Mission and assumed principles

 

Mission

The Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism undertakes the mission of training graduates prepared to practice the profession of architect responsibly. We associate ourselves with the universal aspirations to meet the Sustainable Development Goals expressed by the United Nations. We follow the transposition in educational programs of the essential points formulated by the UIA-UNESCO Charter for Architecture Education, which are the basis for defining the competences of the architectural profession in the European Union and in the world. We adopt the generic exhortation of the consortium of European Technical Universities EUT+, of which we are a part: "Think Human First".  We focus on building through integrated theoretical and practical training the complete architect, able to understand and address the escalated challenges of the new era of the Anthropocene. Attention to society, nature and built heritage, personal space, community and cultural landscape is balanced through multiple, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives.  We are in permanent communication and collaboration with relevant faculties in Romania, EUT+, the European Union and the world. We partner with relevant representatives of the architectural profession and with organizations that assert common or converging goals, offering students practical and volunteering experiences throughout their training periods. We encourage cultural and scientific exchanges, teaching and placement mobilities within dedicated European programs and build programs within EUT+. We are building an active community of teachers, professionals and students capable of developing critical creative capabilities with direct links to local communities and their issues. We are focused on understanding and developing the relevance of the architectural profession and its fundamental mission to preserve existing values and create new values in harmony with them.
 
 
Brief history
 
Traces of the beginnings of architecture education in Cluj can be found at the Piarist University
where the study of Civil Architecture appeared (1776). It worked within the Industrial Technical School
Construction/Architecture Section (1884), followed by the School of Industrial Design (1887) and the School
Special Industrial of Architecture, Carpentry and Locksmithing (1892).
1970 is the year in which the Department of Architecture within the Polytechnic Institute of Cluj-
Napoca, with 3 years of studies, following a program identical to that of the Ion Institute of Architecture
Mincu, from Bucharest. Graduates obtained the diploma of conductor architect or continued their studies
at IAIM to become architects. In 1983 all three sections from Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara and
Iasi are abolished. In 1990, Architecture departments were re-established within the Faculties of
Constructions of the Technical Universities of Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara and Iași.
In 1998, the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism was born, which currently has
two departments and runs the Architecture study program.
The department and later the faculty were led by teaching staff from the academic community
:
 
1970-1983 associate professor of arch. Vasile Mitrea (vice dean/dean)
1990-1998 prof.em.dr.arch. Adriana Matei (head of department)
1998-2004 Prof. Dr. Arch. Mircea Sergiu Moldovan (dean)
2004-2012 prof.em.dr.arch. Adriana Matei (dean)
2012-2015 prof.em.dr.arch. Romulus Zamfir (dean)
2015 associate professor of arch. Gheorghe Vais (vice dean/interim dean)
2016-2020 Prof. Dr. Arch. Adrian Iancu (dean)
2020 associate professor of arch. Dana Opincariu (vice dean/interim dean)
2020- associate professor of arch. Şerban Șigănaș (dean)
 
During its operation, the following contributed to FAU's activity as vice-deans: Szabo Balint,
Nicolae Socaciu, Gheorghe Vais and Dana Opincariu. Departments functioned under
directed by Felicia Olariu, Virgil Vescan, Mihaela Ioana Agachi, Virgil Pop, Dorina Vlad and Vlad Sebastian Rusu. The FAU Secretariat was led
by Varvara Abrudan and Delia Todoruț.
In 2009, the FAU Doctoral School was established in consortium with the University of Bucharest, becoming
then IOSUD within UTCN. The field is coordinated by prof.dr.arch. Dana Vais.
The students from FAU formed AStA, the Association of Student Architects, one of the most active
organizations of this kind. AStA was founded by Tiberiu Bucșa and led by Rareș Drăgan,
Silviu Medesan, Adrian Pop, Mihai Racu, Răzvan Luca, Alexandru Vladovici, Darius Bogdan,
Hunor Bako, Martha Moroșan and Georgiana Condurachi
 
 
Program offer
 
  • The Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism runs the bachelor's and master's program integrated in
    architecture, for 6 years. After graduation, by obtaining the 360 credits and passing
    final exams, respectively the defense of the bachelor's thesis and the project of
    diploma, the architect diploma is awarded. This means obtaining the professional title of
    architect, recognized in the European Union.
    The doctoral courses of the IOSUD UTCN for the field of architecture operate within FAU,
    which ends with obtaining the title of Doctor of Architecture.
    FAU has two new programs under construction, an integrated bachelor's and master's program, for 6 years, in the language
    English and a 2-year master of urban planning.
FAU offers annual study and placement mobility through the ERASMUS program, with partners
institutional several universities throughout the European Union.
 
 
Department of Architecture
 
The Department of Architecture carries out the reception, the initiation into the study of architecture and the deepening
holistic approach to training as an architect through the disciplines of the Education Plan. Also,
the department offers packages of optional subjects in the areas covered.
The subject groups offered through the Architecture department are: Fundamental Design
or Fundamentals of Design, History and Theory of Architecture and Design, Representation, Ambient. Beside
they activate a working group fully dedicated to the Admission of FAU.
 
 
Department of Urbanism and Technical Sciences
 
The Department of Urban Planning and Technical Sciences carries out the technical and de
specialty and the interdisciplinary integration necessary for the advanced study of architecture through
the subjects of the Education Plan. The department also offers subject packages
electives from the fields covered.
The subject groups offered through the Department of Architecture and Technical Sciences are:
Interdisciplinary Design or Synthesis of Design, Urbanism and Urban Design and Disciplines
Fundamentals and Techniques. The department has an important contribution to the organization
final exams, especially the Diploma Project.
 
 
Result
 
The teaching and research achievements of FAU faculty, students and graduates
constitutes a large, ever-growing collection of recognized contributions to development
the field of architecture from a scientific and artistic perspective.
Scientific works supported and published at academic and professional conferences, courses and
the published books, the presence in architectural exhibitions and important public debates, the contributions
to the development of the legislative and normative framework in the field of architecture and constructions constitutes
a remarkable accumulated capital.
The winning projects of the national and international solution competitions and the works
awarded at the profile galas of teaching staff, students and the consistent number of alumni
are noted in Romania and internationally. Several 1st prizes of the Biennale sections
National Architecture Awards, several nominations for the European Union Architecture Awards
Mies van der Rohe, special prizes offered by the Registry of Urban Planners from Romania and the Ministry
of the Development of Public Works and Public Administration were acquired by members of
the FAU community.
Members of the FAU academic community have distinguished themselves through key positions held in organizations and
professional forums such as the Order of Romanian Architects, the Union of Romanian Architects,
  • The Registry of Urban Planners from Romania, the Council of Architects from Europe and the International Union a
    Architects.
    Two personalities of world architecture became Doctor Honoris Causa of UTCN: Dan
    Sergiu Hanganu (Canada) and Rafael de Saeger (Belgium).
    The most extensive events, some of which have become traditional, that bear the mark of the FAU community
    are the Architecture Days in Cluj-Napoca (2003-2015), the International Workshop and the conference
    Questions (since 2012), Someș Delivery (since 2014), the Annual Competition of Architecture Students
    - CASA (since 2010) and participation as partners in the Transilvania Architecture Biennale, BATRA,
    organized by the OAR.
    Currently FAU initiated and manages the Architecture Cluster within EUT+, where we collaborate with
    our colleagues from Dublin, Cartagena, Darmstadt and Riga. Fixed goals are heading towards
    mobility of students and teachers.