Course Catalogue

Liverpool School of Art & Design

Thesis Design Studies Component To commence and complete work on an individual Thesis Project, being a 'Comprehensive Design Project'. Students will generate a complex architectural design project drawing upon research methodologies, and with regard to their earlier urban design project work completed in Module 7221MAR and theory & research undertaken in Module 7211MAR. The Thesis Project requires the design of a complex piece of ambitious architecture equivalent to a building of at least 3,000m2 in size. The work must demonstrate knowledge, understanding and ability to design at all relevant scales from site context to constructional details and must demonstrate the integration of key technical and environmental decisions and key management, practice and legal matters into the explanation of the building. Environmental, Structural & Construction Strategy & Detail To demonstrate understanding of these key technological principles in the design of buildings, and the skill to develop specific technical design solutions in relation to the Thesis Project. Students will describe the integrated application of sophisticated environmental engineering thinking, structural engineering and constructional detailing in three dimensions. This will be communicated through drawings and with annotation of the drawings as integrated texts. Thesis Design Report incorporating Practice and Legislation submissions To cogently present the complete Thesis Project in a concise written and illustrated report. To demonstrate sound understanding of relevant legislation, policy and management techniques relating to the practice of architecture.

Outline Syllabus:Thesis Design Project This module is taught primarily through tutorials which occur once a week and design reviews, typically, every third week. There are also lectures which will introduce the various components of the module. Additional seminars provide formative feedback and guidance following-up and reinforcing the design reviews. These will draw upon historical and contemporary information regarding the physical, spatial, functional, economic and political context of the projects as the basis for discussion around the themes of the module This module will integrate design activity with activity in the subjects of History and Theory (as design research) and Technology and Practice (as written and drawn evidence). The range of project topics to be undertaken by students will, in the main, have been drawn from urban design project work undertaken in the main part of the first Semester and each student will agree a programme of work with the Module Leader which best suits their specialist leanings. The building types and architectural circumstances offered to the students will have sufficient inherent complexity compared to the CDP (BA Year Three) to warrant MArch (ARB / RIBA Part 2) status. The CDP will engage detailed design and buildability studies, showing an appreciation of sustainability matters. The CDP will be developed at 1:500, 1:200, 1: 100, 1:50 and more detailed scales as appropriate. Each individual student will prepare a high quality design for a complex project, where evidence will be shown of drawing (hand drawn and computer generated) and physical / computer model building skills, which deal with concept, site strategy and landscape, with the spaces of the building in two and three dimensions. Environmental, Structural & Construction Strategy & Detail This component of the module will be facilitated via a series of six workshop / technical reviews, following an introductory lecture. Guests and specialist design tutors will advise each individual student on the technical ways in which each project should develop and how to integrate the information and advice given. A record of each tutorial session should be kept by each student for their design journal & academic portfolio. This module will fully utilise the model making and FabLab workshops. Practice Tasks A lecture series will provide a concise overview of the RIBA Professional Practice syllabus, as an introduction to architectural practice Thesis Design Report A lecture and subsequent seminar will describe the expectations, methodology and creative potential of illustrated documentation.

Module Overview:
In this 60 credit module for full time students, you will propose and develop a Thesis defining your own agendas and exploring ideas through the medium of building designs.

Additional Information:Welcome to the Thesis Project module. Here you will propose and develop a Thesis defining your own agendas and exploring ideas through the medium of building designs.