Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

Students must also complete INU1115.

Aims

The one semester module focuses on consolidating and refining architectural design skills gained in previous studies elsewhere. Students' level of experience from their previous studies will be reviewed and analysed to identify particular strengths and weaknesses.

Manual design skills and fine art related skills and techniques will be taught and refined. Manual and computer aided presentation techniques will also be developed. Students will be encouraged to adapt to the open studio culture in architectural design and to develop their individual personality as designers.

A series of design tasks and small scale design projects will introduce students to the aesthetical and functional aspects of architectural design and to the iterative cycle of the design process based on investigation, analysis, synthesis and practical realisation. Students will learn how to methodically analyse and interpret design briefs, research and analyse user requirements; and apply specific regulations and technological standards.

The module enables students to make individual and informed coherent design decisions for small design projects and to effectively communicate and present their development and design proposals in front of an audience of professionals and fellow students.

Outline Of Syllabus

The syllabus is focused on design practice developed and demonstrated through a series of small scale design projects and on the contextual and analytical understanding necessary for architectural design. Teaching will be interactive, combining lectures with workshops and practical activities. Teaching will also foster an open and communicative studio culture and encourage international students to actively participate in lessons.

The outline syllabus will include an:
o introduction to methodical design development and design techniques
o introduction to spatial qualities, i.e. how proportion, dimensions, structures and textures form atmosphere and characteristics of space
o intensive training in various practical techniques, such as sketching, drawing and illustration with pencil, pen, ink, charcoal and watercolour
o introduction to architectural model making and photography
o introduction to graphical and oral project presentations

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students will be able to:
• understand, interpret and apply principles of spatial qualities in architecture
• apply principles of scale and proportion
• appropriately integrate considerations of natural light, structure, materials and textures in design decisions
• demonstrate awareness of the reciprocal relationship of Architecture and Fine Art
• understand and interpret how buildings reflect and respond to their physical, cultural and social contexts and functional requirements

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students will be able to:
o       confidently apply a variety of architectural communication techniques
o       apply the principles of perspective drawing
o       initiate the preparatory processes for design projects
o       implement observation and analysis in the design process
o       transform inspirational ideas into functional abstracts
o       methodically organise their design processes
o       coherently communicate design decisions
o       produce scaled and precise technical drawings and architectural models
o       adequately present design projects

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Teaching is studio based practical and interactive. Lectures provide theoretical contents and the weekly introduction, small group teaching in form of roaming studio tutorials provides students with an opportunity to practice, to engage in discussions and receive guidance for their design projects. Independent study provides students with an opportunity to research, to prepare for formative and summative tasks and extended self-guided study.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The first, introductory project requires students to combine observational drawings of a static design element; for example, a chair, with a study of human proportion in movement, looking in particular at the module of the human form and how it serves as a basis for architectural design.

The second design project affords students an opportunity to design a small intervention to a building, requiring demonstration of creativity and imagination and the ability to communicate their ideas with sketches, drawings and with physical models.

Projects are summatively marked and individual performance is discussed as the year progresses. Each project is evaluated against a set of criteria outlined in the project descriptions. The assessment criteria for each project commonly require an understanding of and an ability to apply a particular body of knowledge (related to the project) and a particular range of skills and techniques (introduced in the project)

Following each project assessment, students receive a set of written comments in relation to the declared criteria, together with a mark. Further oral feedback is given by the project leader at project reviews/feedback meetings.

General Notes

N/A