Englerstraße 7
Karlsruhe 76131
Germany
The KIT Department of Architecture
The history of the Department of Architecture dates back to the founding of the University of Karlsruhe in 1825. Since its inception, it has been closely intertwined with the development of the city and, today, with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).
The tradition of Karlsruhe’s Department of Architecture is reflected in numerous prominent names, from Friedrich Weinbrenner and Johann Gottfried Tulla to Heinrich Hübsch, Egon Eiermann, Fritz Haller, and Dieter Kienast. We see ourselves as part of this legacy—architects engaged in research and innovation.
Today, more than 20 professorships and a diverse academic staff ensure a practice-oriented and contemporary education for approximately 1,000 students. The department is structured into four institutes: Design, Art and Theory; Design and Building Technology; Urban and Landscape Design; and Art and Architectural History. These institutes offer a broad curriculum with opportunities for students to develop their own academic focus. Our teaching portfolio is enriched by international visiting professorships on a regular basis.
The curriculum encompasses a wide range of subjects, allowing students to pursue individual areas of interest. A distinctive feature is the integrated approach to teaching architecture and urban design, as well as close links to the degree programs in art history. The department offers both Bachelor’s and consecutive Master’s degree programs in Architecture and in Art History. A unique feature is the German-French double Master’s program “Building and Planning in an International Context,” conducted in cooperation with the École Nationale Supérieure de l’Architecture de Strasbourg (ENSAS).
As one of Germany’s most renowned architecture schools, the KIT Department of Architecture provides an excellent foundation for students pursuing either a professional or academic career, preparing them for evolving fields within the discipline.
Current challenges addressed by the department include resource scarcity, climate change and its ecological and socio-economic impacts, digital transformation, and the preservation of cultural heritage and regional identity. These issues are tackled in collaboration with leading universities in Germany and abroad.
