Aims

Architecture Ways of Knowing 1 is a unique feature of the MArch curriculum, the first of a two linked modules that span the two Stages of the MArch (semester two of stage 5 & semester one of stage 6) enabling year-long more independent or collaborative research projects involving both staff and students aiming to: (a) to develop an understanding of architecture as a discipline in dialogue with other academic and practical disciplines; (b) to increase awareness of the socio-economic, technological and ideological factors that influence the design of buildings and their surroundings; including cities.

This module aims to enable students to gain experience of defining a research project, identifying questions, researching the context and resourcing and planning the project through working directly with experienced researchers, to foster greater awareness of research and its importance in architecture and to develop a range of research skills and knowledge of methodologies.


The aim of the module is to provide students with the opportunity to work collaboratively with research active staff in the School and to take part in live research projects. The module enables approaches that extend beyond the conventional studio design project allowing space for multiple and speculative forms of research. Each year a number of projects are offered that are varied and are often open-ended and collaborative and, because they are long term and involve groups working together, they can enable participatory projects and large-scale production with partners from inside and outside of the University. The suggested projects are varied usually involve a wide range of methods, approaches and outputs.

Research could be carried out individually or collaboratively and the research outputs will vary depending on nature of the research, from creative practice ‘projects’ resulting in an artefact and report, or lab experiments resulting in a shorter report, or even collaborative live research projects resulting either to collaborative or individual outcomes.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module focusses on the delivery of foundational research. Students work to develop methods and approaches established in their chosen research project. A detailed introduction to the scope, syllabus and outputs for each project is provided at the beginning of the module by the module leader and the project supervisors.

The module is 20 credit worth.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The precise allocation of teaching activities to the 200 hour total will vary depending on the nature of the project.

Five Lectures on Advanced Research Methods and a 2-hour event of short oral presentations will be offered to the students of both of the routes, to create a consolidated common ground of advanced research skills. Set hours will be dedicated to cross-group sharing activities and events, to allow for cross-learning between groups and for sharing of research methods and approaches. These will be delivered in person when permitted and use digital technology for sharing and recording of sessions.

There is inherent flexibility in the module owing to the size and structure of the project groupings (max. size 10 students for linked research project), and research practices can be adapted to fit permitted interactions at the time. Groups will be expected to deliver in-person teaching, supplemented with session recording and sharing where appropriate. Some groups are by nature ‘live’ and these will involve working in close proximity with communities and collaborators. These will deploy digital technology to accommodate for different needs and public health concerns as and when they arise.

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities, including group teaching and project related supervision will be Present-in-Person. However, if students are unable to participate in Present-in-Person group teaching or project related supervision activities, structured non-Synchronous alternatives will be offered in the form of written comments provided to students unable to attend scheduled activities, Present-in-Person. Comments will be provided via email, in response to electronically shared written/visual material, if they are unable to attend scheduled activities (whether online or in person). Supervisor and supervisee can meet in-person by mutual agreement for project related supervision.

Guided Independent Study (when applied), including Assessment preparation and completion and Directed research and reading are student-led, guided by the project supervisors and the module leader, so could take place on-campus (including library-based research), as required by individual students.

The nature of this module makes it very well-suited for shifting between Present-in-Person and non-synchronous learning and teaching activities as required.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Students need to have passed the submission of this semester in order to proceed in Architecture Ways of Knowing 2. The submission consists of a 3000 word report that is graded and its grade is superseded by the grade of Architecture Ways of Knowing 2.
Oral presentations provide an opportunity for formative feedback and enable moderation of expectations between different routes and projects within the module.
Final assessment criteria focus on the knowledge and skills outcomes common to all routes and projects; the formulation of a clear research rational, applying appropriate methods and techniques to the development of the project and critically evaluating the project in relation to an identified field of architectural research. Additional criteria that focus on the specific outcomes for each route and project will be agreed with the students at the beginning of the module.

Assessment Criteria
All projects are marked by the tutor(s) paired for reasons of fairness.
Identification and review of a range of pertinent resources ( literature, archival, site survey etc as appropriate).
Clear expression of the frame (scope ad focus) for the proposed research project.
Vividness and appropriacy of expression including quality and use of visual materials.