Projects and designs from students.
Year one
Year one Design Studio introduces students to architectural design. A key aspect of learning and teaching is the balance of skills needed to support effective design process. The skills learning ranges from the quick and dirty, that fuel lateral thinking, to the precise and controlled, that support design resolution and effective graphic communication.
The application of skills is underpinned by critical, thorough design thinking regarding place and client/users, to develop architectural design ideas that foreground the spatial experience and delight of users/ visitors. Initial Foundation studies start the process of developing this balance of skills and thinking, and raise awareness of the value of iterative design, precedent and collaborative working. Students then tackle integrated design projects: the design of an Artist’s Residence in a landscape setting; the design of a Community building in an urban setting, and; design for the extension and reuse of an existing building.
Study trips support learning: in 2024-25 a semester one day trip to Yorkshire Sculpture Park and the Hepworth, Wakefield, introduced students to sketch based observation and analysis skills that they applied in semester two in a week-long study trip to Paris, or a study trip to London.
Year one student projects
Year two and final year - Vertical Studios
From year two, students join themed vertical studio units choosing from one of eleven units across five streams, Urban Initiatives, Design Make, Cultural Contexts, Poetic Narrative and Community. Year two and final year students work together, researching contexts, concept and contemporary issues, sharing and testing ideas, whilst working on increasingly complex projects, designing for education, civic and community spaces before embarking on the design of a multi-unit housing project.
Focus is on place making and community, understanding landscape and the potential of existing infrastructure and buildings and developing an ethical and research based approach to design. Study trips, visiting lecturers and cross unit exchange sessions provide points for sharing, reflection and fun throughout the year. Architecture days in both semesters are collaborative opportunities for BArch,MEng and MArch students to work together and meet with invited practitioners and academics.
Final year students continue to develop an independent approach to research and design, culminating in a project theme of their curation. Design encompasses material and technical knowledge, an understanding of site, context and environment and their independent reading and analysis of end users, the environment, precedent and typology, all of which is enhanced through a three day field study trip in Europe. Students demonstrate their understanding of complex social, technical and environmental issues with thoughtful confidence and sensitivity. Creating, with the courage of their convictions, spaces and place for communities in a climate of change.
Year three projects
Urban Initiatives
Design Make
Cultural Contexts
Poetic Narrative
Community