Architectural and Urban Studies

The architectural part of the course focuses on the development of new ways of architectural thinking through drawings, animation, film, installation projects, and a variety of small-scale interventions. The urban part of the course focuses on urban strategy within existing cities and the connection of small-scale architectural interventions that together create a strategic view of the city at a large urban scale. The studies element of the course is dedicated to critical and theoretical aspects of architecture within the urban context through practice-led research, innovation in techniques of representation, and forging ideas as to how the city may develop in the future and over time. Speculative and critical thought in terms of cultural context is encouraged throughout as well as students' own personal development. Students wishing to explore and extend their present knowledge of design into unknown, challenging and innovative approaches to designing the architecture of world cities will benefit from this course. The culmination of the course, the Master Work, often utilises exhibitions, performances and symposia to link students' creative efforts to professional and academic networks.

Professional accreditation

Successful completion of this course may lead to exemptions in some modules of the RIBA-accredited Architecture postgraduate diploma - subject to the approval of the course subject leader and academic programme leader.

Course structure

Study consists of design tutorials, group discussions, lectures and seminars. Students work in a group or individually at different stages of their projects. Field trips are integral to the course and used as research as well as real sites for the final design projects. Lecture-based programmes and seminars are shared with other MA courses and provide open platforms for debate and discussion. At masters level students become independent learners, exploring skills that are the basis for establishing personal and professional interests, independence, and identity. Independent learning means setting goals and devising strategies for attaining skills beyond the strict minimum of those needed within a programme of study. It also means identifying areas of knowledge and skills that require special attention. Support is available for the improvement of English language and study skills such as essay writing and communication skills. Responsibility for meeting academic standards lies ultimately with each individual student, who must seek advice in a timely way, and personally research areas of knowledge and skill of personal importance as needed. Students are expected to spend an average of 600 hours of learning per semester. Most learning time is spent in the studio. Additional lectures, seminars and workshops support various elements of the course, including computing tutorials in the 3D software, photographic workshops, invited lectures and seminars.

Areas of study

Work undertaken in the Design Studio focuses on projects that are situated in an urban context. These use a variety of scales considering small to large-scale urban and architectural drawings. The studio makes at least two field trips to different cities each year. Investigations from these visits are creatively mapped and drawn, focusing on students' intuitive interpretation of the designated sites. Such investigations are enriched with critical reading and culminate in the production of a 'book' and portfolio of investigations on the cities that have been visited. These investigations generate the tools and ideas that drive the final urban/architectural design project. The work is of a highly experimental nature that stretches each student's imagination and critical ability. The course involves a variety of workshops including drawing, innovative computer teaching, specialist modeling, and research methods seminars. Students produce portfolios, critical writing and demonstrate global awareness that expands their knowledge beyond the usual architectural boundaries. Critical Readings in Architecture is a lecture, seminar and symposium-based course that complements design introducing architectural and urban knowledge as creative positions pursued through academic reading and writing. The independent project can take a variety of forms such as competition design, student-initiated work placement assistant teaching, event and project sponsorship, or conference participation and organisation. The Master Work is the culmination of the course and may be undertaken through creative design practice supported by critical text or as a text-based thesis. The development of the Master Work proposal is supported through engagement with research-based seminars, a supervisor and regular seminar presentations.

Career and progression opportunities

The course offers graduates a variety of options in terms of future career options including practice or further PhD research. The course has an excellent record in producing good portfolios which students use to seek employment. Equally, the course sharpens critical thinking about architecture and the city. Students enrolled on the course may realise their independent project as a self-initiated placement within an architectural practice. Graduates gain skills to work in practice where knowledge of particular interventions and their strategic context is essential. The course focuses on forms of social engagement between architecture and urbanism. This approach is advantageous for students from different cultures as well as those wishing to work in new cultural contexts. In some cases, graduates may wish to explore further research towards a PhD.

Mode of Attendance : Full - time