Exploring the Intersection of Spatial Design, Aesthetics, and Cultural Expression
The Department of Architecture Art at Manhattan International University occupies the unique space between architectural practice and artistic creation. Our programs explore architecture as both functional habitat and cultural artifact, examining how built forms express cultural values, historical contexts, and artistic visions. We cultivate designers who can think critically about space, form, and materiality while understanding architecture’s profound impact on human experience and the urban landscape.

The curriculum integrates architectural history and theory with studio-based design exploration. Students study architectural drawing, digital modeling, physical model making, and material studies alongside courses in architectural history, phenomenology, and critical theory. The program encourages experimental approaches to spatial design while maintaining connection to practical considerations of structure, function, and environment. A distinctive focus is placed on the relationship between architecture and other art forms—sculpture, installation art, and performance.

Learning occurs primarily through the design studio, where students develop projects responding to complex urban and social contexts. Our London location serves as an extended classroom, with its rich architectural heritage and contemporary design scene providing endless case studies and inspiration. Gallery visits, artist talks, and collaborations with cultural institutions enrich the program. Graduates pursue careers as architectural designers, exhibition designers, set designers, architectural critics, or continue to professional architecture qualifications, bringing an artistic sensibility to spatial practice.