ARCT41190 Design Thesis 1

Academic Year 2021/2022

PURPOSE AND CONTENT

The teaching and learning aims for 2021-22 for module ARCT 41190 and ARCT41180 are for learners to be supported and enabled to:

- Demonstrate individual strategies to address climate and architecture, framing this with the material /materials in architecture, the terms of conditions of contemporary practice in architecture and construction, and other fields; (INDIVIDUAL)

- Realise design project(s) which clearly test thinking in architecture; tests must be formed with reference to precedent, evidence and existing research in architecture and other relevant fields (noting that the operational definition of architecture in these studios is the intersection of the social, spatial and material) (COLLECTIVE)

- Communicate work on a regular basis; adopt positions of leadership on how work is exhibited, discussed and disseminated from the outset, to gather feedback and deepen learning (FEEDBACK)

The module for 2021/22 is informed by two key thematics - the principles of the New European Bauhaus and the theme of 'Construct(ing) Conditions', both of which will be outline in more detail at the start of the semester.

This module (together with ARCT 41180) is intended to provide a structure for learners to develop their own independently directed project in architecture. The culture of the module is one of parity of esteem and knowledge exchange. The module is structured using a series of Testing Cycles.

Knowledge exchange is supported and guided by a series of formal INPUTS and OUTPUTS. The majority of inputs are provided by teachers or invited experts. Learners are required, during the semester, to offer a series of OUTPUTS. These outputs are intended to advance the development of learners work through discussion, critique and public presentation. Learners will also be invited to share their work in teaching and learning scenarios (e.g. school-wide discussions) where their developing projects can be considered INPUTS.

There are a number of TESTING CYCLES in the module (these are detailed under ASSESSMENT). These cycles are intended to support students to make progress across this module(and module ARCT 41180). TESTING CYCLES invite students to reflect on work already done, to plan further work, building week on week towards some outcomes and conclusions, presented for discussion and public scrutiny at SHOW and TELL sessions.

The TESTING CYCLES are also intended to further develop the learners’ design research methodologies. Research by design can be defined as a process of investigation leading to new insights effectively shared. Research by design is characterised by clear ambition, risk taking and openness, is speculative in nature, is critical of existing social conditions and power structures, mixes text, drawings, models, photographs, narrative, survey etc. in a fluid, creative and intrinsically dialectical process.

The work may be concerned with design method and representation (what architects do and how they see their work).

Design research might be creative writing about space and place (what is subjective experience in an objective setting).

Research by design might also be concerned with social processes and cultural analysis (essentially critiques of power and possible strategies for action) (Fraser, 2011).