AR6003 - Integrated Design Audit (2017/18)
Module specification | Module approved to run in 2017/18 | ||||||||||||
Module title | Integrated Design Audit | ||||||||||||
Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||||
Credit rating for module | 30 | ||||||||||||
School | School of Art, Architecture and Design | ||||||||||||
Total study hours | 300 | ||||||||||||
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Assessment components |
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Running in 2017/18(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
The module enables the student to demonstrate their integration and synthesis of key areas of professional architectural knowledge within the context of their major design project. The project follows the process of design development using consultants from within the department and externally to introduce a range of perspectives, issues and interests within each project. This process is recorded, evaluated and reviewed in relation to the major design project.
The module provides a practical framework through which students can demonstrate compliance with professional practice and academic discipline of architecture as outlined by the Architects Registration Board’s Prescription of Qualifications Criteria (GC1-GC11)
Prior learning requirements
None
Module aims
This module promotes the integration of key fields of professional architectural knowledge in the final comprehensive design project. Students will be required to demonstrate that within their design project they have a knowledge, understanding of and ability within the following four areas:
A. cultural and professional context
B. management, practice and law
C. environment and sustainability
D. construction, materials and structures.
The module requires students to learn from a diverse range of sources and from consultants within the department and externally. The use of external consultants, the gathering of information and cross disciplinary collaboration simulate the dynamic, interdisciplinary and fast changing nature of contemporary architectural practice giving students an understanding of practice and an ability to work in teams.
Syllabus
The module is delivered principally within the design Studio. It is supported by seminars and individual tutorials, and through the use of specialists and consultants from within the Faculty and external to support, inform and test the student’s design proposal. The key reporting areas of the syllabus are:
A) Cultural and professional context
• The socio-political, intellectual and technical (geological, climatic, material and processes of construction) influences that shape design
• The influence of architectural histories and theories on contemporary design practice
• The contemporary situation of the built-environment and the imperative for sustainable building practices and the materials.
• The critical analysis of seminal and contemporary architectural precedent to uncover organisational and technological strategies and aspects of best-practice to inform a comprehensive design proposal.
• The influence of statutory requirements: building regulations, town planning and development control policies on the design of a comprehensive design proposal.
• The role of the architect implied by the design and the management, organisational and practice structures necessary to realise it.
• The role of the architect to effectively communicate the scope, build-up and complexity of a project sufficient to satisfy statutory requirements, enable preliminary understanding of costs and to meet the performance requirements of the end-user.
• The way a design proposal might be financed, procured and realised in relation to the contemporary construction industry.
B) Environment, energy and sustainability
• The design of architectural proposals in response to local climatic conditions.
• The design and integration of building services into a comprehensive design approach.
• The design of high-performance architectural environments with regard to day lighting, thermal comfort and acoustics.
• The strategic design and integration of passive, active and mixed-mode strategies of environmental comfort and control to reduce a building’s energy requirements and lower carbon footprints.
C) Structures, materials and construction
• The physical properties and characteristics of the materials, components and products used in the design
• The investigation and critical assessment of alternate structural, material and constructional systems and their relationship to local material, material handling and production and construction contexts.
• The critical analysis of architectural precedent to inform the selection and design of appropriate structural, material and constructional systems.
• The assessment and selection of materials against a comprehensive understanding of sustainability: embodied energy and whole-life-cycle analysis
• The influence of building regulations and expected lifecycles on material selection and systems of construction and detailing.
Learning and teaching
The module is delivered principally within the design Studio. Learning is supported by lectures, seminars, workshops, individual tutorials, and through the use of specialists and consultants from within the Faculty and externally to support, inform and test the student’s design proposal.
Working in parallel to each student’s comprehensive design project this module will require substantial individual sourcing, researching and filtering of relevant information in order to fulfil the assessment criteria.
All assessed components require the student to evaluate and reflect upon their own work in the context of their peers, current design practice and specialist knowledge appropriate to their work.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module students will have the knowledge and understanding to:
- Show how their understanding of the core areas of the syllabus has informed their design process of complex buildings in concept and resolution;
- Gather, process and make use of information, processes and strategies necessary to develop a well resolved design proposal including managing, coordinating and learning from consultants across a wide range of disciplines, and integrating knowledge acquired from taught courses, consultancy, industry, testing, prototyping and participatory processes, including theories of urban design and the planning of communities.
- Make and communicate clear strategic decisions in relation to the wider political, economic, professional, environmental, industrial and legal context informing their design
- Integrate knowledge of sustainability, structures, materials and construction into a coherent architectural design;
- Communicate with professional, technical and lay audiences.
Assessment strategy
IDA Process Diary
Students will develop the skills to effectively communicate in a detailed project diary. They will record all aspects of their design process and present them in a reflective and edited manner mapping the core syllabus areas. The diary will include records of all presentations, meetings, and tutorials and of the use of internal and external consultants including how they were briefed, minutes of meeting and evidence of the integration of advice received into the development and resolution of the comprehensive design project. The students will also be asked to make an interim and final presentation to subject teams including external consultants in each of the four areas. The presentations will form part of the assessment.
IDA Report
Students will produce an illustrated report of 4,000 words dealing with each of the core syllabus areas. The report must make specific reference to the way the comprehensive design proposal has addressed and resolved the integration of each of the core reporting areas and each sub section of the syllabus.
In the areas of environment, sustainability, structures, materials and construction students must in addition submit sufficient detailed drawings, diagrams, models, simulations, environmental analysis, material samples, performance specifications and components to fully illustrate the strategies and decisions described within the written report.
Students are expected to attend all formal seminar sessions.
Students must pass all three coursework components individually at 40% in order to be eligible for the BA (Hons) Architecture award.
Bibliography
Anink, D. &Boonstra, C., 1996. Handbook of Sustainable Building: An Environmental Preference Method for Choosing Materials in Construction and Renovation Revised ed., James & James (Science Publishers) Ltd.
Deplazes, A. ed., 2005. Constructing Architecture: Materials, Processes, Structures, a Handbook, Basel: London: Birkhäuser.
Hegger, M., 2008. Energy Manual illustrated ed., Birkhäuser.
Herzog, T., 2004a. Facade Construction Manual, Birkhäuser.
Herzog, T., 2004b. Timber Construction Manual, Birkhäuser.
Hugues, T., 2005. Detail Practice: Dressed Stone: Types of Stone, Details, Examples, Birkhäuser.
Hugues, T., 2004. Detail Practice: Timber Construction: Details, Products, Case Studies, Birkhäuser.
Kwok, A. & Grondzik, W., 2011. The Green Studio Handbook: Environmental Strategies for Schematic Design 2nd ed., Architectural Press.
Nordenson, G. ed., 2008. Seven Structural Engineers: The Felix Candela Lectures, New York ; London: Museum of Modern Art.
Peck, M., 2006. Detail Practice: Concrete: Design, Construction, Examples In Kooperationmit DETAIL.,Birkhäuser.
Schittich, C., 2007. Glass Construction Manual 2nd, revised and expanded ed., Birkhäuser.
Schunk, E., 2003. Roof Construction Manual: Pitched Roofs 4th Revised ed., Birkhäuser.