module specification

As the culmination of the design studies within the BA (Hons) Architecture course the module allows the student to excel in employing their design ability. Deriving from the studio programme, the final project will communicate an appropriate level of ambition, complexity and coherence in its design resolution. The creative dialogue with other areas of architectural knowledge informed by and informing the strategic and detailed design development will extend the understanding of the project and demonstrate the qualities of the proposal.

The module uses the research and brief making in the Design Project Development module and emphasizes the detailed resolution and critical assessment of a complex architectural design. It runs in conjunction with the Technology 3, Integrated Design Audit module that requires specific and highly detailed appraisal of its cultural, professional, technical and environmental issues.

The module is the final design project of the BA (Hons) Architecture course and gives students the opportunity to deploy the understanding, knowledge and abilities they have developed throughout the course in the making of an ambitious and well resolved architectural design. It aims to allow the student to demonstrate their ability as an architectural designer: their capacity to define and analyse architectural problems, generate briefs and proposals, integrate knowledge derived from different fields and sources, produce socially relevant inhabitable spaces, enrich rather than deplete the built and natural environment, and design technically competent buildings of aesthetic quality.

Completion and pass (120 credits) of previous level.

Students study within a design studio that provides the project framework, overall context.  Within this context students are expected to work with a greater level of independence in generating their detailed syllabus and developing their final architectural design.

The module focuses on the design of a complex building. This may be weighted towards a strategic scale, as found in urban design, or a more detailed scale as appropriate to a technologically focused design.

The detailed syllabus is project based and varies from year to year.  The following programme is indicative.

Autumn term  LO: (1,2,3,4)
Project: Generate briefs in navigated by the spatial and ethical complexity of the project; optional field trip study; ‘Interim Project Review’ (crit). ‘Interim Portfolio Review’(internally assessed)
Spring term  LO: (1,2,3,4,5)
Project: Develop architectural design; ‘Final Project Review’ (crit).
Summer term  LO: (1,2,3,4,5,6)
Construct and reflect on a well resolved architectural design, ; ‘Final Portfolio Review’(internal & externally assessed)

Scheduled teaching ensures that independent study is effective and addresses the learning outcomes and assessment tasks. Students are expected to, and have the opportunity to, continue with their studies outside of scheduled classes. There will be a range of learning strategies deployed and individual learning styles will be accommodated. The module’s learning outcomes, its contents and delivery, have been scrutinised and will be regularly reviewed to ensure an inclusive approach to pedagogic practice.

The module and course utilise the University’s blended learning platform to support and reinforce learning, to foster peer-to-peer communication and to facilitate tutorial support for students. Reflective learning is promoted through assessment items and interim formative feedback points that ask students to reflect on their progress, seek help where they identify the opportunity for improvement in learning strategies and outcomes, and make recommendations to themselves for future development. Throughout the module, students build a body of work, including reflections on progress and achievement.

The School’s programme of employability events and embedded work-related learning within the curriculum supports students’ personal development planning. Through these initiatives, students are increasingly able, as they progress from year to year, to understand the professional environment of their disciplines, the various opportunities available to them, and how to shape their learning according to their ambitions.

Material specific to each studio is visible on weblearn, with ‘turn it in’ facilitating the submission of the PDP; a progressive reflective summary which is uploaded at both formative and summative stages so you may receive the studio tutors written feedback.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1. generate briefs to propose coherent architectural designs that navigate an ethical route through environmental, cultural or economic issues;

2. make judgments as to the appropriate scale and complexity of an intervention within a given context;

3. present and communicate a complex architectural design efficiently to lay and professional audiences;

4. manage personal time and resources constructively, effectively and in response to tasks, colleagues and feedback;

5. construct a well resolved architectural design that is explicit about how it may be realized technically, politically, economically, and integrates a knowledge, understanding and ability of design in terms of environment and sustainability, construction, materials and structures, cultural context and management, practice and law;

6. evaluate their Personal Development Plan in relation to their academic portfolio and the prospect of Professional Practice.

The module is assessed as a whole, in portfolio, at the end of the academic year.

The assessment criteria are based on how well the student has fulfilled the learning outcomes.

The portfolio will normally include a complete set of drawings at a variety of scales appropriate to demonstrating the breadth of their design decisions, digital and material models of the project. Modes of documentation may include: drawings; photographic material; multi-media material; quantitative
data; qualitative data; 3D models, web-based material and prototypes. All 3D, direct action and multi-media work should be recorded in graphic form and explained to a standard suitable for assessment purposes.

Written formative feedback is given through weblearn following the Interim Portfolio Review and Interim Project Review (Interim crit).
Written summative feedback is given through weblearn following the ’Final Portfolio Review.

Overall performance is indicated in the feedback and indicative rubric score on ‘Turn it in’ at Interim stages and given as a final grade at Final Portfolio Review’

Attendance
Students are expected to attend all taught sessions. Attendance will be reviewed as part of the assessment process and a ‘mark’ of either satisfactory or non-satisfactory will be awarded. Satisfactory attendance means that a student has attended over 60% of taught sessions.

The specific bibliography is studio and project related and may vary from year to year. The following titles are indicative.

Core Text:

Levene, R. C., Márquez Cecilia, F. and Koolhaas, R., (2006) AMO OMA Rem Koolhaas, Madrid: El Croquis

Bell, V. B., and Rand, P, (2014) Materials for Architectural Design 2, London: Laurence King

Bolles, J., Wilson, P.,  (2009) Bolles + Wilson : A Handful of Productive Paradigms : Recent Work, Munster: Bolles + Wilson

Correa, C., (2000) Charles Correa - Housing and Urbanisation, London: Thames & Hudson

Deplazes, A., Saffker, G., Thrift, P. and Verlag, B., (2013) Constructing Architecture : Materials, Processes, Structures : A Handbook, Basel: Birkhauser

Jones, W. G., (2008) Jorn Utzon : Logbook, Hellerup: Blondal
Rocha, P.,  da Mendes, A. and Artigas, R., (2000) Paulo Mendes Da Rocha, Sao Paulo: Cosac & Naify

Other Texts:

Sauerbruch, M., Hutton, L. and Hartmann, I., (2016) Sauerbruch Hutton : Archive 2, Zurich: Lars Muller Publishers

Steele, J. and Doshi, V.B., (1998) The Complete Architecture of Balkrishna Doshi : Rethinking Modernism for the Developing World, London: Thames and Hudson

Villanueva Brandt, C., Self, W., (2010) London +10, London: Architectural Association School of Architecture

Journals:

‘2G.’, 2G., 2016
‘Building Design.’, Building Design.
‘El Croquis.’, El Croquis., 2002
Institut for Internationale Architektur-Dokumentation (Munchen), ‘Detail English Edition : Review of Architecture and Construction Details. English Edition : Review of Architecture and Construction Details.’, Detail English Edition : Review of Architecture and Construction Details. English Edition : Review of Architecture and Construction Details., 2004
Royal Institute of British Architects., ‘RIBA Journal.’, RIBA Journal., 1960
‘The Architects’ Journal AJ’, The Architects’ Journal AJ, 2012

Websites:
‘ArchDaily.’, 2008 <http://www.archdaily.com/>
‘DIVISARE’, DIVISARE
Fairs, Marcus., ‘Dezeen’, 2006
‘Http://Www.dogma.name’, Http://Www.dogma.name
‘Http://Www.spatialagency.net’
http://www.elcroquis.es