Aims

To enable students to:

• Develop an awareness of theories and ideas relating to architecture, cities, space, and the production of the built environment.

• Recognise how factors surrounding the practice of architecture, such as planning, regulation,
social justice, diverse cultures, ways of living, and thinking about the world, influence both the production of the built environment and the values it forms and perpetuates.

• Appreciate the complex interplay between architects’ designs, techniques and practices and their
theoretical approaches, principles, and political aspirations (such as participation, diversity, critique) in architectural cultures.

• Inform and strengthen the theoretical basis on which students develop approaches to design and research and take decisions in an ethical, responsible, and adaptive manner.

Outline Of Syllabus

Organised in three themes – cities, cultures, and space – the lectures and workshops introduce students to key concepts and theories for thinking about architecture, space, and the built environment in the contemporary world. In doing so, it introduces students to the importance of disciplinary perspectives from beyond architecture such as planning, urban design, social sciences, art practice, philosophy, cultural studies, history, and the humanities.

In the research skills thread, students will learn fundamental research skills, such as library search, compiling a bibliography, critical reading, referencing, developing an argument with reference to a body of existing literature, and good academic practice (avoiding plagiarism).

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Teaching is organised into two threads: the main content, and a supplementary research skills thread.

The main content is delivered primarily by means of weekly block 2 hour lecture session. These will be in person and will typically take the following form:
• One hour dedicated to subject introduction and close reading of texts led by the lecturer.
• One hour dedicated to a Q&A session with students.

In person thematic lectures will be supported by:
• In person workshops, delivered in one-hour blocks, approximately every third week. In these, students will explore a key thematic text with an a tutor and work on a research skills task.
• Interactive research skills lectures.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The essay assesses students’ overview and knowledge of the syllabus, their ability to consider the built environment in relation to some of the theories and ideas they have been introduced to, and their ability to access and synthesise materials and evidence to support their arguments.

The research skills portfolio will assess students’ acquisition of a range of fundamental research techniques to assist in the production of the essay.