The pedagogy of the M.Arch in Interior Architecture at SAL School of Architecture is anchored in a studio-centric, research-driven, and hands-on approach to learning. Students are encouraged to investigate the discipline of interior architecture through critical inquiry, creative exploration, and real-world engagement. The teaching methodology combines theoretical understanding with practical application, using design studios as the core learning space supported by seminars, workshops, electives, and fieldwork. Emphasis is placed on context-sensitive design, sustainability, and human-centered spatial interventions. Faculty serve as mentors, fostering an environment of dialogue and experimentation while promoting academic rigor and creative freedom. The integration of history, material studies, building technologies, and advanced digital tools supports comprehensive development. Students are given opportunities to explore their individual interests and specializations through research and elective tracks. This pedagogy equips them not only with design and technical skills but also with the intellectual confidence to become thoughtful professionals and future leaders in interior architecture.

Studio is the central subject in architectural education, forming the foundation of design thinking and creative problem-solving. Each semester, students engage with studio projects that address themes such as spatial design, housing, community architecture, public spaces, or urban intervention. These studios integrate learning from allied subjects, encouraging a holistic approach to design. The studio environment fosters exploration, critical dialogue, and iterative development through drawings, models, and peer discussions. It also nurtures individual expression and collaborative skills, preparing students to respond innovatively to real-world architectural and social challenges.  

1st YEAR

Foundation Studio  

The Foundation Studio introduces students to the basics of design, space, anthropometry and form through explorations in scale, material, and geometry. Emphasis is placed on observation, creativity, and critical thinking, laying the groundwork for spatial understanding and architectural expression through hands-on exercises, models, and conceptual design tasks.  

Contextual Studio  

This studio encourages students to respond to local context—social, cultural, and physical—while designing small-scale architectural interventions. Through site visits, mapping, and user analysis, students learn to translate contextual understanding into meaningful spatial experiences and develop sensitivity to place, climate, and materials in the built environment.  

2nd Year

Climate Studio  

The Climate Studio focuses on designing buildings that respond to environmental factors like light, ventilation, and thermal comfort. Students integrate passive design strategies with spatial planning, learning to create climate-responsive architecture rooted in local contexts and sustainable thinking.  

Housing Studio  

In this studio, students address residential design across various scales—from individual homes to group housing. Emphasis is placed on user needs, spatial organization, community interaction, and structural logic, helping students balance design aesthetics with functionality and livability.  

3rd Year  

Institution Studio  

The Institution Studio involves designing public or semi-public buildings such as schools, libraries, or cultural centers. Students engage with program complexity, circulation, user diversity, and site responsiveness, developing comprehensive architectural proposals grounded in functionality, spatial articulation, and social relevance.  

Working Drawing Studio  

This studio bridges design and execution, training students in the preparation of detailed working drawings for architectural projects. Emphasis is placed on accuracy, construction detailing, material specification, and professional drafting standards, fostering practical skills crucial for real-world practice.  

4th Year  

Office Training  

As part of professional practice, students undergo a semester-long internship with architectural firms. This immersive experience exposes them to real-time projects, site work, teamwork, and client interactions, equipping them with industry insights and professional ethics essential for future practice.  

Campus Design Studio  

This studio challenges students to work at a larger scale, designing comprehensive campus or institutional masterplans. It involves site planning, zoning, connectivity, user hierarchy, and integration of landscape and infrastructure — promoting systems thinking and long-range design vision.  

5th Year

Urban Design Studio  

Focusing on city-scale issues, this studio introduces students to urban morphology, public space, mobility, and socio-economic patterns. Students analyze existing urban conditions and propose design interventions that enhance liveability, inclusivity, and spatial quality in the public realm.    
 

Thesis  

The final semester is dedicated to an individual architectural thesis where students independently research, conceptualize, and develop a design proposal of their choice. It is a culmination of their academic journey, reflecting their design ideology, technical ability, and critical understanding of architecture.