Hey there, i´ve found out about this new masterprogramm called `SPACE´ and I think it´s pretty innovative and sounds really interesting. It´s at the Zollverein School in Essen, Germany and is meant to be a 16 months post-professional programm in architectural design. It´s a brand new course of studies which will start in october 2007.

I came across it while searching for a master course that does not stick with the classical centre of architectural or design training and this one actually seems to suit my vision. The course is said to focus on the fringes and the `space´ architecture, politics, culture and society. In my opinion that is exactly what most of the other courses are missing.

The list of lecturers is amazing, it includes, among other: Ben Van Berkel (UN Studio), Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA), Reinier de Graaf (AMO/OMA), Anne Lacaton + Jean Philippe Vassal (Lacaton+Vassal), Patrick Schumacher (Zaha Hadid Architects), Duncan Lewis (Scape), Momoyo Kaijima + Yoshiharu Tsukamoto (Atelier Bow Wow), Bjarke Ingels (BIG, former Plot), and many more.

Not less spectacular than the team of lecturers is the Zollverein School itself. The imposing new building is the first design by Japanese architects Kazuyo Seijima and Ryue Nishizawa (SANAA) to be built in Europe. I´ve been there for it´s opening and was so impressed.

`SPACE´ seems to be a great opportunity for postgraduate students, maybe you want to chek out their site: www.zollverein-school.com

Ok, the winners of the prestigious Presidents Medal have just been announced. You can find them at:

www.presidentsmedals.com

This is the UK award for outstanding students, I would love to see links for any similar websites from other countries.

For those new to the presidents medal, (the description is on the web site, and does the whole thing more justice then I ever could) the basic thing is the top two students projects from 3rd year (Part 1) and 6th year (Part 2) from each school in the UK are eligible to be put forward for the various awards (Sergent drawing award, over all winner etc.). There are also awards for the best dissertation (this applies to Part 2 only).

Now whatever you think of the kind of projects that all ways seem to win the award, you have to admit that a quick look round the quality of the stuff of this site really makes you want to put a bit more effort in to the way your studies are going. I don't think it's a coincidence that the winners are announced in the long winter months!

Any way blog those links.

Hello dear easa folk, I would like to ask all of you for a favour. I'm doing some research for Volume, an international architecture magazine. What we are trying to find out is where the portals and meeting places on the web are for architects, designers, artists and student. Like in Holland the main architecture portal is www.archined.nl and in the US it is www.archinect.com I would like to know from every country around the world (and to begin with in Europe) what your Architecture Web Portal is. From Russia to Spain and from Palastine to Azerbedjan. The results will be made public again (If you give me some good help of course) on the web. Please leave your comments to this post, with the URL of the website in question! Volume magazine website is www.archis.org

thank you all very much, greets, Edwin