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TheFoundation, the longest running
pathway on our programme, is an
excellently balanced introduction.
Students benefit greatly from
an unencumbered start, free
from
misconceptions
and
prescribed outcomes. The course
is comprehensive and deep,
providing an effectual foundation
for a career in architecture, and
developing skills that often reach
the
sophisticated
standards
more typical of an undergraduate
degree’s first year. Indeed, students
this past year achieved some of the
highest grades in the programme’s
five year history.
The Diploma (renamed the
International Year One from
September 2016) experienced
its second intake this past year.
Once again, the students showed
a very confident performance
overall, employing the wide
range of practical and cognitive
skills necessary to master two
rather
complex
architectural
design projects. Students applied
theoretical and spatial concepts
whilst analysing and considering
clients’ needs, and learned to
respond to urban, historical
and
topographical
contexts.
Some of the best work exceeds
expectations for this level of study.
For students on the Graduate
Diploma
(Pre-Masters),
the
challenges are even higher as they
often have to revise their working
and study methods shaped by
previous educational experience.
This year, the work ethic and
commitment shown by students
was exemplary, improving the
quality of their output significantly.
The two major design projects
continued to become more finely-
tuned to the students’ various
educational backgrounds and
potential progression routes, such
as landscape architecture and
urban design.
In conclusion, the 2015/16
Yearbook is a demonstration of
what our students are capable of:
inspired, creative design output
combined with a professional and
mature attitude and work ethic. It
also reflects the tremendous efforts
of our teaching team, who never
ceased to encourage and support
their students. We congratulate all
of our students for passing their
respective pathways, and wish
them continued success in their
future studies and careers.
school of architecture,
planning and landscape,
newcastle university
thomas kern heads up an
experienced architecture
teaching team