Architecture BA

This foundational first-year module serves as a crucial introduction to the interconnected disciplines of Architectural Design and Communication. Students will explore fundamental architectural principles, experimenting with concepts of space, form, function, and place. Simultaneously, they are immersed in the design process, learning iterative methodologies for problem-solving and creative exploration.

Through group work students will begin to learn about the social context of design projects and the ways in which collaboration with user groups and communities might enhance the development of design proposals. The module embeds learning within critical contemporary issues, placing a strong emphasis on climate and social justice. Through socially engaged design projects, you will be required to consider the environmental impact and societal responsibilities inherent in design decisions.

Central to this learning journey is the cultivation of a strong studio culture - a vibrant, collaborative environment encouraging peer learning, critical dialogue, and the development of a socially conscious design ethos. This module provides the essential building blocks for a thoughtful and technically proficient design practice.

A significant emphasis is placed on developing essential communication skills vital for any designer or architect. This includes mastering core techniques for visual representation, such as sketching, technical drawing, physical model-making, and introductory digital tools in addition to the core methodologies of design experimentation and testing.

The module cultivates effective verbal and written as well as drawn and modelled communication, enabling students to articulate design intentions, present work clearly, and engage constructively in design review presentations and peer group discussions. Through design tutorials and reviews, workshops and studio projects, students learn to synthesise architectural ideas, design thinking, and clear communication, building a solid base for subsequent years of study.

This foundational module introduces first year architecture students to the essential interplay between the built and natural environments. It establishes a critical understanding of how buildings respond to, are shaped by, and impact their surroundings.  Students will explore core principles of environmental physics relevant to architecture, learning how these factors fundamentally influence design decisions and occupant comfort. The module introduces methods for climate analysis, orientation and site assessment, enabling students to understand the environmental context of architectural projects. Students will be engaged in discussions relating to Climate Justice, the Climate Emergency and the responsibility of the architect to understand the impact of design decisions on the embodied and operational carbon cost of a building project. Students will be encouraged to develop a critical understanding of how architectural technology, materials, and sustainable discourses and processes relate to colonialism and empire. Students will gain an introductory overview of common building materials and fundamental construction techniques, considering their inherent properties, structural behaviour, and environmental implications.  Key concepts of sustainable design will be introduced, focusing on passive strategies, energy awareness, and the importance of resource efficiency. Simple building services related to heating, ventilation, and water will be discussed in principle.  Through lectures, case studies, and a close connection with studio design work, this module provides the essential environmental and technical knowledge base required to inform responsible and responsive architectural design proposals developed in parallel studio modules and future studies.

This course offers a broad, global, and expanded introduction to the history and theory of architecture by studying the reciprocal relationship between architecture, landscapes, the built environment and society. The course introduces histories of the creation and habitation of the built environment placed in a global perspective through a multidisciplinary and cross-cultural approach. The course seeks to establish that, throughout history as well as today, architecture and landscapes are socially, culturally, and politically contextualised thus relating to wider issues connected to society, political economy, and climate breakdown. Through this contextualisation, architecture raises questions about resources, land, economics, labour, policy, infrastructure, and, especially when taking a global approach, about locality, exchange, and adaptability. Responses to such questions are manifest in aesthetic and symbolic references, typologies, use, materiality, meaning, structure, layout, economy, and form.

Building directly upon the foundational principles and skills introduced in Semester 1, this second module challenges students to apply their learning to architectural design problems of increasing complexity and specificity. While continuing to explore core concepts of space, form, and function, the emphasis shifts towards integrating design thinking with detailed contextual analysis, including site conditions, precedent studies, and programmatic requirements. The iterative design methodologies learned previously will be employed with greater rigor, demanding more focused experimentation and critical evaluation of proposals.

Students will further develop their collaborative skills, applying insights gained from initial group work to navigate more nuanced design scenarios that require careful consideration of social dynamics and community perspectives. Engagement with the themes of climate and social justice moves beyond identification towards the exploration of potential integration into design proposals.

Communication skills are further refined, demanding greater precision and clarity in visual, verbal, and written formats. Students will enhance their proficiency in sketching, technical drawing, physical model-making, and digital representation, using these tools not just for individual exploration but also for constructing a design narrative. Expectations for presenting work and engaging in critical discourse during design reviews and peer discussions are elevated, fostering more sophisticated understanding of the subject. 

The strong studio culture remains vital, supporting students as they tackle more demanding tasks and synthesize technical skills, contextual understanding, and critical awareness, solidifying their foundation for the second year of the course.

This module offers a course of studio-based practical architectural design, building upon the foundational experience gained in the first year. The projects undertaken will feature an increased scale and complexity compared to those encountered previously, demanding consideration of crucial issues such as sustainability, the relationship of buildings to their context, and the thoughtful design of the surrounding environment. The technical dimension of the studio work is designed to deepen the understanding of building structure, construction, materials, and services, specifically how they integrate with and inform the overall design concept.

Furthermore, the module expands upon the representation and computer modelling skills introduced earlier in the course, aiming to consolidate and extend students' technical drawing skills and CAD proficiency. This development will broaden students' knowledge of architectural representation and analytical methods pertinent to design, including modelling, drafting, analysis, and visualisation/presentation. The core aim is to establish familiarity and confidence in using Computer-Aided Design software to model design ideas, thereby enabling students to produce a range of high-quality outputs that effectively articulate and test their architectural proposals.

The Architectural Environment and Technology 02 module will provide the knowledge and ability in building technology, environmental design and construction methods that are necessary to undertake design projects in the Design Studio. This module provides a comprehensive exploration of building principles and resources, beginning with the fundamental mechanics of structures and foundations. Students will examine the essential materials that form a building's skeleton while simultaneously addressing the modern imperative of sustainability. A significant focus is placed on embodied carbon, challenging students to implement structural designs that utilize low-environmental-impact, recycled, and renewable materials. This foundational knowledge ensures that technical stability is balanced with ecological responsibility from the ground up.Building on this structural base, the module transitions into the intricacies of the building envelope and human-centric design. It covers the principles of envelope design alongside a detailed study of exterior and interior finishes, again prioritizing low-carbon and sustainable material options to minimize the project's overall carbon footprint. Beyond the physical shell, the curriculum integrates vital safety and inclusivity standards, specifically focusing on barrier-free accessibility and fire safety. By the end of the module, students will possess a holistic understanding of how to construct buildings that are as resilient and ethical as they are functional.

This module deepens the understanding of the histories, theories, and practices of the built environment by approaching architecture through its entanglements with environmental, urban, and societal questions. The module will study historical and contemporary manifestations of architecture through cross-disciplinary perspectives including social, political, urban, and environmental history and theory and through a focus on architectural and urban case studies.

This module serves as the second semester studio and communication component, forming an integrated sequence of projects that build directly upon the work completed in the first semester studio design and communication course. The practical architectural design work continues, significantly developing in scale and complexity. A critical aspect of this work involves the comprehensive integration of technical and environmental elements into the design proposal. Simultaneously, the module provides a continuation to Computer-Aided Architectural Design (CAAD) skills learned in the first semester, to consolidate and extend students' technical drawing skills and CAD acumen to develop and broaden knowledge of architectural representation and analytical methods of design. Students will be introduced to parametric modelling principles/BIM (Building Information Modelling) enabling them to develop a practice/industry oriented perspective of architectural communication and insight into the environmental significance of their design.

The module is a largely studio-based course that significantly builds upon the foundational lessons of the first and second years, aiming to foster a harmonious integration of design practice within the complex professional context of architecture. 

The core activity involves undertaking design schemes of greater complexity than previously encountered, with projects structured to require the comprehensive application of knowledge gained across the entire three-years. A strong focus is placed on the importance of physical context and analytical studies relating to urban design, precedents, and philosophical approaches, while also introducing students to a wider range of building types. Associated technical studies are considered an integral part of the design process.

A significant and defining component of the module is the Live Project work, which grounds the studio experience in real-world collaboration and outcomes. Students work in groups, with a diverse range of real clients, including local community groups, charities, health organizations, and regional authorities. The projects are live, happening in real time, with real people, and can encompass a variety of outcomes such as master planning, building feasibility studies, sustainability strategies, online resources, and participation toolkits. While specific projects vary annually, they are chosen strategically to develop essential professional skills, including design, team building, briefing, client liaison, community engagement, and project management.

A central aim of this module is to explore and develop a greater understanding of architectural practice in relation to the broader external environment, specifically focusing on the legal, economic, and contractual scenarios that govern professional work, with a particular emphasis on understanding the political, social, and financial factors that fundamentally affect the practice of architecture.

The module provides a rigorous, studio-based program of design work that advances and synthesises the knowledge and skills established in the first and second-year studios.

Studio design projects involve design schemes of notably increased complexity, emphasizing the comprehensive integration and application of all theoretical and practical learning accumulated during the course so far.



Design challenges highlight the critical importance of physical context, expose students to a broader spectrum of building types, and necessitate detailed analytical studies of urban design, building precedents, and a broad range of philosophical approaches. Crucially, the associated technical studies are directly linked to the design projects and are treated as a fundamental, integral component of the overall design process.

The module emphasises the skills associated with employability as the focus of the course starts to shift towards the formulation of a career beyond graduation.

The Environment and Technology module will provide the knowledge and ability in building technology, environmental design and construction methods that are necessary to undertake design projects in the Design Studio.

This module explores the vital intersection of human experience and building performance, focusing on how architectural design dictates personal comfort and environmental impact. Students will begin by investigating the nuances of human comfort and thermal perception, extending their study to include acoustic performance and the spatial qualities of lighting and daylighting. By understanding these sensory factors, students can design spaces that respond intuitively to the needs of their occupants through an informed application of both passive and active building systems.

The curriculum further emphasizes the technical integration of structure and services within the building envelope, ensuring that heating, cooling, and ventilation work in harmony with the architectural form. Critical safety considerations, such as fire safety, are woven into these technical strategies alongside a specialized focus on retrofit. This allows students to evaluate the performance of existing structures and develop effective strategies for improvement. Ultimately, the module frames these decisions within the broader context of Whole Life Carbon, teaching students to navigate the complexities of operational and embodied carbon while embracing the principles of the circular economy throughout every stage of the building life cycle.This module is also the culmination of the series of undergraduate modules in Environment and Technology and presents principles of how the various considerations are brought together within a holistic environmental and technical strategy.

In this module students learn about different research traditions, methods, and approaches in architecture and develop an in-depth critical study of an architectural subject of your choosing. Students can choose a topic and approach drawing on architectural theory, architectural history, environment, technology, landscape architecture, urban design, and research through design, and are encouraged to draw also on related fields to develop interdisciplinary knowledge about the built environment. Students are encouraged to study topics in architecture with relevance to pressing agendas in the field of architecture, including environmental responsibility, climate change mitigation, inclusive design, and societal transformations and challenges. Students produce an individual piece of work, exploring a particular aspect of architecture in some depth. They will develop their subject through critical analysis and may also involve original research, although this is not a requirement. Precise topics will be discussed and agreed with the relevant tutor. The work takes the form of a written study but can draw on a broad range of methods—e.g. from humanities, technology, social sciences, or research through design--that will determine the exact format and delivery of the work.