Aims

To enable students to:

Develop an awareness of theories and ideas in a specialist field of architectural, spatial or urban thinking relating to the production and design of architecture, cities and landscapes.

Inform and strengthen the theoretical basis on which students develop design approaches and take decisions.

Introduce students to a range of research methodologies, critical appraisal, research and study skills through lectures

Support the development of their individual area of interest and research through tutorials

Outline Of Syllabus

This course enables students to engage with an area of architectural, spatial or urban thinking that explores aspects of social, cultural, political, economic, environmental, technological or ideological issues relating to the production and design of buildings, cities and landscapes. It draws on staff specialisms to enable students to select an area of study to pursue in more detail in their own elective research. The course provides an opportunity for students to engage with a specific disciplinary approach to architecture that can inform their own design work and build requisite skills for future research in the subject. The syllabus enables students to develop research and technical skills, critical and evaluative abilities and a capacity for clear and succinct expression in writing, by:
(a)       Introducing students to the nature of research and research methods in architecture.
(b)       Equipping students with the ability to devise their own strategies for independent research.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Students follow a themed elective seminar series chosen from a selection on offer, that supports their emerging research interests. These are research-led weekly seminars from APL staff from the range of disciplines in architecture, from humanities and social sciences to creative practice and technology. Students are expected to augment this knowledge by reading and exploring other sources of information. In addition their research is supported by research skills lectures and seminar based tutorials developing their essay.

PIP hours can be modified to synchronous online learning easily if needed.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The oral presentation takes place at the end of the elective seminar series, and assesses students’ ability to synthesise seminar themes, plan and present a verbal argument. The elective essay assesses students’ ability to consider spatial and architectural issues in relation to some of the theories and ideas they have been introduced to develop and present with supporting materials and evidence their own related research interest.