Design Studio 4A

Code

ABEE4106

School

Architecture and Built Environment

Level

4

Credits

30

Semesters

Full Year UK

Summary

The module focuses on practical architectural design skills, developing the craftsmanship of architecture and its communication. It also explores the student's individual judgement of the relevance of the wider physical, social, cultural, economic, technical and environmental context of the profession, demonstrated in the design project and facilitated through the introduction of the individual project brief. This brief encourages the student to show their ability to translate the understanding and engagement with the wider context of architecture and environmental engineering into an architectural/spatial format.

The studio is set up in a vertical structure with units organised into thematic blocks: 1: Urban Settings, 2: Design & Build, 3: Cultural Context, 4: Poetic Narratives, 5: Sustainable Communities addressing the diversity of architectural approaches according to the ARB/RIBA criteria.

This module  year is structured as three distinctive projects, which are thematically connected but are clearly identified as individual project submissions.

Project 1 concerns itself with site and context. Project 2 focuses on the design of a small unit/space, its structural stability and its physical expression through construction and materials. Project 3 is the Briefing Document that should lead and build from P1 & P2.

If a student fails both this module and ABEE4107 at the first attempt, they will be required to pass both modules by resitting them in attendance before completing the K230 MEng (Hons) Architecture and Environmental Design programme.

Target Students

MEng Architecture and Environmental Design K230; U7UATTED.

Assessment

• 20% Coursework 1: P1: Architectural and environmental design studio project - group work
• 60% Coursework 2: P2: Architectural and environmental design studio project - individual
• 20% Coursework 3: P3: Briefing document - individual

Assessed in both autumn & spring semest

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module the student will be equipped to meet the ARB and RIBA criteria as follows:

Have the ability to design projects of various scales and complexity, which are responding, emphasizing and developing the thematic study aspect described in each project's brief. (GC1.1)

Have an understanding of the relevance and relationship between site, users' needs and the project's local and cultural context and how their building design responds to a brief describing and defining these aspects. (GC5.1) (GC5.3) (GC7. 2)

Have an understanding of the relevance of concepts of architectural theory and the fine arts to achieve a comprehensive and relatively complex architectural design project. (GC2.3) (GC3.3)

Have the ability to use a range of media including techniques of the fine arts to communicate the project's design, intentions and specific qualities appropriately and clearly. (GC1.1) (GC3.3)

Have the ability to develop the conceptual design idea into an aesthetic and comprehensive architectural design project through the application and integration of knowledge of principles of construction and structural systems. (GC1.2) (GC8.2)

Have the understanding of environmental principles and sustainable technologies applicable to a comprehensive architectural project. (GC1.2)

Have the ability to assess contextual, theoretical and technical concepts relevant to the design project demonstrating a reflective and critical approach to and during the design process. (GC1.3) (GC2.3)

Have an ability to research material and to form a brief for a comprehensive building project. (GC7.3)

Have an ability to demonstrate a critical response to a climate change agenda. (GC9.1)

Successful completion of this module will also support the following AHEP4 learning outcomes – students will have the ability to:

M4.  Select and critically evaluate technical literature and other sources of information to solve complex problems.

M5.  Design solutions for complex problems that evidence some originality and meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate. This will involve consideration of applicable health and safety, diversity, inclusion, cultural, societal, environmental and commercial matters, codes of practice and industry standards.

M6.  Apply an integrated or systems approach to the solution of complex problems.

M7.  Evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to complex problems (to include the entire lifecycle of a product or process) and minimise adverse impacts.

M8.  Identify and analyse ethical concerns and make reasoned ethical choices informed by professional codes of conduct.

M11.  Adopt an inclusive approach to engineering practice and recognise the responsibilities, benefits and importance of supporting equality, diversity and inclusion

M12.  Use practical laboratory and workshop skills to investigate complex problems.

M13.  Select and apply appropriate materials, equipment, engineering technologies and processes, recognising their limitations.

M17.  Communicate effectively on complex engineering matters with technical and non-technical audiences, evaluating the effectiveness of the methods used.

Conveners

• Mr Alisdair Russell
• Ms Margaret Mulcahy