Explore UCD

UCD Home >

ARCT40050

Academic Year 2024/2025

Architectural Design VIII (ARCT40050)

Subject:
Architecture
College:
Engineering & Architecture
School:
Architecture, Plan & Env Pol
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
15
Module Coordinator:
Ms Mary Laheen
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
Module Type:
Studio Module
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

The module is organised as a group of Design Research Studios within the overarching theme of ‘LIVING’ and operating the principles of the New European Bauhaus under four group headings: Housing + City; Re-Use, Material + Embodiment, Landscape + Economy. The studios are conducted as Vertical Studios involving students of module 41180 (M.Arch 2) and students of 40500 (M.Arch 1). Each DRS will be taught by practitioners, researchers and experts in particular themes and territories, supported by multi-disciplinary input from experts in relevant associated fields; enabling current design thinking and contemporary discourse to unfold in the studio environment.

Module 40050 aims to enable:
the development & refinement of research strategies and methodologies in both collective and individual settings;

the realisation of design strategies that respond to the planetary crisis, utilising the values of the New European Bauhaus, sustainability (climate/circularity/zero pollution/biodiversity), aesthetics, inclusion;

effective communication of ideas and proposals in visual representation, text, and spoken word, appropriate to the social and cultural context.

Students have the opportunity to align themselves with the studios that match their interests.


Structure
Working individually and as a collective, students will carry out project development and associated research. Student activities are studio based and attendance in studio is mandatory. The project will involve a 7-week period of initial design leading up to an interim review. This is followed by a 5-week period of design development to conclude with a final review.

Submission
At the end of module each student is required to submit an individual, collated and organized digital portfolio of work. The portfolio must include all drawings, models and sketches that must demonstrate the required outcomes. In addition, each student is required to submit a digital portfolio book, a collated guide that succinctly describes and reflects on the work the student has made over the trimester with reference to the work of their peers.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate the ability to analyse and critically evaluate existing and historic buildings and environments and to use these as an active component in the design process.
2. Demonstrate the ability to apply critical and analytical thinking to the development of a series of projects, employing a range of work methods and techniques.
3. Demonstrate the ability to use design as a means of investigation and research.
4. Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate issues of building construction, structure and materials and integrate them into a synthetic design proposal.
5. Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate issues of environment and integrate them into a synthetic design proposal.
6. Demonstrate an ability to use a variety of representational skills as a means of investigation and research and to present and exhibit work coherently.
7. Demonstrate the ability to communicate, discuss, critique and reflect on your own work and the work of your peers.

Indicative Module Content:

Key content covered will include an exploration of modes of engaged practice, the role of the practicing architect in society, introduction to research by design and methodologies for framing research by design projects.
These themes will be examined and tested by students in applied projects, under relevant contemporary themes which may be typological, infrastructural, landscape, or urban based. Students will be encouraged to develop their research, analytical and critical thinking skills in the application to a thematic project/s set by the tutors.
Exemplar studies of similar projects will be investigated.
Detailed project design will be developed by students through a variety of scales to reach a good level of resolution.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

50
Tutorial

20
Seminar (or Webinar)

80
Autonomous Student Learning

150
Total

300

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Key modes of teaching in this module will include: studio work to include active/task-based learning, enquiry-based learning, peer and group work, case-based or precedent study, lectures, reflective writing and student presentations. Representation skills are emphasised in drawing, model, collage and digital techniques. Students will work to reflect, collate, edit and present their research and design work for presentation and exhibition.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

B. Sc. Architecture or equivalent


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Portfolio: The portfolio is a collated and organised record of all work undertaken by the student in ARCT40050,
visual & text-based. Each student presents a physical & digital portfolio.		 Week 7, Week 12, Week 15 Graded Yes
40
 Yes

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
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
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students are in weekly contact with their tutors in small group meetings. At these, student's work is discussed and summative feedback is provided that is focused on positively developing project ideas. It is not intended to grade ideas which are in the process of taking shape. Reviews are scheduled during the semester at which students will be given an indication of what development is required in the case of a project being underdeveloped. Written feedback is given after the Interim Review and after the final assessment.

Name Role
Mr Christophe Antipas Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Paul Arnold Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Hugh Campbell Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Philip Comerford Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Anna Cooke Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Tiago Faria Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Lisa Godson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Lisa Godson Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Mark Hackett Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Fiona Hughes Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Livia Hurley Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr David Leech Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Samantha Martin Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr James Martin Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Finola O'Kane Crimmins Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Oran O'Siochain Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Ellen Rowley Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Nasrin Seraji Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Studio Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 09:00 - 12:50
Spring Studio Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Fri 14:00 - 17:50
Spring Studio Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Mon 14:00 - 17:50
Spring Studio Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 14:00 - 17:50
Print this page
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.