Module manager: Mr Yasar Awais
Email: y.awais@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
The standard qualifications (or equivalent) set by the School of Civil Engineering for entry to any of its JBM accredited UG programmes.
This module is not approved as a discovery module
A creative and technical design project to develop detailed proposals for a small multistorey building
Students will gain knowledge of the processes and practice of building design, including understanding, interpreting and critically evaluating a brief; researching, collating and evaluating background information including site and precedent studies; developing, refining and presenting design ideas for a specific proposal. The relationships between technology, fine art and building design are highlighted and explored through the design process.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
Students will:
1. Prepare and present an architectural design project of intermediate complexity, responding to a defined context and to a given outline brief, using a range of media (D1). The project will critically consider ways in which diverse global, cultural, social, technological, economic factors and building technology influence aspects of architecture and urban design (CK1)[M7]
2. Show an understanding of the consequences of design decision making on value to clients and communities over the life-cycle of built projects and the costs to the environment (D7) using techniques of research, enquiry and experimentation to develop effective solutions to architectural and engineering problems from sometimes uncertain sources [M2] and to broaden their knowledge base (RE1) [M4], showing an understanding of the needs of stakeholders in the development of appropriate briefs for projects (RE2 part) alongside the principles of sustainable, responsible and ethical practice (M1 part)[M5, M8], adopting a committed approach to equity, diversity and inclusion in designing environments (PE2 part)[M11]
3. Demonstrate a critical and creative approach to architectural design (D3) and prepare, appraise, refine and engage with a building brief, accounting for client, user, site, environmental and contextual requirements (D2), producing designs that integrate the artistic, spatial, environmental, social and experiential aspects of a building with the technical requirements of its construction (D4) including strategies and solutions for structure, construction technology, materials, services, ventilation, thermal environment and lighting and acoustics that are appropriate to the project’s brief and context, some of which is at the forefront of current knowledge (D5)[M1, M2, M6]
4. Propose a design solution that shows understanding of relevant performance standards and requirements (D8), locating, evaluating and applying relevant legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and policies related to the development of the built environment (RE4)
5. Show knowledge of the architect’s obligations to the health and safety of the public and building users and building constructors (PE4) through an understanding of building safety and risk management principles [M9, M10 part] and demonstrate appropriate consideration of fire safety, life safety and wellbeing and inclusivity of users, the public and building constructors (D11) in the context of current legislation (M9 part)
6. Produce a design that considers the relationship between people and built environment, between buildings and their context, and the need to relate buildings and the spaces between them to human needs, inclusivity, user experience and scale (D6) [M11], critically evaluating a diverse range of architectural precedents in order to inform design thinking (RE3)
7. Work constructively with and within a broader team, exercising leadership, effective communication and personal responsibility (PE3 part)
8. Use appropriate digital systems for creating, modelling, processing, presenting, and sharing design, building and project information (D12), discussing the limitations of techniques [M3] communicating effectively with both specialists and non-specialist audiences through a range of media (M11 part) [M17] including physical modelmaking to investigate complex problems [M12]
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
a. Graphic presentation skills,
b. hand drawing,
c. CAD modelling,
d. building information modelling (BIM)
e. physical modelling skills.
f. Development of method statement,
g. hazard identification
h. construction risk assessment.
This is an open ended, creative architectural design project of a relatively small building. Students are given an outline brief, typically a residence on three levels, on a given site location
The project is a vehicle for students to develop and explore their design capability, but also a means for them to apply and demonstrate learning from other modules. Students work in small groups to collect, analyse and present background information relating to the site context and building type precedents, drawing attention to site conditions, character and microclimate and providing an outline options analysis for possible site locations within the given area. Precedent studies cover a range of possible definitions and key features of dwellings, using illustrative examples. These background studies form a shared resource from which individual researches are developed.
Students will develop their personal vision for a given project, including a bespoke brief, choice of location, design concept and detailed expression. Details of internal layout, choice of materials and finishes are presented as an integrated architectural design. As part of this, a structural design strategy is investigated including a typical foundation and provisions for stability and robustness, while building physics design issues are explored using a thermal balance calculation. Both of these are reliant on the development of building designs and sample construction details, in the process, demonstrating how these aspects of design are inextricably linked.
Students work towards producing a high quality drawn presentation, supported by an illustrated written report, physical models and sketchbook.
The module will include a number of lectures on ethical issues related to the themes of this module and overall programme of study.
Methods of assessment
The assessment details for this module will be provided at the start of the academic year
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| Practical | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Tutorial | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Private study hours | 168 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 32 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Regular small group tutorials and interim design review presentations
There is no reading list for this module
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team