Horizontal Design Studio Versus Vertical Design Studio: A Tale Of Two Architecture Schools

The purpose of this study is to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of two design studio paradigms; i.e. Horizontal Design Studio (HDS) and Vertical Design Studio (VDS), as applied in two architecture schools; namely, the Department of Architectural Engineering (DAE), Assiut University, Egypt, and the Department of Architecture (DA), King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia, respectively.To attain the aim of the study, a critical review was conducted, tracing the theory behind both systems. As the application differs dramatically from a school to another, case study approach was prompted, and two architecture schools were selected (DAE and DA). Due to the complexity of the two design studio systems, they were dissembled into their constituent key ingredients; i.e. students, instructors, teaching/learning environments and evaluation/assessment. Consequently, the applied questionnaire was divided into parts; each focused on one key ingredient.This study can be considered a start point for each school to refine the design studio paradigm it adopts. According to the level of homogeneity/diversity, sameness/multiplicity, and multiculturalism/mono cultural, each school can identify the transformations needed to maximize advantages and minimize disadvantages. The results of the study cannot be transferred to other schools, unless local context-sensitive research work is conducted.