ARCT40760 Advanced Design Thesis

Academic Year 2023/2024

This programme places value on design-based research carried out within an active studio culture of constructive conversation. It is intended to provide encouragement and opportunity, within an academic environment, to rigorously explore and develop architectural intentions in relation to the wider cultural and social context.

There are two modes to the programme, in response to different levels of skill and experience of candidates. Mode 1 is where candidates propose an independent project. Mode 2 is where candidates work as part of design research groups.

In Mode 1, an independent design research project would be appropriate for candidates with an established record of architectural practice wishing to carry out a design research project. The design research project would seek to extend or elaborate an issue emerging from or relating to the candidate’s experience of practice, with reference to a wider body of knowledge or research. Individual projects will be defined, developed and approved in consultation with the programme board, prior to the start of term, and may be assigned an additional supervisor where necessary.

In Mode 2 design research groups will be led by staff at the forefront of practice, research and scholarship. Each group will be pursuing distinct themes and using specific methodologies, each related to the research mission of the school and of the university. Project work will be developed through regular seminars, tutorials and presentations. Each group’s work will combine a regard for rigour and depth with a commitment to experiment and innovation.

The MArch Advanced Entry course, in both Modes, is full time and organised over 12 weeks followed by an exhibition development period. A series of tutorials will take place to discuss the preparation and development of the exhibition design and conclusion of the written document. The final project is presented as a public exhibition.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

For both Modes, a final, public exhibition and an illustrated written document would be required, both of which, taken together must demonstrate that the student has extended their knowledge of architecture, deepened their critical position, tested their ideas and developed their personal fluency in design-based research.

Indicative Module Content:

Content will vary by Mode and by year but will include research methods in architecture and affiliated disciplines.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

8
Small Group

48
Studio

64
Autonomous Student Learning

480
Total

600
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Key teaching and learning approaches will vary by Mode.

Mode 1 (independent design research project) will vary by the needs of each individual project, but could include case-based learning; enquiry & problem-based learning through tutorials; and will include reflective learning and critical writing for the final submission.

Mode 2 (design research group) will involve peer and group work learning through regular seminars and presentations; enquiry & problem-based learning through tutorials; and reflective learning and critical writing for the final submission. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

B.Arch (Part II) or equivalent


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Portfolio: Project Work including Report and Exhibition Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded Yes

100

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students will be provided continuous feedback on the development of the work, individually or as a group, as their work progresses throughout the trimester. Individual interviews with students will be held with the module coordinator/instructors following submission of the final document, to discuss development of the exhibition and provide guidance on future development. In Mode 2 there will be opportunities for peer and self-assessment to facilitate students to self-monitor and critically evaluate their own work in small group discussion forums around topics and review a range of different exemplars of other students’ work at presentations.

Reference Texts

Carole Gray and Julian Malins. Visualizing research : a guide to the research process in art and design. Ashgate. 2004.

Adri van den Brink (editor). Research in landscape architecture : methods and methodology. Routledge. 2017.

Raymond Lucas. Research Methods for Architecture. Lawrence King Publishing. 2016.

Murray Fraser (editor). Design Research in Architecture : An overview. Ashgate. 2013.
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 

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