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Module Leader
Ray Verrall
The International Foundation in
Architecture provides a highly
explorative introduction to the
subject, allowing a great degree of
playfulness and individuality. Upon
successful completion, students
may gain direct entry to Newcastle
University to continue the subject at
degree level.
Semester one introduces students
to the foundational language and
elements of architectural design
through lectures, study trips, design
projects, tutorials and seminars. The
conveyed content is designed to
stimulate and strengthen personal
interests in architecture, develop
both general and architectural
design skills, and promote a
comprehensive understanding of
architecture and its contexts.
Semester two affords students the
opportunity to holistically evidence
all of the cognitive and technical
skills they have developed during
the course. Through a small-
scale architectural design project,
students engage with real-world
site analysis approaches, learning
International Foundation in Architecture
to consider the environmental,
social and cultural implications of
architectural place-making. The
principles of basic construction
methods are introduced, and
students gain an appreciation for
materiality and how small buildings
are physically made. Workshops
and tutorials provide guidance and
support as they continue to develop
their personal design language and
refine their communication and
presentation skills.
Throughout the course, students
are required to critically analyse,
research, record and reflect upon
their new architectural knowledge
as it develops. The primarymeans for
documenting this process is through
the consistent use of sketchbooks
and accumulation of process work.
At the end of the course, having
worked through a variety of tasks
and projects, students produce a
final portfolio which demonstrates
the general skills and knowledge
required for further study.