Resource Efficiency in Architecture and Planning (REAP)

The new Master of Science degree programme “Resource Efficiency in Architecture and Planning” aims to enable participants to promote sustainable urban development in different geographical and cultural settings. Its main emphasis lies on technology for the provision of urban and building services, yet it also investigates the socioeconomic context in which these services are provided and managed.

The Programme:

• provides an overview of the complex relationships between building and urban services technology (i.e., building construction and renovation, energy and water supply, waste and wastewater management) and the environment (i.e., resources and space consumption, impacts on environmental media and ecosystems)
• gives insight into patterns of user demand and behaviour and how they affect the technology-environment interaction
• imparts knowledge of resource efficient technologies, e.g. energy generation from renewable sources, as well as underlying principles, such as source separation and the closing of material cycles, demand side management, decentralised, modularised service provision, etc.
• reviews experience with and conveys ideas for different forms of legal and economic organisation of planning, construction and urban services provision
• teaches study and research methods and techniques for planning and decision support

• national, regional and local governments;
• national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs);
• consulting and finance;
• utilities and technology producers;
• real estate development and in the housing industry;
• education and research institutions.

• specialist consultants in architectural or urban design practices and engineering firms, in local, national and international organisations and the planning departments of city and regional councils;
• resource managers for larger commercial firms and international aid organisations;
• specialists for regeneration and conversion projects in urban industrial quarters;
• managers of energy and environment related infrastructure systems and networks;
• policy advisers and analysts in the development of sustainable regulations and bylaws for infrastructure, building and urban planning projects;
• economic advisers for the determination of the financial viability of sustainable design projects; or
• legal advisers for corporations pursuing sustainable growth and development strategies.

The Master of Science in “Resource Efficiency in Architecture and Planning” also enables graduates to register for PhD Programmes in related areas.

Study Methods

Lectures and seminars are grouped around the central project work, i.e. real-time, real-world case studies, in which students, with help and guidance from faculty, develop recommendations and solutions for applied tasks.

These could be: Designing a building-based, integrated supply-treatment system for water and wastewater; working out a plan for the environmentally sound retrofit of a housing block; devising an incentive-based scheme for refuse management or recycling of building materials.

Project work is inspired by the research activities taking place at the university and can in turn contribute to this research. Project-based work also allows student interests and experiences with practical applications and the completion of a specific concept for design, planning or use in the context of real or potentially real problems. For this reason, it is clearly an advantage when students have relevant work experience from which they can draw for their project work. Experience with scientific concepts and an interest in the physical world is also useful.

The programme allows a certain amount of freedom to choose between courses, in the neighourhood of 2⁄3 of each topic offered being compulsory, 1⁄3 elective. However, the programme is not intended to provide a specialisation solely in energy, water or material flows, respectively, as its main intent is to provide an integrative perspective of all resource flows.

The Master of Science Degree Programme "Resource Efficiency in Architecture and Planning" (REAP) is a new international programme at HafenCity University Hamburg starting in October 2009. It aims to enable participants to promote sustainable architecture and urban development in different geographical and cultural settings.

• The application deadline for the Master's course starting October 2009: 15 July 2009
• For applicants with a non-German university degree it is recommended to apply not later than 1 June 2009

There is little disagreement that the built – specifically the urban – environment is responsible for a significant contribution to the world’s CO2 emissions. Urban buildings and infrastructure thus present tremendous opportunities for conservation and efficiency improvements.

The ambitious goal of zero-energy, zero-waste and zero-emission buildings requires not only technically innovative and highly developed systems for the supply of resources or the removal and management of waste, but more importantly their early integration in the design and planning phase for construction, reuse and renovation of buildings, as well as urban developments. The practice-oriented and systematic integration of resource efficiency and sustainable design principles in the built environment forms the central tenet of the new Master’s programme. Special emphasis is placed on energy use in the built environment, including the related aspects of human comfort and aesthetic qualities, on water and material cycles, as well as on pollutants and noise.

While its main emphasis lies on technology for the provision of sustainable urban and building services, the programme brakes new ground by also investigating the socio-economic context in which these services are provided and managed. This includes understanding and addressing barriers to implementation, e.g. through the development of ideas for different forms of legal and economic organisation of planning, construction and urban services.

The REAP Master’s programme is an exciting opportunity for those who aspire to extend their knowledge and understanding of innovative technologies which can contribute to a more sustainable urban built environment. It targets persons from all over the world, with a wide range of academic backgrounds and work experience, sharing an interest in technology and society, and a concern for urban life, as well as for interdisciplinary approaches to problem-solving.

The number of participants is limited to a maximum of 30 per year. The course language is English.

More Details about the programme can be obtained here and by downloading the leaflet containing the most important information about the REAP Master´s Programme: REAP-Master Leaflet.

You will also find further information regarding Curriculum, Teaching Staff, Application Procedures & Requirements, Tuition Fees, Location and Contact on this website.

The Master of Science Degree Programme Resource Efficiency in Architecture and Planning is arranged in a two year programme.

In the first year (1st and 2nd semester) fundamental knowledge about sustainability, urban cycles, research methods and legal as well as economics instruments for sustainable urban development will be taught. During the third semester students can focus on a special topic or investigate more general topics while fourth semester is intended for preparation and completion of the Master thesis.

The Master’s programme consists of a total of 18 study modules covering the areas:

• Sustainabilty
• Energy in the city
• Solar architecture
• Energy technologies
• Water in the city (urban hydrology)
• Water and waste water technologies
• Urban noise
• Urban climate and micro climate
• Economics and administration of building and urban services
• Legal and policy instruments
• Research methods, planning and decision support techniques
• Geographical and cultural context