MSt Architecture

The course is taught as a series of two-week long residential courses, three in each year, spread over 37 months.

Year One

The emphasis in year one is building up core skills.

Module 1: Introduction to Architectural Research and Writing

1. Advanced Research Skills (intense course of lectures on methods of writing and researching architecture, presentation, drawing and representation)

2. The Development of Architectural and Urban History/Theory (intense course of lectures on the development of the history and theory of architecture and urban design through the ages)

3. Advanced Studies in Architectural Technology (an intense course of lectures on the latest developments in architectural technology and research)

Assessment: submission of one essay on a topic from 1.1 or 1.2 above.

Modules 2-6: Master Classes

Master Classes in Design are led by practitioners in the field and done in co-operation with one of the participating architectural practices.

Module 2: Working in Teams Master Class

Students are set an architectural project in which may be a real or imaginary scheme and expected in small teams to produce fully worked up schemes.

The fortnight will include lectures and visits relevant to the project set. All the design work and drawing must be done within the time set. There is a particular emphasis in this module in learning to work in teams, which is both an essential part of the course and mirrors the situation in real world practice.

Assessment: Presentation on final day marked by panel of judges, contributions go into individual students’ portfolios

Module 3: Advanced Computing Modelling Master Class

Students are divided into small teams and set a design project that involves making a prototype using computer fabrication. The fortnight will include lectures and demonstrations on CAD, BIM and digital fabrication. All the design work and production must be done within the time set. There is a strong emphasis on teamwork mirroring the situation in real world practice.

Assessment: presentation on final day marked by panel of judges, contributions go into individual students’ portfolios

Year Two

The emphasis of the three modules in year two is in developing the ability to work at different scales.

Module 4: Façade Design Master Class

Students are divided into small teams and set a design project that involves designing a cladding system for a building. The fortnight will include lectures by leading engineers and researchers on the latest thinking in façade design and visits. The students are expected to build a model of part of the proposed cladding. All the design work and production must be done within the time set. There is a strong emphasis on teamwork mirroring the situation in real world practice.

Assessment: presentation on final day marked by panel of judges, contributions go into individual student’ portfolios

Module 5: Urban Design Master Class

Students are divided into small teams and set a design project that involves designing a Master Plan for a large urban project. The fortnight will include lectures by leading urban designers and researchers on the latest thinking in urban design and visits to relevant sites. All the design work and production must be done within the time set. There is a strong emphasis on teamwork mirroring the situation in real world practice.

Assessment: presentation on final day marked by panel of judges, contributions go into individual students’ portfolios

Module 6: Sustainable Building Master Class

Students will be divided into small teams and set a design project that involves designing a building or a group of buildings. The fortnight will include lectures by leading architects and researchers on the latest thinking in housing and other aspects of design and visits to relevant sites. All the design work and production must be done within the time set. There is a strong emphasis on teamwork mirroring the situation in real world practice.

Assessment: presentation on final day marked by panel of judges, contributions go into individual students’ portfolios

Year Three

This is the final year. The emphasis here is in completion of the ARB’s required Academic Outcomes which are the Learning Outcomes for the course. There are two components.

Module 7: Advanced Studies in Management Practice and Law

This module is delivered in the final residential. This course is based on workshops and lectures. The residential weeks cover all the legal aspects of architectural practice, including planning and regulation and good management practice.

Assessment: two written examinations in the second September of the third year.

Individual Design Project

Students present an Individual Design Project proposal in Year two and must get this approved before commencing Year three. The project must be undertaken under the direction of an academic adviser who will meet the student on a regular basis to set goals and is done using the facilities of the various practices involved. The project must be a piece of architectural design, but it may be at the scale of a fragment of a building, a whole building or an urban design. It should be represented by a physical model and a digital presentation.

Assessment: presentation on final day marked by panel of judges, contributions go into individual student’s portfolios.

Students will submit a final cumulative portfolio in advance of an examination board that will confirm that all Academic Outcomes have been met.