Required documents for admission

The composition of the documents may vary depending on the educational institution and the content of the program (urban planning, design, architecture, construction management, civil engineering). What is usually included in the list of required documents?

·         Motivation letter. As for admission to any other specialty, the applicant must justify their desire to study at a particular university in the chosen program and describe their career and educational plans. If you have problems with writing such a paper, ask to write my essay cheap on the writing service. You will receive an essay sample that you can use as a template while writing your motivation letter.

·         Bachelor’s degree diploma. If you have not yet graduated from the university at the time of application, you can provide a certificate of the expected graduation date. Some universities may also set minimum requirements for GPA and high marks in major subjects. For example, to enter the Delft University of Technology, you must have a score of at least 4 out of 5.

·         Grading transcript. If the applicant has not yet graduated from the university at the time of application, they can provide a transcript with grades for previous semesters of study.

·         Results of the international language exam (for foreigners). Most Master’s programs are taught in English, so applicants must provide an IELTS certificate (with a score of at least 6.0-6.5) or TOEFL (with a score of at least 90). If the program is taught in another foreign language, the applicant will need to take a test or take a language course in the first year of study.

·         Resume. When applying, not only academic success can be taken into account, but also professional experience in the chosen field.

·         Letters of recommendation.

·         Portfolio (on some programs).

·         GRE test (required in some universities in the USA, Canada, and European countries).

What is the GRE test?

The Graduate Record Examination is a standardized computer-based test that measures a student’s academic ability. The exam includes tasks in algebra, geometry, and data analysis. In addition, the test-taker must write an essay and demonstrate their ability to argue, as well as critical thinking.

What does a portfolio consist of?

The standard portfolio includes several projects prepared individually or as part of a working group. For example, at the ETH Zurich, when applying for an architectural direction, you need to upload three projects, each of which must indicate the name, inclusion in the city scale, facades, addresses, context documentation, architectural solution, layout, visualization, technical aspects, details, photos of models.

Why getting a Master’s degree in construction is great

Many universities offer different programs, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Many students who complete the first stage of education choose to continue their education and get a Master’s degree. Master’s programs in construction often allow you to move to a related field or to get a narrower specialty. Moreover, holders of a Master’s degree, on average, receive higher salaries, also due to the fact that they can hold certain administrative positions.

What directions exist?

Many universities offer not only general programs such as architecture and construction but also many interdisciplinary areas related to design, management, and urban planning. Students can choose different educational tracks and build individual career trajectories. Bachelor’s graduates can use this opportunity and get an additional modern specialty, which is in demand all over the world.

What previous education is required?

Previous education requirements may vary by university. Consider the example of Politecnico di Milano.

1.    Architecture & Urban Design: Bachelor of Arts in architecture.

2.    Civil Engineering: Bachelor of Science in civil engineering.

3.    Landscape Architecture: Bachelor of Arts in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, environmental design, forestry and agriculture, or environmental sciences.

4.    Management of Built Environment: Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, building management, architecture, or architectural engineering.

Top universities in construction

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

This institute, located in the USA, is the leader in the World University Rankings in the field of architecture and construction. The educational institution offers several specialized master’s programs.

University College London

University College London has an excellent reputation among employers. The Faculty of Civil Engineering offers applicants four combined Master’s and Ph.D. programs. Applicants must have a Master’s degree, and for applicants with professional or research experience, a Bachelor’s degree is sufficient.

Delft University of Technology

This university is the oldest educational institution in its field in the Netherlands. Master’s programs are aimed at urban construction and development.

ETH Zurich

This is one of the best universities in Switzerland and around the world. The university is ranked 6th in the world and 4th in architecture and construction programs in the QS rankings. At the master’s level, there are general and specialized programs.

Harvard University

This university needs no introduction, as it is one of the leading universities in the world. At the Harvard School of Design, students study areas such as architecture, urban planning & design, design engineering, and landscape architecture. Among the graduates of the school are many famous architects, as well as Sean Donovan, former US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

National University of Singapore

The National University of Singapore is the oldest institution in the country. It offers the largest number of programs. Master’s programs in the field of construction are considered the best in Asia.

University of California, Berkeley

This university, located in the United States, is the oldest public university in the state of California. Several interdisciplinary programs are available for applicants, thanks to which students can gain comprehensive knowledge about architecture, management, law, design, and the environment. Choosing the right educational path after getting a Bachelor’s degree in construction or architecture can be difficult, as each institution’s specific requirements must be considered. In addition, you need to prepare a large number of different documents, avoiding errors in execution. However, it is possible to get a Master’s degree with the required knowledge and desire.

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The essential trends in home design for 2023

Sustainable and eco-friendly materials

Sustainable and eco-friendly materials are becoming increasingly popular in home design. Here are a few ways that these materials are being incorporated:

• Bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource for flooring, furniture, and cabinetry.
• Cork is a natural material that is durable, versatile, and eco-friendly. It is often used for flooring, wall tiles, and bulletin boards.
• Recycled materials such as glass, metal, and plastic are used for flooring, countertops, and other surfaces.
• Natural stones such as granite, marble, and quartz are used for countertops and flooring because they are durable and have a low environmental impact.
• Low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints are used because they have a lower environmental impact and are healthier for indoor air quality.

Minimalism

Minimalism is a popular trend in home design that emphasizes simplicity, clean lines, and neutral color palettes. Here are a few ways that minimalism is being incorporated into homes:

• Minimalism is characterized by clean lines, emphasizing functionality over ornamentation. Furniture and decor are kept to a minimum, emphasizing simplicity and elegance.
• Neutral colors such as white, black, and beige are popular in minimalist design. These colors create a calming and tranquil environment and provide a blank canvas that can be easily accessorized with colorful accents.
• Minimalism often involves open spaces, emphasizing natural light and a lack of clutter. Rooms are kept uncluttered and free of excess decor, creating a sense of calm and tranquility.
• Minimalist design often uses simple materials such as wood, concrete, and glass to create a clean, modern aesthetic. These materials are durable and low maintenance, making them ideal for homes with a minimalist design.

Outdoor living spaces

One can add a lot to the coziness of any space by making it engaging to stay and spend time even when it comes outdoors! Thus, outdoor living spaces are becoming increasingly popular in home design:

• Covered patios provide shade and shelter, making them ideal for outdoor entertaining.

They can be designed to match the home’s aesthetic and often include comfortable furniture, lighting, and heating.

• Outdoor kitchens are becoming more popular, allowing homeowners to cook and entertain outside. These kitchens often include a grill, sink, refrigerator, and storage and can be designed to match the home’s aesthetic.
• Outdoor fireplaces are a popular addition to outdoor living spaces. They provide warmth and ambiance and can be designed to match the style of the home.
• Outdoor entertainment areas are becoming more popular, with the addition of features such as a television, sound system, and comfortable seating. These areas are ideal for hosting outdoor events, watching sports, or enjoying a movie under the stars.
• Landscaping is an essential aspect of outdoor living spaces. Homeowners incorporate beautiful plants, trees, and water features into their outdoor areas to create a lush, inviting environment.

Bold accent walls

Bold accent walls are becoming a popular trend in home design. An accent wall is a wall in a room that is painted or finished differently from the other walls, used to create a focal point or to add interest to a space. Here are a few ways that bold accent walls are being incorporated into homes:

• Statement wallpapers are a popular way to create a bold accent wall. Homeowners choose bold patterns and bright colors to add interest to a space.
• Bright colors such as red, blue, and green create bold accent walls. These colors provide a pop of color and add personality to a space.
• Unique textures are a blast! Designers consider unique textures such as brick, stone, and wood perfect to create accent walls. These textures add depth and interest to a space and provide a warm and inviting feel.
• Wall art can make a lot of difference in design. Wall art is being used to create bold accent walls. Large pieces of art can serve as a focal point and add interest to a space.

Afterall

There is an increasing demand for homes that are energy efficient and use sustainable materials such as bamboo, cork, and recycled materials. By incorporating bold accent walls into their homes, homeowners can add personality and interest to a space and create a visual impact that is both striking and beautiful. By adding minimalism to a home design concept, one can make a calming, functional, and timeless space.

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The topography of the site was designed to maximize the use of the existing semi-flat surfaces as outdoor living spaces, with key functional, circulation and soil stabilization elements installed between the retaining walls. Full access to the house, from residents to staff, is through this “topographic pedestal,” which slowly reveals the surrounding landscape through winding passageways adapted to the original topography. The distribution of all technical and service areas is also carried out through the basement, including parking, laundry, etc., which allows centralized management of all systems and constantly monitor their efficiency. It also has some facilities related to active recreation, such as a gym and a sauna.

The main public and living areas of the house are located on this basement in a glass and granite volume that, when viewed from the garden, resembles a garden pavilion. Its slender, curved roof (“wing”) extends far beyond it, providing important environmental protection in the living and dining areas. Its large glass panels slide completely inside the walls that enclose the volume under the “wing”, allowing the interior space to fully open to the outside and turn into one wide veranda. The glass panels have automated casings that roll down to control natural light and temperature. Wooden walls that enclose each edge of this volume enclose more secluded spaces, the home office and kitchen. The private portion of the house, where the bedrooms and suites are located, is housed in a granite volume perpendicular to the “wing.” Its granite facade and smaller windows provide a more intimate view of the garden while maintaining the privacy of the bedrooms. A separate unit that connects to the main house through the garden was designed as a guest house and covered dining area with a small kitchen and barbecue area.

The exterior walls of the basement are made of pigmented concrete. The upper volume is made of galvanized steel construction with plasterboard clad in Freijo and Cumaru wood native to Brazil. The curved roof is a table made of steel and concrete slabs with waterproofing over thermoformed film. The interior floors are made of 0.3×3-meter pieces of cumaru, and the outdoor areas are covered with gray granite mined locally. The social areas of the house are surrounded by large sliding panels of 18mm laminated glass with minimalist aluminum profiles. The entire infrastructure is centrally controlled for performance and distributed around the periphery of the concrete basement, allowing easy access for maintenance, hidden from residents and guests.

Name: House Wing (Casa Asa)
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Architecture: Bernardes Arquitetura
Construction: 2018
Total square footage: 3385 m2

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Feng Shui also played an important role in determining design elements such as the circular elevator and the slope of the front door. The site is located on a busy street in Cluny, across from the entrance to the botanical garden. From the road, the site rises steeply to a platform many meters above road level. Thus, vehicular access to the site was difficult and was a determining factor in the design. To minimize the mismatch between first floor platform level and road level, it was decided to enter at basement level, and to create an easy and spacious entrance to the basement, the yard was flooded with a landscaped pond with a waterfall to form a connection to nature. Even adopting this strategy meant that the driveway had to be winding and steep.

Because of the highly elevated nature of the site and the prominent location of the building above the road, the authors decided to make it light and “float” by using large consoles of thin elements, reducing the visible mass of the building from the road. The attic floor was an all-steel structure with an aluminum roof that also supports a large number of photovoltaic elements.

Name: Botanica House
Location: Singapore
Architecture: Guz Architects
Construction: 2018
Square footage: 1308 m2

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We see landscape architecture. Two retaining walls follow the contour, slightly distorting the ground to form a courtyard with a garage and maintenance services. A curved passageway, like an architectural walkway, opens up this courtyard and the entrance to the house. There we get inside through a gap in the second retaining wall. With its back to the north, hidden from the neighbors, the house has a quiet view of the lake. The local rules required for a pitched roof contain a limitation that the architects used to define the shelter of the house using five gables instead of two. This connection of the top and crease on the main facade allowed the single-family home to enjoy unique views during the day.

The first floor is divided into two wings: the common areas and the owners’ private suite. Upon entering, guests first see the lake and then turn left, where they enter the open kitchen and dining room. The views then expand through this interior promenade as the floor goes down, with double height appearing over the living room at the final end. On the other side, the master bedroom with bathroom and home office provide the occupants with privacy and views to the southwest. Natural light sprinkles the entire first floor through a continuous ridge between the walls and the roof. Climbing to the top floor, you reach a landing with a large common terrace that shares two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms for children or guests.

On the facades, the materials emphasize the organic look of the house. Brick on the walls and clay tiles covering the roof make everything look earthy. The use of untreated, oiled oak for the window frames emphasizes these earthy tones, which enhance the warmth and connection to the landscape. Eco-friendliness also defined the project. The south-facing house shelters residents on windy days. Its large openings warm the interior naturally most of the year, and the terrace covering protects the interior from summer heat. A tall brick wall increases thermal inertia on the north façade, and a narrow strip of upstairs windows provides cross ventilation. The house also has a geothermal heating system. On top of that, the hills of the courtyard with adjacent land were built. This construction avoided the transportation and disposal of the excavated soil.

Name: House by the Lake
Location: Lake Geneva, Switzerland
Architecture: FdMP Architectes
Construction: 2019
Total surface area: 434 m2

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The functional program is designed for parents and their daughters living in the same house, with each “apartment” maintaining its own privacy and its own garden. The house is built on the ground with the idea of becoming part of the landscape itself, creating volumes of concrete that make up the transitional spaces and their different atmospheres. These spaces are arranged around the two open portions of the house, the living room and bedrooms, overlooking the valley and the creek.

The concept of the house is a reinterpretation of the three-nave structure of the traditional Catalan farmhouse (Masia), combining a concrete structure and a central nave with steel beams. The concrete walls are inspired by rural buildings: pine scaffolding was used as formwork for the concrete walls, simulating their rough texture. These walls will eventually come into perfect harmony with the landscape and will be painted to match the color of the ground on which they were built.

Name: MM House
Location: Montagut-i-Os, Spain
Architecture: Atheleia Arquitectura
Construction: 2019
Total square footage: 370 m2

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