UNStudio collaborates with IE University on business masters for architecture and design

Martha Thorne of IE School of Architecture and Design and UNSTudio founder Ben van Berkel

Source: IE School of Architecture and Design

Martha Thorne of IE School of Architecture and Design with UNStudio founder Ben van Berkel

IE School of Architecture and Design has launched what it says is the world’s first master-in-business programme for architecture and design to be offered by a higher-education institution.

The Spanish business-oriented school has worked with Dutch architecture practice UNStudio on the programme, which it said was designed to fill a gap between understanding of building design and necessary knowledge of other fields required for architects to be effective across industries.

The one-year programme has elements in Amsterdam – where UNStudio has its head office – and Madrid, and involves online coursework.

UNStudio founder Ben van Berkel said the design-entrepreneurship collaboration agreement with IE would help the business – and it technology-focused sister company UNSense – benefit in the areas of design entrepreneurship, teaching and research.

“We believe that the key to ‘future-proofing the future’ is knowledge,” he said. “For the last decade, we have focused on expanding our understanding of trends and practice in architecture and beyond.”

He added UNStudio and UNSense would actively participate in the development of IE’s “venture discovery workshops”, along with teaching activities.

IE’s MBArch took in its first students earlier this month.