Architecture with Foundation Year

Module Aim:  

Building on the core characteristics introduced in the preceding module - ‘Introduction to Architecture’ - this module focusses on people and place and introduces a design approach centred on contextual design and the spatial and qualitative/quantitative requirements of users.  Students will develop the architectural design skills to explore, produce and represent an imaginative design proposal for a small scale, naturally daylit building with an emphasis on spatial design and visual comfort.    

Indicative content:  

• Graphic representation skills to support effective communication of architectural design thinking. 

• Hand drawn 2D and 3D presentation techniques including orthographic drawing and physical modelmaking.  

• Research, analysis and precedent study of related architecture and building types.

• Research and study of visual and graphical representation techniques. 

• Sensory and experiential approaches to environmental architecture. 

• Introduction to context and site analysis as key design considerations.  

• Creative spatial design informed by functional process, people and user requirements. 

• Daylight analysis and designing for daylight as passive environmental design. 

• Domestic scale construction considering building performance, materials, structural principles, and technology. 

• Potential to work on a live project related to real clients and scenarios. 

• Group working.

Module Aim: 

This module will continue developing architectural design skills to produce and represent a competent, integrated design proposal for a small-scale project applying the fundamental principles of environmental design with an emphasis on domestic environments.  

Collaboration provides the foundation of the module through the opportunity to engage with real life clients and project briefs.  

Indicative content: 

• Creative design for domestic environmental architecture.

• Alternative social and inclusive concepts for domestic architecture to challenge design and creativity.  

• Strategic design through collaborative group work. 

• Research, analysis and precedent study of related architecture and building types.

• Potential to work on a live project related to real clients and scenarios. 

• Introduction to 2D and 3D digital skills, software and representation techniques. 

• Graphic representation skills to support effective communication of architectural design thinking 

• Hand drawn 2D and 3D presentation techniques and physical modelmaking. 

• Domestic scale construction considering building performance, materials, passivhaus standards, structural principles, and technology. 

• Introduction to statutory legislation (building regulations).

• Evaluation of passive environmental strategies and thermal comfort through manual calculations, modelling and testing. 

Module Aim:  

The module aims to provide an introduction to histories and theories of architecture to understand the influence of cultural, social, artistic, political and environmental contexts on architectural design.  The module also develops methods of researching and analysing built works using written, drawn and digital skills.   

Indicative content:  

• Cultural, environmental, political, social, aesthetic, stylistic and environmental aspects of architecture examined through global, and diverse historical case studies. 

• How the history and theory of architecture has changed over time. 

• Influence of related artistic and design disciplines on architecture.

• Decolonising architecture, politics and power relations shaping architectural histories.  

• Digital skills in drawing, representing and understanding architecture through historic precedent.

• Drawing skills in architectural analysis through historic precedent.

• Discussion, reflection and understanding the built environment through students own prior learning and diverse lived experience.

• Academic writing, research and referencing.

Module Aim 

The module aims to introduce key skills, core characteristics and attributes of the course and the practice of environmental and sustainable architecture.  People, place, environment and ethics are explored through a creative, applied real-world design project.  Supporting the transition to University and Higher Education, the module extends induction to introduce ways of learning, feedback, processes and skills. 

Indicative content:  

• What is Architecture? 

• Principles of environmental design 

• Environmental and social ethics of architectural practice  

• Climate emergency data 

• Cultural awareness and social diversity  

• Global and diverse architectural precedents 

• Collaboration and group working through an applied real-world project 

• Creative architectural design 

• Experimental model making both full size and to scale 

• Ways of seeing and analysing; sensing the environment 

• Communicating ideas through hand drawing, physical modelling and verbal presentation 

• Orthographic and technical drawing skills 

• Physical Model making skills 

• Graphic and verbal presentation skills 

• Writing and critical reflection 

• Receiving, understanding and acting on feedback

Module Aim 

This project-based module will enable you to collaborate with other students across a number of disciplines within the Department of Natural and Built Environment. It will promote the development of employability skills through interaction with a variety of students, academic staff, external clients, and external professionals. 

The collaborative project will be strategic in nature will address critical issues related to climate change and relate to the UN Sustainability Goals. It will be based on a brief identified by an external client and will be delivered as an applied project using professional modes of working. 

The collaborative project will be devised to explore topical and challenging issues related to social justice and inclusion and based in diverse local and national communities. 

In addition to contributing to the collaborative aspect of the project, you will have the opportunity to explore and extend the strategic design proposal into more detailed technical design proposals. This second stage of the project will be undertaken as an individual, building on the work produced by the group. 

Indicative content:  

• Working with others, in building relationships, including with external stakeholders 

• Equality, diversity and inclusion 

• Critical thinking and reflection 

• Exploration and utilisation of collaborative skills 

• Developing collaborative and strategic design proposals 

• Project management 

• Communication and presentation skills 

• Reflection on collaborative learning and inclusive practice 

• Study and consideration of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 

• Collaborative working using Building Information Management software (BIM) 

• Developing and presenting environmental and construction design solutions 

Module Aim:  

The module provides a creative and stimulating opportunity to engage in environmental architectural design for people, communities and organisations through projects situated in urban real-world situations. The module builds on and progresses from level 4 modules to consider more complex briefs, urban context and placemaking. Developing technical knowledge, in sustainability and construction from the analysis of related non-domestic buildings of a similar scale, complexity and typology is then applied and explored through the design projects 

Indicative content:  

• Social mapping and analysis 

• Collaborative urban analysis and researching with others 

• Design process and experimentation 

• Creative architectural design 

• Design for users, groups, society and wellbeing 

• Equality, diversity and inclusion 

• Urban design, landscaping and placemaking 

• Architectural drawing, modelling and presentation techniques 

• Architectural production and professional procedures 

• Digital practice and modelling in architecture 

• UN Sustainable Development goals 

• Environmental sustainability and net zero architecture 

• Human comfort and climate and building science  

• Energy efficiency and passive and active design principles and strategies  

• Structural systems, frames, foundations and stability 

• Basic structural calculations 

• Sustainable structural systems and materials 

• Academic research and case study analysis  

Module Aim:  

The module provides a creative and stimulating opportunity to engage in environmental architectural design for people, communities and organisations through projects situated in urban real-world situations. The module builds on preceding level 5 modules to consider a more complex brief for a small community building and urban public space to produce a coherent and resolved proposal integrating aspect of environmental design and construction.  This is a key stage of technical integration.   

The project will be based in a European city with an increased emphasis on international and globally diverse cultures, architecture and urbanism.  

The module will also deliver a programme of activities linked to career readiness, including CV writing, making applications for work, building an online profile and expanding digital capabilities in preparation for Level 6 short placement. 

Indicative content:  

• Social mapping and analysis 

• Collaborative urban analysis and researching with others 

• Design process and experimentation 

• Global and culturally diverse precedents in architecture and environmental design 

• Design for users, groups, society and wellbeing 

• Equality, diversity and inclusion 

• Urban design, landscaping and placemaking 

• Architectural drawing, modelling and presentation techniques 

• Architectural production and professional procedures 

• Fire safety and life safety legislation and design considerations 

• Digital practice and modelling in architecture 

• Environmental ethics and professional responsibilities 

• UN Sustainable Development Goals and environmental legislation 

• Environmental sustainability and net zero architecture 

• Energy efficiency and passive and active design principles and strategies 

• Science and design for human comfort 

• Building services and low energy mechanical and renewable energy systems 

• Digital environmental design software and applied simulation and analysis 

• Structural systems, frames, foundations and stability 

• Applied structural design  

• Applied constructional design and specification for sustainable external envelopes 

• Employability and career readiness 

Module Aim:  

The aim of this module is to develop a critical appreciation of contemporary practice of architecture and urbanism. It further aims to promote an awareness of the significant contextual influences inherent in architecture and urbanism with an emphasis on globally diverse cultures, social inclusion and diversity, and environmental conditions. It will consolidate the study of architecture and cities through visits to urban spaces and offer an opportunity for critical analysis through research and personal experience.  

The module will be delivered through a series of lectures, seminars and tutorials. Additionally, a field trip to a European city (or alternative UK city) will enhance learning in the module and integrate with design projects in the semester 2 Environmental Architecture 4 module. 

Indicative content:  

• Theories of urban design, landscape and planning 

• Influence of the design and development of cities on the contemporary built environment 

• Planning policy and development control legislation, including social, environmental and economic aspects 

• Relationship between social justice and environmental sustainability 

• Equality, diversity and inclusion 

• UN Sustainable Development Goals 

• Environmental Urban Design 

• Alternative Urban Practice  

• Urban analysis theories and methods  

• Social mapping and analysis 

• Academic research and case study analysis  

Module aim:    

The aim of this module is to enhance students’ professional development through the completion of and reflection on meaningful work placement(s).  

A work placement will provide students with opportunities to experience the realities of professional employment and experience how their course can be applied within their chosen industry setting. The placement will: 

• Allow student to apply the skills, theories and behaviours relevant and in addition to their course 
• Enable students to enhance their interpersonal skills in demand by graduate employers – communication, problem-solving, creativity, resilience, team work etc.  
• Grow their student network and relationship building skills. 
• Provide student with insights into the industry and sector in which their placement occurs 
• Help student make informed graduate careers choices. 

Indicative Content:  

In this module students undertake a sandwich placement (min 24 weeks / min 21 hours per week) which is integrated, assessed and aligned to their studies.  

Their personal Placement Academic Supervisor (PAS) will be their key point of contact during their placement and will encourage and support students to reflect on their experience, learning and contribution to the organisation they work for.  

To demonstrate gains in professional development, students will be required to share their progress, learning and achievements with their Placement Academic Supervisor and reflect on these for the summative piece of work. 

Module Aim:  

The module enables the creative development and review of synthesised, coherent and imaginative architectural design proposals for a reasonably complex public building (c. 750 sq. m floor area) and immediate surroundings within a landscape setting. The module develops learning from level 5 and requires the integration of innovative environmental design strategies, materials and technologies.   

Indicative content:  

• Exploration and analysis of physical and social aspects of a real-world landscape/urban periphery context. 
• Exploration and analysis of micro-climate and local ecology  
• Research and analysis of related global and culturally diverse building typologies and strategies  
• Developing innovative sustainable architectural design proposals which synthesise spatial, environmental, contextual, functional, structural and construction strategies 
• Analysis and development of key environmental design and sustainable construction strategies  
• Advanced theory and strategies in effective, holistic environmental design 
• Passive and active environmental strategies. 
• Advanced level of environmental and technical knowledge. 
• UN Sustainable Development Goals and environmental legislation 
• Environmental sustainability and net zero architecture 
• Analysis and testing of fire safety and means of escape for life safety 
• Presenting resolved architectural design proposals verbally, graphically and through drawings and models. 
• Digital Software relevant to Professional Practice 

Module Aim:  

The module enables the development and review of synthesised urban, landscape and architectural design proposals for complex civic buildings (c. 1,200 sq. m) and surrounding civic public spaces set within a UK city. The module is the culmination of learning from levels 4, 5 and preceding level 6 modules and expands integration of innovative environmental design strategies, materials and technologies. 

Indicative content:  

• Exploration, analysis and integration of physical and social aspects of a real-world urban contexts. 
• Principles of urban design and landscape design 
• Exploration and analysis of micro-climate 
• Research and analysis of related global and culturally diverse building typologies and strategies  
• Developing innovative architectural design proposals which synthesise spatial, environmental, contextual, functional, structural and construction strategies 
• Developing urban design and landscape proposals  
• Analysis and development of key environmental design and sustainable construction strategies  
• Evidence informed design: simulating and testing environmental design within your projects through digital and physical modelling 
• Advanced theory and strategies in effective, macro to micro holistic environmental design  
• Advanced level of environmental and technical knowledge.  
• UN Sustainable Development Goals and environmental legislation 
• Environmental sustainability and net zero architecture 
• Presenting resolved architectural design proposals verbally, graphically and through drawings and models. 
• Digital Software relevant to Professional Practice  

Module Aim:  

To build rigorous disciplinary knowledge in the architectural humanities, and fluency in key concepts and methodologies, through the exploration of contemporary and recent global architectural histories and theories, and related disciplines, in relation to a personal area of interest.  

Indicative content:  

• Cultural, artistic, social, political, economic and environmental situations in which movements and approaches to architecture emerge. 
• Movements in architecture (e.g. Modernism, post-modernism, deconstructivism) 
• Indigenous and vernacular architecture 
• Ecological and environmental architecture 
• Participation and Activism 
• Feminism and Gender 
• Intersectionality and critical theories 
• Architecture post conflict/disaster  
• Contemporary art 
• Academic skills: research and analysis, constructing critical questions; communication in written & graphic form 

Themes (Global 20th/21st century histories and discourse): 

• How have architects responded to, and been informed by environmental movements and ecological thinking?  
• What tools, approaches and roles have architects’ developed to engage in social and political issues and struggles? 
• How have architects’ been influenced by contemporary arts, and/or technological changes in developing architectural languages, processes and ideas?  

Module Aim:  

The module aims to introduce management principles, professional procedures and statutory codes relevant to architectural practice and enhance employability through a direct engagement and experience with architectural practice and related professions.  The module includes short work placements within architectural or related industry practices, or through industry related entrepreneurial initiatives and real projects. 

Indicative content:  

• RIBA Plan of Work and project management  
• Professions, professionalism and ethical practice 
• Alternative ways of practising, diversity and current issues in practice.  
• Design team, client relationships, collaboration and team working 
• Practice management, office organisation and fee calculation 
• Quality management and systems in practice and on-site 
• Principles of law relating to construction, contracts and dispute resolution;  
• Economics of the construction industry and procurement routes 
• Legislation and Regulatory Frameworks including Planning Law; Building Regulations; CDM regulations and Health and Safety issues in the construction industry 
• CV and professional portfolio development 
• Critical thinking and reflection 
• Professional communication and networks