COURSES AT ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL

TYPICALLY, EACH YEAR YOU WILL FOCUS ON DEVELOPING

SKILLS IN THESE AREAS:

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

 Completing design projects, either on your own or in a group;

 working in a dedicated studio space;
 focusing on applying your skills to a project - a problem;
 learning and testing design methods;
 use analogue (hand) and digital drawing & modelling techniques;
 honing skills of presentation and communication.

CONSTRUCTION

 Understanding materials & their properties;

 Learning about construction processes & methods,
 Understanding how to develop detailing;
 Learning principles of durability & weather-tightness and what affects these;
 Learning about finishes - how to achieve them and the pros/cons of different
applications.

THEORY

 understanding the thinking behind design;

 locating current practice against different theories;
 thinking about design as a form of research;
 developing a personal ethos and identifying aligned thinkers;
 understanding the relationship between architecture and other practices.

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

 studying different types of architecture practice;

 understanding the phases & stages of practice;
 considering the key elements of management;
 overview of the financial aspects of projects & architectural business;
 understanding the legal and ethical obligations of architects;
 developing knowledge of construction contracts & how they are administered.

ARCHITECTURAL COMMUNICATION
  sketching, drawing & modelling
 graphic design, layout & presentation;
 computer design methods;
 written communication;
 oral communication & giving a presentation.

STRUCTURES

 fundamentally, the study of structures is about how buildings stay up!

 knowing the structural components of buildings;
 understanding the forces on a building, and how we design to manage these
 structural calculations;
 understanding the structural capacity of different materials and construction
methods;
 understanding how structural thinking can enhance architectural design.

HISTORY

 understanding different styles, movements, and timeframes;

 linking technological changes to changes in architectural design;
 thinking about how different cultures have historically responded to their
cultural, geographical and climatic needs;
 how architecture is shaped by broader social, economic, and climatic change.

What is form?
Form can be described as a reference to both the internal structure
and external outline, often in the shape of a three dimensional mass or
volume.
Some of the characteristics of form include:
Shape – the outline of the form
Size – the dimensions of the form, proportions and scale
Colour – the colour of the form will affect its visual weight
Texture – the texture of a form will affect how light is reflected or
absorbed
Position – where the form is located in relation to its environment
Orientation – the position of the form in relation to the ground,
compass points or the person viewing the form
Primary elements
The primary elements of form are points, lines, planes and volumes –
each one growing from the other. A point is a position in space, a line
is the extension of a point. A surface or plan, is the extension of a line.
A volume is a plane extended.
Primary shapes and solids
The most significant primary shapes are the circle, triangle and
square.
The primary solids are the sphere, cylinder, cone, pyramid and cube.

Regular and irregular forms

A regular form is considered to be a form that is consistent and
orderly. They are generally symmetrical about one or more axes. The
sphere, cylinder, cone and cube are examples of regular forms. These
forms can be changed by the addition or subtraction of elements, but
can still remain regular.
An irregular form is one whose parts are dissimilar and generally
inconsistent and asymmetrical. A regular form can be contained within
an irregular form.
 Transformation of form
Many variations of a form can be generated from the primary solids,
by manipulating dimensions of the solids, or adding or subtracting
elements.
The following sketches show:
 Examples of how a cube can be transformed by altering its
dimensions
 Examples of how a cube can be transformed by subtracting portions
of its volume.
 Example of how a cube can be transformed with the addition of
elements to its volume.
Subtractive and additive forms
Subtractive forms will have portions removed from its volume, but they
often retain their identity until the profile is drastically altered.
Additive forms are produced by relating or attaching one or more
subordinate forms to its volume. This can be broken down into
different types of contact.
Spatial tension – where the forms are within close proximity to one
another
Edge to Edge – where the forms are sharing a common edge
Face to Face – where the forms have corresponding surfaces which
are parallel to one another
Interlocking – where the forms are inter connected to one another

Additive forms often grow and merge with other forms, creating
relationships that can be categorised as below:
Centralised
 Centralised forms are often freestanding, and isolated within their
context.
Linear
A linear form is often a response to a topography or site context. They
tend to demonstrate a selection of forms along a line.
Radial
A radial form features a centrally located core with linear forms
extending outwards from the centre. Radial forms can create a
network of centres linked by the linear forms.
Clustered
A clustered form tends to be a collection of varying forms. They are
often based on a more functional requirement, and tend not to be
regular or formal. A clustered form can be interlocking, face to face, or
edge to edge amongst others.
Grid
A grid form demonstrates a form that is focused on a grid layout.
These forms tend to be considered in third dimension and are of a
modular framework.

Collisions of geometry
There are often occasions where two geometries will collide to create
a new composite form. This may occur in many circumstances:
 To suit the functional requirements of the internal space
 To display a symbolic importance
 To direct a space toward or away from a specific site context feature
 To create a volume of space within an existing form
 To demonstrate the nature of the structure
 To create a symmetry in the building
 To respond to site context or topography
 To respond to an existing path or movement through the site