Module manager: Yasar Awais
Email: y.awais@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
Admission to UG programmes in the School of Civil Engineering
This module is not approved as a discovery module
In this module, you will undertake a comprehensive design project for a commercial building, integrating conceptual and technical aspects of spatial, structural, and building services design. A collaborative site analysis and precedent studies examine urban context, planning regulations, construction risks, and technical norms. Findings are shared through interactive seminars before students individually develop their own interpretation of an open-ended brief, challenging initial parameters and creating a detailed design proposal. The project emphasises an integrated approach, combining creative vision with technical solutions, including structural strategies, thermal modeling, and construction details.
The objectives of this module are:
- To create architectural designs that satisfy both aesthetic and technical requirements.
-To understand and apply theoretical design concepts to practical design considerations.
-To relate cultural and technological contexts to the built environment.
-To develop a broader understanding of building types and architectural precedents.
-To gain knowledge of statutory regulations, including planning policy and building control processes.
-To critically appraise structural systems, building physics, and construction approaches.
-To translate technological appraisals into specific, well-reasoned design proposals.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
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 consider ways in which diverse global, cultural, social, technological, economic factors and building technology influence aspects of architecture [CK1] (M7)
Show some knowledge of the consequences of design decision making on value to building users over the life-cycle of built projects and the costs to the environment [D7] using simple techniques 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)
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 outline strategies for structure, construction technology, materials, services, ventilation, thermal environment and lighting and acoustics that are appropriate to the project’s brief and context, [D5] (M1, M2, M6)
Propose a design solution that shows some knowledge of relevant performance standards and requirements [D8], including relevant legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and policies related to the development of the built environment [RE4]
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]
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 architectural precedents in order to inform design thinking [RE3]
Work constructively with and within a broader team, exercising leadership, effective communication and personal responsibility [PE3 part]
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 be able to:
a. Team working and collaboration in a creative context
b. Individual graphic presentation skills
c. Hand drawing,
d. CAD modelling,
e. Building information modelling (BIM) and physical modelling skills.
f. Site appraisal and precedent research skills.
This second-semester design studio focuses on a fully integrated building design project. Students develop proposals of 3,000–4,000m² within a constrained urban site, incorporating the retention and adaptation of an existing building.
Part 1: Research and Analysis (Group Work)
Students undertake:
- Urban and site analysis
- Historic and architectural context
- Socio-economic study
- Planning and regulatory review
- Construction risk and ground conditions
A precedent study investigates:
- The evolution of the building type
- Contemporary and emerging practice
- Spatial and dimensional standards
- Environmental control strategies
- Structural and construction systems
Findings are presented in seminar format.
Part 2: Integrated Design (Individual Work)
Students develop individual responses to the open brief, testing scale, massing, and programme in relation to context and reuse strategy. Each proposal integrates:
- Architectural concept and spatial organisation
- Regulatory understanding and design strategy
- Adaptive reuse strategy
- Structural system with supporting sample calculations
- Environmental design and simple thermal modelling
- Coordinated construction details
- Final outputs include drawings, models, and an illustrated technical report.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group learning | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| Lecture | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Tutorial | 9 | 2 | 18 |
| Private study hours | 254 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 46 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
Individual and group research for background studies, including: informal site surveys, precedent gathering from online, journal or book sources. Group and individual collation, analysis and critical evalulation of information. Group and individual development of creative design ideas, presentation materials.
Through regular small group tutorial sessions.
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 29/05/2026
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team