SIGUS: Special Interest Group in Urban Settlement

Massachussetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning

About SIGUS Workshops

SIGUS Workshops include the January Workshop Abroad. This 2-week, field-based workshop is held in cities through the world – hosted by a local university in collaboration with NGOs and city authorities. The focus is on policies and programs which tackle community needs, drawing on interviews with families and field observation.

The workshop series was a recipient of the AIA Education Honors Program prize in 1996.

Below are examples of some of the many SIGUS Workshops that have been held over the years.

Workshop Types

Rebuilding

This Program addresses issues at the community level, focused on the vulnerable income groups which comprise the majority. It is organized around a 2-week field workshop supported by background preparatory work.


Learning

These SIGUS organized January Workshops are field-based research investigations that tackle community needs through direct collaboration with the local communities.