Master of Architecture (MArch) (RIBA pt II)

This is a single year-long module consisting of interwoven strands of design and research brought together as a single project. Taken as a whole, the project encourages an interplay between research, design intentions, detailed practice, and critical brief writing. The nature of the Design Studio group system means that typically the student is able to choose from a number of alternative themes and project briefs described by studio tutors in presentations at the beginning of the academic year. Commonly, although not exclusively, the theme or context of the second semester work will be to explore further and develop the work undertaken in Semester 1. This second stage to the project will place greater emphasis on the detailed resolution of the design proposal: dealing more explicitly and critically with the issues of programme, brief, context, materiality and technology; and refining and developing an architectural response.

60 credits – Level 6

Architectural Reflections I is a composite module. It consists of four discrete components, each of which take the form of an independent series of lectures, workshops, seminars, and assessment elements. Led by experts in their fields, each component provides the frameworks necessary for holistic, reflective practice in architecture. These four layers are: Digital Design; Critical Practice; Applied Technical Studies 1; History and Theory.

• Digital Design encompasses computer-based design strategies and their requisite technologies. It introduces students to the principles of computational design and digital fabrication techniques
• Critical Practice builds on students’ own work experience and introduces statutory, professional and management aspects of professional practice to support the development of their coursework
• Applied Technical Studies 1 is directed by structured investigation into different kinds of technology and environmental design that can inform the work undertaken in studio groups
• History and Theory provides the framework for the teaching of cultural context in the MArch course, and aims to provoke a challenging and ambitious role for this subject area within postgraduate architectural education. History and Theory also provides a vehicle through which the students prepare a proposal and position themselves for their MArch 2 dissertation

60 credits – Level 6

Architectural Productions II is a year-long module based on the development of a single coherent design project. Established through the interplay between Design Hypothesis (research investigation and design development) and Design Thesis (resolution of the project as coherent design proposal), the completed project should articulate a clearly-stated, socially-relevant thesis signalling a high level of speculation, analysis and professional awareness. As a Master's level module, students are expected to pursue a challenging and sophisticated investigation into a given topic, and to arrive at a more resolved design thesis and proposal.

60 credits – Level 7

This module mirrors and continues the composite logic of Architectural Reflections I. Consisting of three components, it is the culminating module of the Master's course and provides the final ingredients of reflective practice prior to embarking on a professional career. These three component layers are: Dissertation; Applied Technical Studies 2; Strategic Report.

The coursework produced for the Dissertation component of this module provides a vehicle through which the student can demonstrate their ability to conduct a focussed, research-based study of a given subject. The topic chosen by each student is developed in the preceding History and Theory component of Architectural Reflections I,  progressing to a 10,000-word Dissertation.

The Applied Technical Studies component, concurrent with the development of the main design thesis (Architecture Productions II), culminates in material and technological specialisation, concluding with a submission explaining the resolved environmental, structural and constructional strategies.

The final component of this module is a Strategic Report, which is also complementary to the design project and to Applied Technical Studies. Strategic Report focuses on integrating the key professional, managerial and statutory concepts explored in Critical Practices into the final design thesis.

60 credits – Level 7