COURSE CURRICULUM

In the first year, students engage in tutor-led studio design projects, with lectures and seminars interwoven to inform and enhance the design work. The focus is on complex architectural design research, with Design Research 01 initiating a deep exploration of architectural strategies, sustainability, and site responses. This is extended in Design Research 02, leading to a more rigorous architectural proposal. Design Technology emphasizes the development of technical skills through research and interdisciplinary workshops. Students can choose between two dissertation options: one that results in a traditional written dissertation (8,000-10,000 words) exploring historical, theoretical, or critical aspects of architecture, or an alternative media-based project with a shorter exegesis (2,000-3,500 words). In the second year, students take greater ownership of their research, building on Year One’s methodologies. Thesis 01 marks the start of the design thesis, presented through various media like models, drawings, and video. Thesis 02 refines and finalizes this project. The Future Practice unit explores professional practice, addressing business, economics, law, and management issues in architecture, alongside RIBA stages of architectural work. Finally, Realisation involves applying technical knowledge to develop novel solutions to building design problems arising from the thesis. The program in Year One centers on foundational design, research, and technology, while Year Two shifts towards refining personal research and preparing for professional practice, with a strong emphasis on real-world applications and technical realization.