Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

To introduce the idea of urban visions and plans of the city within the Near East and western history.
To introduce the ideas of professional (rational) and non-professional architecture and planning within the Near East and western history.
To introduce and examine ideas of community architecture and planning and co-production
To introduce ways in which values and ethics in the built environment have shifted over time.
To introduce students to basic study skills including referencing, essay writing, note taking and argumentation.

Outline Of Syllabus

The first section of the course examines selective histories of ancient, classical, medieval, renaissance and modernist based cities. While this section is predominantly western in focus, the first section of the course covers the birth of cities in the Near East to decolonise overly Eurocentric histories that singularly trace the history of architecture and planning to Greco-Rome. In examining these histories, the course, investigates the rise of a professional discourse of architecture and planning that is realised and reinforced within the modernist movement. The second section of the course, therefore, turns to a series of alternative movements that arose in the twentieth century; movements that were seeking to unsettle and decolonise the professional discourse of architecture and planning we have outlined in the first section. Particularly, section 2, contains sessions on the ‘alternative architectural history’ movement, which grew out of the 60s and sessions on the re-emergence of non-professional community (or ‘bottom up’) architecture and planning in the global south and global north. Section 3 then turns from the past to the present and the future and in this last part of the course we examine themes problems relating to neo-liberalism and the environment. Specifically, we explore the way in which neo-liberalisms have created blandscapes, sites of precariousness and environmental damage and drawing upon architectural and planning ideas, we seek to examine future alternatives.

Alongside this historical academic content, the course, will also strengthen study skills that are needed by K190 students for the duration of their degrees; these skills will include sessions on referencing, essay writing, note taking and reading and argumentation.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Demonstrate an adequate knowledge of landscape architecture, urban design, planning and the skills involved in the planning process.

Evaluate arguments for intervention in the built environment and an understanding of processes for change and the role of professionals in achieving it.

Demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of issues and problems pertaining to the built environment as well as understanding the role and responsibilities of architects, landscape architects, urban designers, and planners in working. collaboratively, promoting principles of equality, and engaging with communities

Demonstrate a critical understanding of values and ethics in built environment intervention.

Demonstrate knowledge of histories and theories of architecture and cities, related arts, and planning to influence the quality of design and place.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Develop research skills and experience in the context of the School’s research interests

Make effective use of evidence and information.

Articulate reasoned arguments.

Effectively and fluently communicate information, ideas, principles, arguments and proposals through written, graphic, oral and electronic means, and demonstrate written, numerical, oral, IT and literary skills effectively.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The Structured Guided Learning Activities provide a detailed explanation of the key issues and an examination of The Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities provide support for discussions about themes and issues within the histories of cities, architecture and planning. The Guided Independent Study will enable students to both achieve the intended knowledge and skills outcomes identified for the module, as well as enabling them to prepare for the creation of their assessment submission.

This MOF is based on a blended learning approach and includes a mixture of online learning and present in person (PiP) provision.

The module will include 11 lectures. All of these lectures will take place via PiP provision. These lectures will provide an overview of the key issues and theories along with relevant case studies.

These lectures will provide the starting place for the teaching scaffold. Firstly, after attending the lectures, students will then be asked to engage with
a)       3 hours of Guided independent study – involving reading and/or visual materials
b)       And a 2-hour reading task on their own

As well as the lectures and the associated reading, (including the individual and group reading tasks) students will then take part in a series of PiP workshops. These workshops provide structured discussion of particular issues through a mixture of small-group tasks and plenary discussion.

The workshops will cover broader study skills that are required for the K190 Architecture and Planning degree more broadly. The workshops will cover in particular, sessions on referencing, essay writing, note taking and argumentation.

PIP Q and A sessions and drop-in surgery sessions will be available throughout the course so that students can gain easy access to a tutor.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The Structured Guided Learning Activities provide a detailed explanation of the key issues and an examination of important literature. The Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities provide support for discussions about the history of cities and architecture and planning. The Guided Independent Study will enable students to both achieve the intended knowledge and skills outcomes identified for the module, as well as enabling to help them prepare for the creation of their assessment submission. There are two assessments for this module. The first assessment, which is only 1000 words, will test students on what they have learnt in their study skills classes. The study skills assessment will feed into a Student peer group, where students will meet to discuss the course and the reading within the course so that they can share ideas in the development of their short essay. The final summative essay will be 2500 words and will test the students on their knowledge of the historical themes and issues within the course.

General Notes

This module contributes towards delivering the following RIBA/ARB Prescription Criteria for Qualifications: GC2.1/2; GC3.1; GC4.1/2; GC6.1

This modules contributes towards delivering the following RTPI Accreditation Learning Outcomes for Qualifications:

Spatial - 6; 7; 9
Specialist - 1; 3; 4