The LS Raheja School of Architecture offers a comprehensive Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) program, which is the primary undergraduate course spanning five years. This program is designed to equip students with foundational and advanced skills in architectural design, urban planning, and sustainable building practices. The curriculum emphasizes creative problem-solving, technical proficiency, and an understanding of socio-cultural contexts in architecture.
- Foundation Year: Introduces basic design principles, drawing techniques, and model-making. Students explore elements of art, color theory, and spatial composition through studio-based learning.
- Core Architectural Design Studios: Progress from small-scale residential projects to complex urban developments. Emphasis on site analysis, environmental integration, and innovative material use.
- Building Construction and Materials: Covers structural systems, construction technologies, and sustainable materials like green concrete and recycled composites. Practical workshops teach hands-on building techniques.
- History and Theory of Architecture: Surveys global architectural movements from ancient civilizations to contemporary trends, including Indian vernacular architecture and modernism.
- Urban Design and Planning: Focuses on city planning, landscape architecture, and public space design. Includes case studies on Mumbai's urban challenges like coastal regulation zones.
- Environmental and Sustainable Architecture: Teaches energy-efficient design, passive solar strategies, and LEED certification principles to address climate change impacts.
- Electives: Options in interior design, digital fabrication, computational design using tools like Rhino and Grasshopper, and heritage conservation.
- Professional Practice: Covers architectural ethics, project management, building codes, and internship requirements for real-world exposure.
The program integrates technology through courses on BIM (Building Information Modeling), parametric design, and VR simulations. Guest lectures from renowned architects and field trips to sites like Aga Khan Foundation projects enhance practical knowledge. Postgraduate options are limited, but the school supports research in emerging areas like smart cities and resilient infrastructure. Overall, the curriculum fosters holistic architects capable of contributing to India's growing urban landscape, blending tradition with innovation. With a focus on interdisciplinary collaboration, students engage in workshops with engineers and artists, ensuring a well-rounded education that prepares them for global challenges in the built environment. The school's emphasis on portfolio development and thesis projects in the final year culminates in capstone designs addressing real societal issues, such as affordable housing in Mumbai's slums.
