Course Catalogue

LJMU Partner Taught

AS1: To define, investigate, critically evaluate a design precedent of relevant typology in response to brief requirements intending to initiate a design response to the thematic brief.

AS2: To receive and develop a design brief, to appraise the brief, to prepare an initial design response, to prepare scheme drawings/models and to design a presentation carefully, sufficient to fully explain the proposals to a professional and nonprofessional audience alike.  The drawings and models should 'speak for themselves' and the assignments may be assessed without recourse to verbal presentations.  Students will be expected to view high quality design as a prime mover in contemporary architectural culture and investigate, conceive, produce and evaluate design proposals for the sites previously explored in the first semester urban design work.  Attention is placed on the development of skills in architectural competition methodology, with particular competence and skill in drawing and communicating architectural ideas and detail.

AS3: To demonstrate understanding of key technological principles in the design of buildings, and the skill to develop specific technical design solutions in relation to the project.  Students will explore the integrated application of appropriate environmental engineering thinking, structural engineering and construction detailing, as well as interior and lighting design in three dimensions.  Part of the design proposal will be explored in a model (varying from site to structure detail explorations) depending on the focus of the design response.  This will be communicated through text, diagrams and drawings, following the standards of competition presentations.

Outline Syllabus:
This module will comprise a design output for a described architectural project, or range of scenarios, along with a series of linked technical studies.  The project focuses on different aspects depending on the specialisation options.  For the MSc programme, the focus will be residential buildings.  A structured programme of activity will cover precedent - in relation to typological explorations - as primers and informants of the design project.  The design period will alternate tutorials and reviews (seminars), to support students' own creative design process.  Students are encouraged to find their own preferred design methodology, developed from a range of precedents.  Subsequent technical studies, dealing with environmental factors, building structure, materiality, interior and light explorations are introduced through lectures with subsequent support in tutorials.

Additional Information:
Welcome to the Integrated Design 1 module.  The module commences with analytical explorations of precedent studies in response to the focus of the design brief typologies, expected to underpin your design work.  Following from this, design work from urban scale to building and interiors will lead to a complete proposal presented following competition methodology.  A set to technical and environmental studies follow, so that the entire module effectively delivers a holistic study, from topical analysis, to critical considerations, design at different scales, and communication.