Course Catalogue

LJMU Partner Taught

The aims for this module are to develop experimental and explorative processes in students’ architectural thinking, design and production. The architectural inquiry in this module will be informed by thematic research, cultural and historic re-interpretation, and sustainability, as appropriate to each project. From a given starting point students are encouraged to explore and define the parameters of the field of inquiry for their project. In so doing, the aim is that they will devise their own objectives for research, brief, developmental interpretation and ultimately design response.

Outline Syllabus:During this module students are encouraged to be experimental, and to be explorative in their conceptual ideas, design thinking and production. Their inquiries will be informed by a broad scope of thematic research, theories from different fields, cultural and historic re-interpretation, and sustainability. A deliberate freedom is given to the nature and definition of the projects that emerge from these processes, so that students explore the boundaries of what they consider architectural design to be. In the first part of the module students will research the theoretical context of their field, and define the brief for their project. This will then be developed into a design proposal that addresses issues and challenges defined by that research.

Additional Information:This module develops experimental and explorative design thinking. A broad scope of research is used to demonstrate and explore themes and as a stimulus for the generation of design concepts. This module comprises two assignments; the first, is the production of a well researched, critical and fully referenced and illustrated 2,000 word thematic essay. The second, underpinned by this initial research phase, is a design project that aims to translate the thematic study into a design concept.