Master of Science [M.S] [Architecture and Planning Beyond Sustainability] From Chalmers University of Technology

Sustainable development is a political vision that entails huge challenges for social and technical innovation all over the world. It has consequences for?all professions, not least for urban planning, architectural design and the full complexity of societal development can be addressed and managed through design for sustainable development.

This programme Architecture and Planning Beyond Sustainability offered by?Chalmers University of Technology provides you with the skills?and methods valid?where design approaches are required. As a student, you are trained to find solutions that support sustainable development in a large variety of contexts and in dynamic situations. The perspective is holistic and systemic, comprising system levels and scales from urban structures, buildings and technical support systems to detailed construction elements. The programme is based on studios where real life situations and problems faced by society are handled in close contact with local stakeholders and actors.

The overall point of departure is the everyday life of people and the support of dignified lives and livelihoods in rapidly changing and sometimes extreme environments, through the development?and implementation of aesthetic, affordable, socially and culturally appropriate, energy and material efficient, healthy and user friendly design solutions.

Career opportunities

The education leads to a wide range of career opportunities within design and planning for sustainable development as a response to increasing awareness and commitment among both public and private actors. The global challenges of resource constraints and climate change open for new and extensive fields of professional practices.

Globally rapid urbanisation, poverty reduction and fair distribution of resources are key issues as manifested in the UN Millennium Development Goals. In Sweden the existing building stock, not least from the 1960s and 1970s, has to be reconstructed in ways that can address socio-economic segregation problems as well as deficient environmental performance in an integrated manner.

These challenges request a new generation of skilled design professionals that are able to work in cross-disciplinary expert teams and in close contact with local stakeholders.