A R C H I T E C T U R E S c h o o l o f A r c h i t e c t u r e, P l a n n i n g a n d G e o m a t i c s University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701 Room 4.27, Centlivres Building, University Avenue, Upper Campus Tel: +27 (0) 21 650 3705 Fax: +27 (0) 21 650 2383 Internet: www.apg.uct.ac.za
What does an Architect do? she/he designs buildings she/he designs spaces inside and outside of buildings she/he makes pieces of cities she/he does interior design she/he does graphic design she/he designs furniture/crockery/cutlery etc. she/he manages projects she/he is duty-bound to work in the interests of the client AND society at large she/he is able to envision a more positive future she/he is able to solve problems creatively she/he is able to bring together a range of disparate factors to provide a singular solution for example: Site and climatic conditions; The Social and Political context; The Client s needs; Being an Architect requires being able to think creatively requires being able to think rationally requires a social conscience draws on intuitive thinking requires long hours of work requires tenacity, passion, dedication, conviction and strength Societal needs; Historical relevance; Technically proficient proposals; etc.
Graduate opportunities PhD Doctor of Philosophy M.Sc Property Economics M.Sc Project Management MPhil Housing MArch (Prof) Masters of Architecture (Professional) MArch Masters of Architecture (Research) MPhil Masters of Philosophy MCPUD Masters of City Planning and Urban Design MLA Masters of Landscape Architecture MCRP Masters of City and Regional Planning BSc (Hons) Construction Management BSc (Hons) Construction Studies Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Honours) BAS (Hons) Bachelor of Architectural Studies [BAS] Hons B.Sc Hons B.A.
Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS)
BAS: 3 year undergraduate degree A professional degree leading to registration with the South African Council for the Architectural Profession as a Senior Architectural Technologist A foundation degree leading to Masters degrees in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design and Planning (applications to these is by portfolio and good undergrad academic results) Design and Theory Studio is the basis of the course along with Technology which is the second core course. Other support subjects such as History and Theory of Architecture, Representation, Structures, Environment & Services, Management Practice and Law an intensive course requiring lots of dedication, time and input a popular course: over 500 applicants for 65 places we recommend you apply to lots of universities and universities of technology
Most teaching occurs through discussion and one on one teaching; Students are required to produce drawings and models throughout the course; Students learn how to present their ideas and proposals verbally AND visually; Design projects include: Buildings Landscape designs / interventions Conceptual projects Furniture Photo: Typical teaching and learning scenario: Two highly trained Lecturers are discussing a students work with her. Competitions
Photo: Typical teaching and learning scenario: Pin-up presentations, with immediate and individual feedback and discussions are an everyday part of the student experience.
Photo: Typical teaching and learning scenario: Many of the projects set for students are on real sites around the city. Organized site visits are part of this process.
Photo: Typical teaching and learning scenario: Field trips to small towns around the Western Cape, and Architectural tours of the country and continent are also part of the Architectural student s experience.
Group projects are one of the ways students learn to put ideas together. The crafting of Architecture, and the making of things is part of this process too. Students building conceptual installations in their studio.
Students make regular use of the Workshop. Teaching with discussion is an integral part of the process in the Design Studio, where each students has a board and a desk and locker of their own.
HOW TO APPLY Bachelor of Architectural Studies (BAS)
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS will have been selected on THREE things: 1. The submitted portfolio which includes drawing work, creative exercises and a written motivation. 2. NSC scores 3. NBT scores A BAS application grade (of 100%) is made up of NSC + NBT = 50% Portfolio = 50% Applicants are ranked, the highest ranking applicants are successful. Special consideration is made for a number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds who show talent, but have not had the privileges of other students due to the legacy of Apartheid.
The BAS application score is thus: 1. All percentages obtained for 6 NSC subjects (excluding Life Orientation) are added and then divided by 24, to get a sub-total out of 25. 2. All three percentages obtained on the NBT are added together getting a total out of 300, and then divided by 12 to get a sub-total out of 25 3. The NSC and NBT points are added together to get a subtotal out of 50. 4. The PORTFOLIO is marked out of 50. 5. The portfolio score (max. 50) is added to the academic scores (max. 50) and a BAS application score is obtained as a percentage out of 100. 6. NOTE: Extra credit is given for any post-matric study. Please include certified copies of all transcripts and academic results obtained since matriculation. 7. NOTE: Applicants who have only done Maths Literacy will not be considered.
A. DRAWING 1. Choose a manufactured object: e.g. an object of any size and in any condition (new or in a state of decay). Draw the object as you see it. DO NOT DRAW THE OBJECT FROM A PHOTOGRAPH. Make an effort to show the special quality of the object, e.g. its roughness or its smooth softness, manufactured property, etc. You may use any technique to draw it. Use A4 paper (210 x 297mm the size of this sheet). 2. Draw a portrait of an elderly person in his or her favourite place this should be a real person who you know, and a real place. Use any drawing technique and A4 size paper. Again, draw by direct observation NOT FROM A PHOTOGRAPH. Do not be intimidated by these exercises if you have never drawn before, take your time and draw the object and portrait many times and include all of your sketches, the rough ones as well as the final one in your portfolio. You should never send in your first attempt at drawing something, always practice and send all your rough attempts as well as the one you think is the best you can do.
An example of a drawing of a manufactured object drawn by a successful applicant to the BAS Programme.
An example of a drawing of a manufactured object drawn by a successful applicant to the BAS Programme.
Examples of the Portraits of an Elderly person in their favourite place drawn by successful applicants to the BAS Programme.
B. DESIGN 3. Make a design for a pattern, which could be used - for example in the printing of fabric. The pattern should be based on the abstraction, repetition and/or manipulation of the manufactured object you selected for drawing exercise A1. Use A4 paper and any technique. Here we are looking for your creative ability to reinvent and reinterpret the forms, colours and/or textures of the object you drew and through abstraction, or repetition, or manipulation to design a pattern that is based on that object. Repetition is one technique, but it is not the only technique. Do some research on pattern making. As with every exercise in the portfolio, show us all your rough work, any research you may have done, and how and why you finally did what you did.
Examples of pattern generated from the drawing of the manufactured object drawn by the applicant who drew the corkscrew as her object (shown earlier).
Examples of pattern generated from the drawing of the manufactured object drawn by the applicant who drew the watch as her object (shown earlier).
4. Design and make a lamp or candle holder that inspires you. Pay careful attention to the material that your design would be made of as well as how it would be made. Make drawings that discuss the design and your ideas, as well as how to go about making the lamp or candle holder. Take care to include all your rough sketches as well as your final design. You may use A4 paper and any medium. Build the lamp using any material, paying careful attention to the joints and fixing mechanisms. You do not need to spend a lot of money on this (you may for example use recycled materials), the selection committee is looking for creativity and inventiveness, not access to expensive machinery or materials. Please DO NOT send any original models or your built lamps or candle holders. Please send photographs of your lamp or candle holder. Please remember to include all your rough and planning work. Do some research and include this as well. Remember your first idea is not always the best idea, show us how and what you considered and why you finally decided to make the lamp the way you did. Try to avoid literal recreations of things (eg. a hand, or a tree etc). Think about the purpose of giving light, and how you could provide light through your beautifully crafted and simple creation.
5. Design a poster advertising a significant event, exhibition or conference that reflects what you consider socially relevant. Carefully judge the information that needs to be communicated as well as the desired visual impact that you want to achieve. The poster must be on A3 paper (twice the size of this sheet - 420 x 297mm) and may be folded in half when sent in the post. Use any technique. Remember that this is a poster which needs to get its message across easily and simply, and needs to make an impact and be punchy. Limit the number of words on the poster, and consider whether or not you need text at all. Imagine you were sitting in a bus and saw your poster on a pole in the street, you would have seconds to get the idea of the poster. Think about colour carefully. Do research, and do rough sketches of your idea before the final one. As always, include all your work (rough and final). Here we are also wanting to see what you think is socially relevant pay attention to what you think would be a worthy cause.
Examples of posters drawn by successful applicants to the programme.
6. Using drawings only (i.e. no words) and any graphic technique you like, draw for a friend how to go on a journey from your house to your favourite local place. Use one sheet of A4 paper for this. PLEASE NOTE: 1. We are not asking for a map here we re looking for an inventive and creative way of explaining a route or journey, which has a starting point and a destination. 2. Since architects are in the business of making environments, you need to be aware of your environment ALL the time. We re looking for that quality in your journey. Show us that you are aware of the buildings, trees, natural elements, slopes, water, people and traffic around you. 3. Try to avoid showing us a series of roads there is so much more to our world than roads! 4. AVOID ALL symbols for example, instead of making a symbol for a BP or Engen petrol station, draw the building itself, or the spaces around it. 5. We are looking for indications of observations and considerations that are important to you you don t want us to think that all you notice in the world is fast food restaurants and petrol stations do you?
Examples of a journey drawn by successful applicants to the programme.
Include some or all of your preliminary work with each exercise but put it all together neatly and clearly.
Example of the preliminary work submitted for the applicant who drew the corkscrew.
C. MOTIVATION Include a one page written motivation in you portfolio giving your reasons for wanting to study in this programme SUPPLEMENTARY WORK You may also submit copies or photographs of any other creative work such as drawings, sketches, paintings, or made objects (e.g. ceramics, clothing, carpentry, jewellery, wirework, beadwork, etc.). Please do not submit copies of more than six such items. Do not submit any physical objects or bulky framed artwork. OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS Please include in your portfolio CERTIFIED copies of all your most recent academic school results. If you have studied anything after school, please include certified copies of all academic transcripts with your portfolio.
PLEASE NOTE The size of portfolio should NOT exceed A3 (420 x 297mm). The drawings should NOT be rolled up nor put into cylindrical containers. As all official documents, e.g. academic results and transcripts, are filed, please ensure that they can be removed from your work. Each loose section of your work must be clearly marked with your name. While the selection committee takes every care not to remove or damage any items, the University cannot be held responsible in any way for loss or damage to a whole or part of your work.
Summary of PORTFOLIO Application requirements a written motivation two drawing exercises four design exercises certified copies of all academic results and transcripts closing date for PORTFOLIO is 30 September for ALL applicants early applications are welcomed after 30 August Submit Form 8, the BAS application form, together with your portfolio, written motivation and all academic transcripts to: The BAS Secretary, School of Architecture, Planning & Geomatics, UCT, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701. If you send work by post please ensure that it is registered. If you deliver the portfolio, deliver it to Room 309 (reception), Centlivres Building, Upper Campus, UCT.
Selection process A committee of 3 Lecturers portfolios are graded out of 50 and added to school-leaving results and NBT results as points converted to a total out of 50 early offers are made based on preliminary matric results provided that final matric scores are at the same level or higher early offers are normally made in November (about 35-45 offers) those without early offers unfortunately have to wait until the first week of January when NSC results are released some 5 to 10 applicants might be placed on waiting list that could only be resolved in the first week of the academic year (last week of February) where there is equivalency, the committee will attempt to make selections based on establishing a diverse class which is essential to a rich studio learning experience for all
What the selection panel looks for: Motivation: This can be seen in the way in which you present your work as a whole, the degree of effort shown in the projects requested by the School - as well as in your written motivation. Design ability: Each piece of work is examined for its designed quality. Note that people with little experience in art or design are admitted where their work provides evidence of good observation, three dimensional awareness and careful consideration of the presentation of the portfolio, with good, hand-drawn lettering, careful paper selection, and careful organisation of the pages. Creative ability: This is an important factor. However, note that expertise in technical drawing or painterly ability alone is not highly considered. A sense of design or composition, an ability to observe accurately, an imaginative approach to subject matter, the stamina not to leave loose ends - these are all looked for in the work. Academic ability: Strong portfolios often show work that is motivated by strong and original ideas. This is more relevant to some of the portfolio tasks than others. Initiative: What often separates some applicants from others is an indication of people exploring or recording something for themselves, working because they are interested - not because they have to. This means that sketch explorations are as useful as finished works. Although supplementary work from school art or Technikon courses is often received, evidence of this independent initiative does not necessarily lie there.
Applying online: The online application system will be launched on Open Day. Applicants can use this online system at http://applyonline.uct.ac.za To use this system, the applicant must have an email address (one address per application) and an ID or passport number.
National Benchmark Tests NBT All applicants (resident in South Africa) will be required to undertake the National Benchmark Test in Mathematics; and Academic and Quantitative Literacy. The URL for the new NBT tests is: http://www.nbt.ac.za/ Click on Institutional Portal and you will find the Tests Dates Calendar and the NBT brochure. The two page brochure gives info on what the applicants need to bring to the test venue, what the tests are about, how to register to take the tests and the fees to be paid.
All applications INCLUDING portfolios to be submitted by 30 September