded the design methods to digital architecture and digital construction with the help of digital technology. In the third and fourth year, students have the opportunity to participate in teaching exchanges in international institutions, including joint teaching and a semester of international exchange learning etc.
In the fifth year of the architecture major, students will enter the phase of learning and designing in studios, which is also the most distinctive teaching mode of CAFA. Each studio has its own features. Students, according to their interests, can choose one from the six studios in the two majors of architectural design and urban design for the final year of study, where they will complete their graduation creation and participate in graduation creation exhibitions.
Based on the profound historical and humanistic heritage of CAFA and the outstanding professional technology and professional design capability of the School of Architecture, the architecture major aims to expand its professional knowledge and establish professionalism. Moreover, it strives to cultivate outstanding professional talents with artistic quality, innovative design capabilities, solid professional knowledge, and overall design and coordination capabilities. In the future, graduates can mainly engage in architectural design, management and research, and they will possess basic abilities in urban design, landscape design, interior design and other related professional fields. Among them, about 50% will choose to continue to study for a master's degree in CAFA or in other famous domestic and international universities.
Urban Design of Architecture Major
Talent Cultivation Objectives
The teaching program of urban design is divided into two parts: basic teaching and urban design major teaching.
The Department of Basic Courses strives to transform students into professional talents with solid fundamental skills and open and innovative thinking in two years to ensure that they will have basic design and aesthetic abilities. The Department of Basic Courses is divided into five teaching units: basic modeling, preliminary design, basic construction, performance and theory. The first-year teaching focuses on the training of space shaping ability, basic skills and professional techniques, as well as the improvement of modeling ability and the cultivation of certain aesthetic qualities; the second-year teaching focuses on the training of preliminary design ability and the understanding of basic issues concerning architecture. Meantime, some theoretical courses and courses on construction technology are provided to enrich the students' professional knowledge and equip them with certain learning and research capabilities.
As the overlap of urban planning, architectural design and landscape design, urban design has different focuses from the majors above. Urban Design of the architecture major strives to train students to master the professional knowledge of architectural design. While attaching importance to the design of individual architecture, we pay more attention to the accurate grasp and handling of the relationship between architecture and city, architecture and environment as well as architecture and architecture. Based on the profound historical and humanistic heritage of CAFA, we will cultivate outstanding professional talents with artistic quality, innovative design capabilities, solid professional knowledge, and overall design and coordination capabilities. In the future, graduates can mainly engage in architectural design, urban design, urban planning, as well as the management and research work in related fields. Besides, they will possess basic abilities in landscape design, interior design and other related professional fields.
Interior Design of Architecture Major
Talent Cultivation Objectives
The teaching program of interior design is divided into two parts: basic teaching and interior design major teaching.
The Department of Basic Courses strives to transform students into professional talents with solid fundamental skills and open and innovative thinking in two years to ensure that they will have basic design and aesthetic abilities. The Department of Basic Courses is divided into five teaching units: basic modeling, preliminary design, basic construction, performance and theory. The first-year teaching focuses on the training of space shaping ability, basic skills and professional techniques, as well as the improvement of modeling ability and the cultivation of certain aesthetic qualities; the second-year teaching focuses on the training of preliminary design ability and the understanding of basic issues concerning architecture. Meantime, some theoretical courses and courses on construction technology are provided to enrich the students' professional knowledge and equip them with certain learning and research capabilities.
The Interior Design major will equip the students with related professional knowledge of architecture. While attaching importance to the use of interior space, we pay more attention to the accurate expression of cultural environment and the innovation of art forms. Based on the profound historical and humanistic heritage of CAFA, and the outstanding professional technology and professional design capability of the School of Architecture, the interior design major aims to expand its professional knowledge and establish professionalism. Moreover, it strives to cultivate outstanding professional talents with artistic innovative design capabilities, solid professional knowledge, profound aesthetic vision and overall design and coordination capabilities. In the future, graduates can mainly engage in interior design, interior furnishings, display design, as well as the management and research in related fields. Meantime, they will possess basic abilities in architectural design, landscape design, furniture design and other related professional fields.
Landscape Architecture
Talent Cultivation Objectives
Modern landscape architecture is a comprehensive application discipline that coordinates the relationship between man and nature. It involves a wide range of knowledge, including protecting and restoring the natural ecological environment, creating a healthy and beautiful living environment, and inheriting and expanding traditional culture and art, as well as fusing and creating a cultural settlement environment. This major is rooted in the profound soil of humanities and arts of CAFA. Students are required not only to master the scientific knowledge and engineering technology, but also the knowledge of humanities and arts and creative thinking methods such as artistic principles, landscape aesthetics, human geography, etc. We aim to build an education system that integrates general education and the characteristic education of an art university and to cultivate specialized talents with independent innovative design capabilities. Graduates will mainly be engaged in landscape architecture planning and design, urban renewal design, historical and cultural heritage protection and regeneration, landscape environmental art design, project planning, evaluation and management, as well as the researches on the history of landscape architecture.
The teaching program of landscape architecture is divided into two parts: basic teaching and landscape major teaching.
The basic teaching is built on the basis of architecture and art. After two years of rigorous training, we strive to ensure that students have a solid design foundation and open and innovative design thinking. Moreover, they will have basic design capabilities, aesthetic qualities and aesthetic capabilities. The Department of Basic Courses is divided into five teaching units: basic modeling, preliminary design, basic construction, performance and theory. The first-year teaching focuses on the training of space shaping ability, basic skills and professional techniques, as well as the improvement of modeling ability and the cultivation of certain aesthetic qualities; the second-year teaching focuses on the training of preliminary design ability and the understanding of basic issues concerning architecture. Meantime, some theoretical courses and courses on construction technology are provided to enrich the students' professional knowledge and equip them with certain learning and research capabilities.
Landscape major teaching is divided into two stages. In the first stage, courses on design are the core, combined with courses on historical theory, engineering technology and general professional education. At the same time, apart from fully developing the students’ professional knowledge and skills, their artistic creativity will be stimulated. In the second stage, studio teaching and practical education will be the core. The initiative of supervisor will be given full play and individualized will be emphasized.
The School of Architecture of CAFA has a first-class faculty, most of whom graduated from well-known universities in the field of architecture at home and abroad. Some world-famous architects and scholars such as Koolhaas, Peter Tarcurie, Wang Mingxian, Liu Jiakun and Zhou Rong, are also invited as visiting professors to participate in teaching.
High-level and frequent international academic exchanges and cooperation in architecture are one of the characteristics of the School of Architecture. The successful and continuous holding of “CAFAa International Forum", "CAFAa Lecture Series" and "CAFAa Young Scholars Forum" has built an academic platform for exchanges between the School of Architecture and other well-known universities and colleges of architecture, and has exerted a profound influence on international architecture education.
The School of Architecture is made up by the Architecture Department, Interior Design Department, Urban Design and Planning Department, Landscape Department, Department of Basic Courses, and Graduate Department.
Architectural Design of Architecture Major
Talent Cultivation Objectives
CAFA is the only art university in China that has passed the degree evaluation to grant a bachelor's degree in architecture. It has a first-class teaching environment and faculty, as well as a wide range of international academic exchanges and cooperation.
The teaching program of the architecture major is divided into two parts: basic teaching and architecture major teaching. The Department of Basic Courses strives to transform students into professional talents with solid fundamental skills and open and innovative thinking in two years to ensure that they will have basic design and aesthetic abilities. The Department of Basic Courses is divided into five teaching units: basic modeling, preliminary design, basic construction, performance and theory. The first-year teaching focuses on the training of space shaping ability, basic skills and professional techniques, as well as the improvement of modeling ability and the cultivation of certain aesthetic qualities; the second-year teaching focuses on the training of preliminary design ability and the understanding of basic issues concerning architecture. Meantime, some theoretical courses and courses on construction technology are provided to enrich the students' professional knowledge and equip them with certain learning and research capabilities.
In the third and fourth years, students will enter the phase of advanced professional study. The trend of contemporary architecture education is to train students to master the professional knowledge of architectural design. While attaching importance to the function of buildings, we pay more attention to the accurate grasp of the relationship between architecture and environment, as well as the innovation of architectural forms. On the basis of maintaining the professional theories, practical knowledge and skills of architecture, we have expanded the design methods to digital architecture and digital construction with the help of digital technology. In the third and fourth year, students have the opportunity to participate in teaching exchanges in international institutions, including joint teaching and a semester of international exchange learning etc.
In the fifth year of the architecture major, students will enter the phase of learning and designing in studios, which is also the most distinctive teaching mode of CAFA. Each studio has its own features. Students, according to their interests, can choose one from the six studios in the two majors of architectural design and urban design for the final year of study, where they will complete their graduation creation and participate in graduation creation exhibitions.
Based on the profound historical and humanistic heritage of CAFA and the outstanding professional technology and professional design capability of the School of Architecture, the architecture major aims to expand its professional knowledge and establish professionalism. Moreover, it strives to cultivate outstanding professional talents with artistic quality, innovative design capabilities, solid professional knowledge, and overall design and coordination capabilities. In the future, graduates can mainly engage in architectural design, management and research, and they will possess basic abilities in urban design, landscape design, interior design and other related professional fields. Among them, about 50% will choose to continue to study for a master's degree in CAFA or in other famous domestic and international universities.
Urban Design of Architecture Major
Talent Cultivation Objectives
The teaching program of urban design is divided into two parts: basic teaching and urban design major teaching.
The Department of Basic Courses strives to transform students into professional talents with solid fundamental skills and open and innovative thinking in two years to ensure that they will have basic design and aesthetic abilities. The Department of Basic Courses is divided into five teaching units: basic modeling, preliminary design, basic construction, performance and theory. The first-year teaching focuses on the training of space shaping ability, basic skills and professional techniques, as well as the improvement of modeling ability and the cultivation of certain aesthetic qualities; the second-year teaching focuses on the training of preliminary design ability and the understanding of basic issues concerning architecture. Meantime, some theoretical courses and courses on construction technology are provided to enrich the students' professional knowledge and equip them with certain learning and research capabilities.
As the overlap of urban planning, architectural design and landscape design, urban design has different focuses from the majors above. Urban Design of the architecture major strives to train students to master the professional knowledge of architectural design. While attaching importance to the design of individual architecture, we pay more attention to the accurate grasp and handling of the relationship between architecture and city, architecture and environment as well as architecture and architecture. Based on the profound historical and humanistic heritage of CAFA, we will cultivate outstanding professional talents with artistic quality, innovative design capabilities, solid professional knowledge, and overall design and coordination capabilities. In the future, graduates can mainly engage in architectural design, urban design, urban planning, as well as the management and research work in related fields. Besides, they will possess basic abilities in landscape design, interior design and other related professional fields.
Interior Design of Architecture Major
Talent Cultivation Objectives
The teaching program of interior design is divided into two parts: basic teaching and interior design major teaching.
The Department of Basic Courses strives to transform students into professional talents with solid fundamental skills and open and innovative thinking in two years to ensure that they will have basic design and aesthetic abilities. The Department of Basic Courses is divided into five teaching units: basic modeling, preliminary design, basic construction, performance and theory. The first-year teaching focuses on the training of space shaping ability, basic skills and professional techniques, as well as the improvement of modeling ability and the cultivation of certain aesthetic qualities; the second-year teaching focuses on the training of preliminary design ability and the understanding of basic issues concerning architecture. Meantime, some theoretical courses and courses on construction technology are provided to enrich the students' professional knowledge and equip them with certain learning and research capabilities.
The Interior Design major will equip the students with related professional knowledge of architecture. While attaching importance to the use of interior space, we pay more attention to the accurate expression of cultural environment and the innovation of art forms. Based on the profound historical and humanistic heritage of CAFA, and the outstanding professional technology and professional design capability of the School of Architecture, the interior design major aims to expand its professional knowledge and establish professionalism. Moreover, it strives to cultivate outstanding professional talents with artistic innovative design capabilities, solid professional knowledge, profound aesthetic vision and overall design and coordination capabilities. In the future, graduates can mainly engage in interior design, interior furnishings, display design, as well as the management and research in related fields. Meantime, they will possess basic abilities in architectural design, landscape design, furniture design and other related professional fields.
Landscape Architecture
Talent Cultivation Objectives
Modern landscape architecture is a comprehensive application discipline that coordinates the relationship between man and nature. It involves a wide range of knowledge, including protecting and restoring the natural ecological environment, creating a healthy and beautiful living environment, and inheriting and expanding traditional culture and art, as well as fusing and creating a cultural settlement environment. This major is rooted in the profound soil of humanities and arts of CAFA. Students are required not only to master the scientific knowledge and engineering technology, but also the knowledge of humanities and arts and creative thinking methods such as artistic principles, landscape aesthetics, human geography, etc. We aim to build an education system that integrates general education and the characteristic education of an art university and to cultivate specialized talents with independent innovative design capabilities. Graduates will mainly be engaged in landscape architecture planning and design, urban renewal design, historical and cultural heritage protection and regeneration, landscape environmental art design, project planning, evaluation and management, as well as the researches on the history of landscape architecture.
The teaching program of landscape architecture is divided into two parts: basic teaching and landscape major teaching.
The basic teaching is built on the basis of architecture and art. After two years of rigorous training, we strive to ensure that students have a solid design foundation and open and innovative design thinking. Moreover, they will have basic design capabilities, aesthetic qualities and aesthetic capabilities. The Department of Basic Courses is divided into five teaching units: basic modeling, preliminary design, basic construction, performance and theory. The first-year teaching focuses on the training of space shaping ability, basic skills and professional techniques, as well as the improvement of modeling ability and the cultivation of certain aesthetic qualities; the second-year teaching focuses on the training of preliminary design ability and the understanding of basic issues concerning architecture. Meantime, some theoretical courses and courses on construction technology are provided to enrich the students' professional knowledge and equip them with certain learning and research capabilities.
Landscape major teaching is divided into two stages. In the first stage, courses on design are the core, combined with courses on historical theory, engineering technology and general professional education. At the same time, apart from fully developing the students’ professional knowledge and skills, their artistic creativity will be stimulated. In the second stage, studio teaching and practical education will be the core. The initiative of supervisor will be given full play and individualized will be emphasized.
