Housing Architecture and Urban Development Program
Overview
Globally, over 50% of the population lives in urban areas; and moving towards urbanization is accelerating. As urban populations grow, the housing -with related services and spaces- gap will widen, exacerbating inequality and threatening the traditional view of cities as reliable drivers of economic growth. Though providing affordable, adequate and secure housing environment is a basic human need, housing provision persists a key urban challenge worldwide. The Housing Architecture and Urban Development (HAUD) program aims at preparing architects and urban planners specialized in housing and the built environment design for sustainable urban development. Graduates go on to obtain professional degrees in architectural engineering with specialization in housing and urban development.
The program focuses on the technical, aesthetic, cultural and social components of design different city elements specially housing and public buildings, while incorporating cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and 3D printing into the design and implementation process. It equips graduates with the necessary competencies to understand housing markets and real estate development, and to utilize advanced digital tools including Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) for spatial data analysis and informed decision-making. Graduates will acquire in-depth knowledge of housing typologies, housing policies, finance, legislation, and management, along with the ability to produce comprehensive architectural documentation using digital design technologies. The program emphasizes the integration of social, economic, and environmental considerations with physical aspects to create smart, sustainable cities, while introducing contemporary industry practices such as IoT-based smart housing, urban projects employing AI for urban analytics, and applications of 3D printing in construction.
The mission of the Housing Architecture and Urban Development Engineering program is to prepare distinguished architectural engineers and urban planners capable of keeping pace with global technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, IoT, and digital transformation in the construction industry. Graduates will understand housing and real estate markets from a sustainable perspective using digital analytics tools, and will gain expertise in land and real estate management through big data platforms. This is achieved through creative thinking that leverages smart environment management using urban simulation tools, while considering aesthetic and functional dimensions through computer-aided design technologies. Program graduates are characterized by their adoption of modern learning methods employing virtual and augmented reality in design, appropriate technologies such as IoT in smart facility management, and the integration of theory with practice through digital fabrication labs and applications of 3D printing in construction. The program is therefore based on the following intentions:
PM1. To enhance the students’ awareness of some sciences beyond their general specialization sciences, especially which are related to human sciences, real estate and business to enhance their social involvement.
PM2. To equip students with the required basic knowledge of basic sciences, engineering sciences, architectural sciences and environmental sciences. In addition to, enhancing the student’s interpersonal skills to understand, coordinate with, and lead other engineering disciplines related to the architectural profession;
PM3. To Enhance the creativity and critical thinking abilities of students;
PM4. To augment the intellectual capacity to develop ecofriendly architectural and urban designs based on scientific research, technological innovation, and sustainability; and
PM5. To prepare students to acquire the individual skills and ethics required for long-term learning and competent professional practice.
The main goal of the "Housing Architecture and Urban Development” engineering program is to qualify its graduates of necessary competencies that enable them to perform the following:
PA1. Lead the profession market of housing architecture and urban development and formulate housing policies from a sustainable environmental perspective on the national and regional scale, in addition to highly compete on the international scale.
PA2. Develop Architectural and Urban designs that respond to the socio-economic challenges as well as to be environmentally responsive.
PA3. Work continuously on their self-motivation and be excellency seekers.
Accordingly, HAUD graduate can be characterized by being GRAD-I which means being Global, Resilient, Accountable, Digital Ready and Innovator.