Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The Module aims to introduce a range of common architectural communication methods and media, encouraging students to practice and engage with these in order to be able to clearly and effectively represent existing objects, spaces and places. As familiarity and confidence grows, students are encouraged to apply these same methods and techniques to the representation of their on-going ARC1001 studio projects – as such the module introduces and adresses one of the key architectural professional requirements (i.e. ARB General Attribute 1.2).

Throughout the module, students are encouraged to make a careful and critical observation of the world around them, and to especially consider how and why architects (as well as other design and construction professionals) commonly represent this complex lived 3-D ‘reality’ using various, and often abstract, 2-D representations.

Outline Of Syllabus

Throughout the module a variety of Architectural Representation theory, practices and skills are introduced and developed using various discreet Tasks, each with its own brief. These tasks build in scale and complexity, but all share similar iterative working patterns and seek to be directly applicable to both the exploration and development of design ideas and alternatives (i.e. architectural process) as well as the visual representation of design propositions to others (i.e. architectural presentation).

The sylabus encompasses:
• Quantitative representation methods and techniques – enabling the accurate measuring, description and representation of objects, people, spaces and buildings, these are associated with the production of scale drawings.
• Qualitative representation methods and techniques – used to communicate atmospheres, sensorial and expressive characteristics. These can include photography, sketching, painting, observational drawing, collage and model-photography.

The scope of the module is essentially focussed on hand-drawn or hand-production methods together with photographic representation. Physical architectural model-making is introduced and developed in the ARC1001 Architectural Design module, whilst ‘digital’ representation skills are considered in the Semester 2 ARC1018 Digital Representation module.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the conclusion of the module, students should be able to:

• Identify, and demonstrate familiarity with, a range of appropriate architectural representation modes, techniques and conventions relating to both architectural ‘process’ and architectural ‘presentation’
• Identify, and demonstrate familiarity with various quantitative and qualitative methods of architectural representation
• Demonstrate some knowledge and understanding of the above by clearly and effectively representing a range of simple objects, spaces and places using a variety of graphic and photographic modes, techniques and conventions, in order to communicate and represent these accurately and evocatively

Intended Skill Outcomes

In addition to various STUDY SKILLS (including research techniques, time management and information processing), EVALUATIVE SKILLS (including developing familiarity with and understanding of different drawn and visual media, methods and techniques) and WORKPLACE-RELATED SKILLS (including exhibiting personal work for others to view, comment and critique, and reflecting constructively on the subsequent verbal and written feedback received), the module should enable students to engage with the following specific REPRESENTATION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS, and in doing so:

• Develop an increased awareness of real-world SCALE and DIMENSIONS, including various survey, measuring and recording methods, the use of FIELD NOTES and PHOTOGRAPHIC information
• Develop FREE-HAND DRAWING techniques and the ability to represent SIMPLE FORMS and SPACES quickly and accurately
• Develop TECHNICAL/HARD-LINE DRAWING techniques
• Develop an awareness of drawing LAYERING techniques and ITERATIVE WORKING METHODS to promote drawing and general representational development
• Develop knowledge of ORTHOGRAPHIC CONVENTIONS, TECHNIQUES AND TERMS, including 2-D PROJECTION, LINE WEIGHTS and LINE TYPES through the study and consideration of existing drawings and to apply this knowledge in the production of PLAN, SECTION and ELEVATIONAL drawings
•Develop knowledge of ISOMETRIC AND AXONOMETRIC CONVENTIONS, TECHNIQUES AND TERMS, including 3-D PROJECTION, LINE WEIGHTS and LINE TYPES through the study and consideration of existing drawings and to apply this knowledge in the production of ISOMETRIC AND AXONOMETRIC drawings
•Developing an appreciation of the role of ARCHITECTURAL PHOTOGRAPHY, MODEL PHOTOGRAPHY, SKETCHING and OBSERVATIONAL
DRAWING in relation to architectural study and development
•Develop an understanding of the importance of PROCESS and it’s communication to many architectural outputs, including the ability to capture and use clear PHOTOS/SCANS OF PHYSICAL DRAWINGS AND DOCUMENTS
•Develop an awareness of DOCUMENT-RELATED COMUNICATION AND REPRESENTATION TECHNIQUES including PAGE DESIGN, PAGE LAYOUT, DOCUMENT STRUCTURE and DOCUMENT NAVIGATION

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

ARC1017 closely supports the ARC1001 design module by providing an introduction to a wide range of design project-related representation modes, techniques and principles.

Much of the core learning material and sign-posting is delivered in joint ARC1017/ARC1001 lectures in the first half of the Semester. The ARC1017 material is then developed, discussed and trialled by students in follow-on on-line workshops. Short videos are produced that introduce each of the discrete tasks and also show the task being undertaken in real-time by the instructor. Students then bring their own work from the workshops and work produced in response to the videos, and pin this in the studios each week. Tutors then take time in the weekly studio tutorials to review the outputs and provide specific feedback, often in the form of one-to-one discussions with the student, but also encouraging peer-review, comment and suggestions. Photos of the on-going Task process work are then presented in the following week’s lecture and used to provide additional ‘general’ feedback.

The complexity of the Tasks builds throughout the Semester, which concludes with a final ‘synthesised’ Task, encompassing the recording of a chosen space together with its representation using both 2D and 3D methods and techniques.

Delivering, presenting and discussing the ARC1017 tasks alongside the on-going ARC1001 Architectural Design lecture material, workshops and studio design projects reinforces the symbiosis between the modules and, in addition to planned points of convergence, allows for many impromptu connections to be found, made and understood.

In addition tyo the above, various professionally-led sessions and workshops are organised. These might typically include Artist-run City Drawing and Exhibition sessions and Photographer-led Model Photography and City Photography Workshops.

The Tasks, along with the specialist session outputs are gathered together and presented in a digital booklet which is submitted at the end of the Semester.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The assessment is pass/fail and the key component of this is the final ‘synthesised’ task. Other Tasks and specialist-taught outputs, are required to be included in the assessment (thus demonstrating the students process and engagement with the module) but are not specifically marked. In addition to the final Task, a short written summary is also marked and allows students to more fully and specifically document their learning process and progress. The design of the final digital booklet enables students to develop skills in document-based communication.

General Notes

This module contributes towards delivering the following RIBA/ARB Prescription Criteria for Qualifications:

GC3.1; GC6.1

Details of the Criteria are available at: http://www.arb.org.uk/qualifications/arb_criteria/arb_criteria.php