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UNIT GUIDE: HONOURS BY DESIGNARCHITECTURE AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ARTS

UNIT GUIDE Semester 1, 2007

ARCT5502 Architectural Design HonoursLACH4402 Landscape Honours Studio

Honours co-ordinatorGary Marinko6488 2797

page 1


CONTENTS1 Description 3

2 Content 3

3 Outcomes 3

4 Design Research Proposal and Project Brief 3

5 Teaching Staff and Consultation hours 3

5.1 Available Design Supervisors 3

6 Communication 3

7 Unit Structure and formats 3

8 Interim Student Presentations 4

9 Feedback 4

10 Attendance and Performance 4

11 Assessment Mechanism 4

12 Submission and Examination of Folio 4

13 Examination Method 4

14 Faculty and University Policy and Procedures 5

15 Academic Conduct 5

16 Learning Outcomes 5

17 Assessment Criteria 5

18 Grading Bands 6

19 Submission and Presentation guidelines 6


DescriptionStudents who have been accepted into these Design Honours units undertake their final design semester as a self-initiated (independent) design project.

ContentIndependent Design requires the development and demonstration of ability and acquired competence. It is expected that, in addition to addressing a design brief, students will also establish theoretical parameters (aesthetic, critical, and/or technical) that will form the basis for design investigation. While projects may vary in scale, and exhibit varying levels of complexity, they will be required to incorporate the full range of knowledge and skills required for a fully resolved design proposition. Projects of an experimental nature are encouraged.

Outcomes Students illustrate the capacity to develop a coherent architectural project brief; respond effectively to the requirements set out in the project brief; and develop a sound theoretical basis and a high conceptual and design quality, with an appropriate level of technical resolution, depending on the nature of the project. Students also gain the capacity to clearly and effectively communicate design ideas.

Design Research Proposal and Project BriefAll students enrolled in Independent Design will have prepared and submitted a design research proposal to the Resource Room, marked to the attention of the Honours Coordinator, no later than Monday of Week One.Guidelines for the preparation of this proposal are outlined later in this document.

Teaching Staff and consultation hours

Honours CoordinatorGary MarinkoTel: 6488 2797 e: [email protected]

Available Design SupervisorsAll design staff who are not on leave are available to supervise honours by design, subject to consideration of their other teaching and workload commitments.

CommunicationFormal communication in this unit will occur by email, so all students should ensure that they have an active UWA Student email account ( viz: [email protected]) and that they check their account regularly (at least weekly). Students must communicate with University staff ONLY through their Student account, and Staff have been advised not to respond by email to any other addresses.

Unit structure and formatsThe primary contact mode is supervision by way of arranged regular meetings with a designated supervisor, nominally one hour per week for the teaching semester.

Other formal juries, meetings and information sessions are scheduled in the semester diary.

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


Interim Student PresentationsStudents will be advised to make interim presentations in Weeks 1, 4, 7 and 10 of the semester in which they are enrolled in Independent Design. The dates and times are noted in the semester diary. Venues will be advised by the Honours coordinator.

These presentations are intended to provide each student with the opportunity to discuss their work with a cross section of people and to receive constructive advice. In addition to the verbal feedback that students receive during the interim presentations.

FeedbackIn addition to the verbal feedback that students receive during the interim presentations, each supervisor will provide students with a written interim feedback report in the week following the presentation in Week 7. Each Independent Design student will also receive a brief written report that outlines the main strengths and weaknesses of the final Design folio relative to the assessment criteria. The report will be forwarded to the candidate no later than the date of the publication of examination results.

Attendance and PerformanceUniversity rules require students to attend prescribed classes and complete the prescribed work of the unit at a satisfactory standard (Rule 1.2.1.15 UWA handbook). The University may require a student who does not attend classes or satisfactorily complete work to withdraw from the unit, or to exclude them from submitting work for examination (Rule 1.2.1.16 UWA Handbook).

Assessment MechanismAssessment of this unit is conducted 100% by examination of a submitted design portfolio.

Submission and Examination of FolioStudents are required to submit their Independent Design folio to a designated room on the time and date scheduled in the semester diary. An assessment panel will meet separately, in the absence of the supervisor, to assess the project as a portfolio.

Examination methodExamination is conducted by a panel of at least 3 assessors, comprising the Honours Coordinator and at least 2 independent assessors (ie not the supervisor). Consistent with UWA Honours policyi and postgraduate research practice, external markers will be sought where possible. This necessitates that students explicitly communicate objectives in the brief and in folio submissions.Students will be given the opportunity to set out the folio for examination in an exhibition space, and to make a short presentation to the examiners in order to satisfy themselves that all elements of the folio will have been noted for examination. The examiners will question the students about the work, limiting themselves to clarifying matters of fact.

i http://www.secretariat.uwa.edu.au/home/policies/honours accessed 23/09/05

http://www.secretariat.uwa.edu.au/home/policies/honours


Faculty and University Policies and ProceduresStudents should refer to the Level 4/5 Architecture and Landscape Architecture Study Book available at: http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/current_students/course_materials/course_and_unit_guides/study_books_semester_1,_2006 or from the Resource Room.The Study Book contains information about all of the relevant University and Faculty policy and procedures.

Academic ConductStudents should refer to the University’s policy on Ethical Scholarship, Academic Literacy and Academic Conduct at: http://www.teachingandlearning.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/72852/Acad-Conduct-Principles.pdf And the Faculty’s Academic Conduct policy at: http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/current_students/forms_and_Policies It is vital that students have read and understood both the definitions of and penalties for academic misconduct.

Learning OutcomesPerformance area 1: Problem formulationPrepare a design proposal to an adequately resolved level from which an architectural or landscape solution can form.

Performance area 2: Concept Define personal values systems and ethical positions in response to complex architectural project requirements.

Performance area 3: DevelopmentResolve at a professional level architectural propositions of substantial complexity.

Performance area 4: Technical IntegrationIntegrate to a professional level advanced technical and environmental knowledge in the resolution of an architectural proposition.

Performance area 5: Contextual awarenessIncorporate the breadth of professional concerns impacting upon the design process.

Performance area 6: CommunicationDeploy the full range of architectural and landscape communication skills at a professional level.

Assessment CriteriaAssessment of Independent Design will be made in 6 areas of performance, according to criteria as detailed below:

Performance area 1: Problem formulationCapacity to investigate and articulate a design problem plausibly integrating problems from diverse domains of knowledge, viz:

http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/current_students/forms_and_Policies

http://www.teachingandlearning.uwa.edu.au/__data/page/72852/Acad-Conduct-Principles.pdf


http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/current_students/course_materials/course_and_unit_guides/study_books_semester_1,_2006

http://www.alva.uwa.edu.au/current_students/course_materials/course_and_unit_guides/study_books_semester_1,_2006



aesthetic/historical/cultural/contextual problems, applicable social/ethical/economic/political questions, applicable scientific/technical problems.

Performance area 2: Concept Demonstration of aesthetic sensibility, compositional skill, and the representation of ideas fundamental and central to the problem.

Performance area 3: DevelopmentAppropriate use and the representation of background studies and design precedents; staged refinement and improvement of the design concept through the exploration and determination of theoretical and technical aspects of the design; and adequacy of response to the requirements set out in the project brief (how convincingly the design addresses the formulated problem).

Performance area 4: Technical IntegrationDisplay of scientific/environmental/technical understanding as well as appropriate knowledge and control of constructional methods, structural systems, services implications.

Performance area 5: Contextual awarenessDemonstration of advanced sensitivity towards some or all of the historical, cultural, social, ethical, economic and political parameters influencing the project.

Performance area 6: CommunicationDemonstration of effectiveness and quality of drawings, models and other communication media; sufficiency of drawings/models to completely and appropriately describe the proposition.

Guide to Grading Bands (HD, D, CR, P etc)HD For a folio to be awarded a high distinction, it must be of excellent standard in nearly all areas, and in the few criteria where it is not of excellent standard, it will at least be of high standard. It will not be compromised in relation to any criterion.D For a folio to be awarded a distinction, it must be of uniformly high standard across all areas, perhaps excelling in a number of areas, but is not significantly compromised in any.CR For a folio to be awarded a credit, it must be generally of a competent or high standard, but is significantly compromised in one of the criteria.P For a folio to be awarded a pass, it must be of passable standard in all areas, but is significantly compromised in a number of criteria.

Submission and Presentation GuidelinesEach student is expected to make a number of formal submissions and presentations marking crucial stages of the development of their project during the course of the semester.

1. Week 1: ‘Brief’ (Abstract)

This proposal should be written and illustrated to outline specific theoretical objectives and the details of a project scenario, or brief, in which these objectives can be pursued as a design proposition or propositions.


Arguments need to be presented for 1. the significance and value of pursuing these objectives, and 2. the mechanism by which the objectives can be achieved through the examination of the particular design elements proposed.The scenario may incorporate aspects of a professionally developed design brief, but only to the extent that these create opportunity to explore the theoretical objectives. It is foreseeable that certain objectives may be well served by adopting a complete and existing design brief, such as a real design competition, or a government standard document, in which case it is essential to argue for the relevance of pursuing the objectives through this brief.It is also foreseeable that the researching and development toward the production of particular aspects of a brief may be essential to the achievement of objectives, in which case it is essential to detail how this methodology will achieve the aims.In addition to the brief justification of the project, it is expected that the scenario will identify a programme, a site, and a schedule of deliverables with a timeline.

All students enrolled in Independent Design will have prepared and submitted a research proposal to the Resource Room, marked to the attention of the Honours Coordinator, no later than Monday of Week One.

Each proposal will be considered by a panel before permission is given to proceed to the design phase.

2. Week 1: First Jury Seminar

Objectives:

To allow students to outline theoretical / research objectives and project scenario/brief

a. outline theoretical / research objectives. b. identify and clarify design opportunities for exploring those theoretical

objectives within a project scenario or brief, c. describe how you intend to respond to these opportunities (ie clarify

project scope) d. All suitable for obtaining critical feedback towards development and

refinement of the design project. )

3. Week 4: Second Jury Presentation

Objectives To allow students to present schematic design proposals. To allow jury and audience to provide critical feedback towards development, refinement and completion of the design project.

Student presentation should outline: a project scenario or brief, with established stated design opportunities,

framed by explicit theoretical / research objectives the schematic proposals and the strategies employed. the forecast extent and nature of the completed project (ie project scope)


4. Week 7: Third Jury PresentationObjectives to present developed design proposals. To allow jury and audience to provide critical feedback towards successful completion of the design project.


framed by explicit theoretical / research objectives the schematic proposals and the strategies employed. Key features that have been developed the forecast extent and nature of the completed project (ie project scope)

5. Week 10: Third Jury PresentationObjectives to present developed design proposals and a strategy for the presentation of these proposals for the final folio. To allow jury and audience to provide critical feedback towards successful completion of the design project.


framed by explicit theoretical / research objectives the schematic proposals and the strategies employed. Key features that have been developed the forecast extent and nature of the completed project (ie project scope) The proposal for the for the final folio presentation.

Note: On the Wednesday before each Jury seminar and jury session the students are to submit to the honours supervisor via electronic means a piece of text (one A4 @12 point maximum length) outlining the current position of their project and what they believe the next stage of their research will be. These abstracts as well as their original briefs will be distributed to the various juries throughout the semester.

6. Week 13: Folio (for Assessment)What are the conceptual and theoretical objectives?

How will they be manifest in architectural design terms?

Why are they significant, what will they add to knowledge or understanding (yours, or the collective)?

Have you made this explicit in the folio? (ie are they clear without spoken description?)

In what ways is the project scenario/brief important or significant in the exploration of the objectives?

Is it clear to what extent the brief can become a generic opportunity to explore the issues (and thus be obtained en bloc) or to what extent the research and elaboration of the brief is a fundamental part of your objectives?


Have you directed attention to those aspects of the brief which are specifically significant, and which you have researched and explored your self? Is this evident without spoken description?)

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