RETHINKING UNIVERSITY DESIGN

Abstract

The design of university campuses has traditionally mirrored the hierarchical organization of
academic disciplines, with faculties and departments compartmentalized into separate buildings. This
spatial arrangement, while practical for discipline-specific activities, has historically reinforced the
boundaries between fields of study, limiting opportunities for collaboration and cross-disciplinary
innovation. However, as the world grapples with increasingly complex challenges like climate
change, technological disruptions, and global health crises, universities are beginning to recognize
the limitations of this traditional model. Addressing such multifaceted issues requires interdisciplinary
and transdisciplinary approaches that integrate and even transcend conventional academic boundaries.