Archival
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 1958
- Employees
- N/A
- Offices
- 2
About Archival
The Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore provides architectural education and research across architecture, landscape architecture, urban design and the built environment. Part of the College of Design and Engineering, it combines design studio teaching with research into sustainable, climate-resilient environments, particularly those of high-density Asian cities in the tropics.
Established in 1958 at Singapore Polytechnic, the school transferred to the University of Singapore in 1969 and subsequently became part of NUS. Its teaching and research connect architectural design and theory with questions of urban ecology, heritage conservation, adaptive reuse and environmental performance.
Education and research
The department offers undergraduate programmes in architecture and landscape architecture, alongside professional master's programmes in both disciplines. Its postgraduate provision also includes architectural conservation, integrated sustainable design, urban design and urban planning, as well as master's and doctoral research degrees. These programmes span the design of individual buildings, landscapes and wider urban systems.
Research activities include climate simulation, material testing, architectural conservation and high-density Asian urbanism. Computational thinking, parametric modelling, digital fabrication and physical prototyping support its design and research capabilities. Its work addresses both new construction and the conservation and adaptation of existing buildings and urban heritage.
The department operates from NUS's Kent Ridge campus in Singapore and maintains an offshore research and teaching facility in Melaka, Malaysia. The latter supports study of Asian architectural and urban heritage through conservation research and engagement with historic buildings.
Exhibitions and public engagement
Student exhibitions and publications provide a public platform for graduating design work. The annual school-wide exhibition series, previously titled ArchiVAL and now presented as AkiVAL, showcases projects across architecture and landscape architecture. A separate Master of Architecture graduation exhibition presents postgraduate design theses, extending the department's educational work into public discussion of architecture, cities and the environment.
More about Archival
Leadership
Provost’s Chair Professor Jeffrey Hou was appointed Head of Department in 2024 and is identified in the research as its current head.
Research infrastructure
Named research groups include the Urban Climate Design Lab, the Tropical Renewable Architecture Design Lab (SkyTimber™) and the Architectural Conservation Laboratory (ArCLab).
Student collaboration
The Architecture Society co-curates the department's annual school-wide exhibition, giving the affiliated student society a formal role in presenting graduating work.
Institutional milestone
In 2000, the department was restructured within the School of Design and Environment, preceding its current placement in the College of Design and Engineering.
Notable credits
5 creditsOffices
Where Archival is based
- Singapore
Singapore offices
HeadquartersAbout this office
**Department Office** Status: active Headquarters Address: SDE1 #03-01, 4 Architecture Drive, Singapore 117566 Phone: +65 6516 8736 / +65 6516 5405 Department headquarters at Kent Ridge Campus; the wider studio and laboratory complex also includes SDE3. --- **SDE4** Status: active Address: 8 Architecture Drive, SDE4 #04-03, Singapore 117356 Net-zero energy building forming part of the department's studio and laboratory complex at Kent Ridge Campus.
- 54–56 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, 75200 Melaka, MalaysiaMelaka, Malaysia
Tun Tan Cheng Lock Centre for Asian Architectural and Urban Heritage
Directly administered offshore research facility, teaching outpost and conservation centre.
Open roles
Find your next role at Archival