As one of the oldest faculties within University of Belgrade (the first architecture study programme was introduced in 1846), we are the leading school for studies in architecture and urbanism in the region for 170 years running. Today the Faculty of Architecture has a great tradition and reputation, and its presence gives an unusual mix of strengths from which to incubate new programmes that bring architecture and urbanism together with arts and humanities. The school is divided into three departments: Architecture, Urbanism and Architectural Technology with a large full-time faculty and general staff supporting professional growth and progress.
OUR VISION AND PRINCIPLES
As one of the leading academic institutions in Serbia and the region, the Faculty of Architecture is striving towards:
- Developing a strategy to increase and disseminate knowledge of architecture and urbanism in the fields of education, research and organization.
- Creating well-trained professionals, fully qualified according to the highest professional standards in the field of architecture and urban planning, who are socially responsible in contributing to the development of Serbia and the region and promote the highest social, economic and cultural values.
- Establishing a platform for innovations in architecture and urban planning compliant with the highest international standards and aligned with the educational standards in the EU.
The Faculty of Architecture is committed to upholding freedom of research, fostering intellectual and scientific thought, strengthening trans-national and regional scientific cooperation and collaborative work on the discourses on architecture and urbanism in the context of contemporary trends.
HISTORY OF THE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE
The earliest steps in the history of teaching architecture in Serbia can be traced back to the first half of the 19th Century. Among many other subjects on the curriculum, the Department of Philosophy of the Lyceum offered a single course in this field titled Civil Architecture, which was almost certainly of a general educational nature.
The Regulation of the Faculty of Engineering passed in 1935 introduced a number of changes to the Architecture Department. In addition to the new teaching curriculum, it defined students’ responsibilities related to graphic papers, sitting of examinations, entry examination and final professional examination. The Regulation provided for the establishment of the Assembly of Teachers of closed disciplines, the forerunner of today’s Departments, as well as bureaus and cabinets.
During World War II, the work of the Architecture Department stagnated. After the War, the building was restored to a functional condition and lectures were resumed in August 1945. The Faculty of Engineering was spun off from the University at the end of 1948 and transformed into the Technical School with six independent faculties, one of which was the Faculty of Architecture. The curriculum relied on the pre-war courses structure, but numerous changes were set afoot, albeit at a different pace depending on the department and the type of study courses.
The Technical School was abolished in 1954 and the Faculty of Architecture as an autonomous institution became a part of the University of Belgrade. Since then, is has undergone numerous internal changes and teaching reforms to date, but the integrity of the only educational institution in the field of architecture in Belgrade has been preserved.
A conclusion that can be drawn from this brief and concise historical overview of higher education in architecture is that the path chosen from the very beginning has been a gradual one, starting with the introduction of one course and the progressively expanding the programme, and in the process educating not only architects, but also the society at large to follow and accept new architectural forms, styles and facilities.
LEARNING BY DESIGN - DESIGN STUDIO CULTURE
The teaching and learning process at the University of Belgrade – Faculty of Architecture is structured around Design Studio Culture.
Design based curriculums, increasing yearly in complexity, comprise the majority of study programs. Through practical experience and a project based learning system linked with a wide variety of theoretical and research oriented modules, students are prepared for contemporary professional practice. Study programs are delivered by a pool of teachers with backgrounds in both practice and research, to ensure the balance between theoretical and practical aspects of the education. Some of the leading positions at the Faculty of Architecture are held by teachers with a proven professional record of built projects in the region. Their experience and understanding of the building industry and legislation is an important aspect connecting study programs with the modern professional practice. At the same time, the Faculty of Architecture actively participates in scientific research projects enabling the continuous opportunity for new knowledge, offered through study programs and introduced into professional practice by future graduates. With a one hundred and seventy year tradition, the University of Belgrade – Faculty of Architecture has been the focal point of development, promotion and dissemination of architectural knowledge in the region.
Graduates are thus prepared equally well for the professional practice in the region and in other parts of the world. The education they receive at the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade provides them with an excellent foundation for further education abroad and a launching pad for a successful career the world over.
The Faculty’s good organization, tradition, and keeping-up with trends make it a driver leading to yet more experimental and innovative ways for the students and teachers at the Faculty to think envision and design the built environment.
The Faculty is strongly devoted to establishing an academic and creative working environment which encourages professionalism and intellectual exchange and demonstrates the breadth, depth, and quality of our educational offerings. Confirmation comes from numerous successful students and graduates, often achieving enviable results domestically and abroad. Our graduates are known for their general and professionally profiled knowledge enabling successful employment in various fields of architectural practice.