Architectural Design 2: An introduction to Architecture [community-place-time] - YSA00002C

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  • Department: York School of Architecture
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2025-26

Module summary

This module delves into the essential aspects of architectural design and communication. Through meticulously curated intense and focused design projects, students will navigate the intricate interplay between people [community], buildings and climate [place] throughout time within both rural and urban contexts. The module is structured to facilitate student engagement with project briefs that introduce key concepts such as ergonomics, materiality, and structure, all while fostering a deep understanding of how these elements respond to the nuances of the local climate. These projects serve as a dynamic platform for students to not only acquire fundamental skills and methodologies but also to apply them in conceiving, developing, and communicating architecture that aspires to be both utilitarian and sustainable, ultimately aiming to deliver a delightful and impactful built environment.

Professional requirements

Students studying this architecture degree will need to evidence a portfolio demonstrates a response to the RIBA themes and Values validation and that the course has 50% design components and 20% professional practice components

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2025-26

Module aims

The module aims to build upon the knowledge and skills developed in Design 1 module and further develop the students’ design skills and creativity and to provide opportunities to apply knowledge and skills developed from teaching and learning activities, with more focus on engagement with the local environment.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of this module, students will be able to:

LO1_ Design small-scale design projects that demonstrate an awareness of context, structure, and materiality and portray spatial qualities;

LO2_ Define user requirements, undertake spatial analysis and plan a logical sequence of spaces;

LO3_ Conduct a series of contextual and precedent studies that inform/inspire the development of architectural design development;

LO4_ Define, discuss and professionally communicate architectural ideas and projects via a range of representation techniques that evidence the student’s ability to conceptualise, reflect and critically appraise an approach to design;

LO5_ Plan and organise self-directed study and utilise resources to progress project work.

Module content

A series of studio days when the studio project brief will be discussed in groups in studio

[1 day a week]

The module will explore the following themes:

Site appraisal _ analysis of context; personal response to site; understanding significance of site in local context; design strategy; climate.

Brief development _ user requirements; spatial requirements; function; spatial sequence.

Design stages _ initial ideas; concept; design development; detail design; final design.

Architectural experience _ human factors; spatial qualities; light; colours; materials; degrees of enclosure; sense of place.

Technological requirements _ construction; structure; materials; internal comfort.

Architectural communication _ appropriate professional architectural communication of ideas and final design via sketches, diagrams, orthogonal drawings (plans, cross sections, and elevations), axonometric/isometric drawings, perspective drawings, physical models, and mixed media.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

Non-compensatable

Additional assessment information

Rationale of 100% Portfolio Assessment

The adoption of portfolio assessment reflects the contemporary nature of Architecture practice. This approach encourages the students to view their work as complementary and interconnected rather than segregated and separate. It also helps them to continue improving the work until one assessment point.

For all 100% portfolio assessments, students will be informed of the weightings of constituent parts of the portfolio in the project briefs.

If a reassessment is required, students will be tasked with addressing major elements that were absent in their initial submission or reworking elements that did not meet the required standard. Subsequently, students will be required to resubmit these revised components as part of their full portfolio for re-evaluation.

For all multimedia written work, an indicative word length - or equivalent - has been provided. Artefacts, architectural drawings and illustrations would contribute to this word count, based on work quality.

Group Work

Group work is very important in architecture education to develop essential teamwork professional skills. As part of module learning, students will work collaboratively in groups and learn from one another. Portfolios will, however, be assessed on an individual basis.

The learning environment within a module will involve group work, but assessments will be individual.

PORTFOLIO [100%]

[Final Design Project should not exceed 9 -A2 pages or equivalent]

In Semester 2, the students will go through a number of short design projects (2-3) of small structures to understand basic architectural design principles. The portfolio will demonstrate the work done throughout the semester.

The portfolio will be composed of the following:

MAIN COMPONENT:

Final design for all design projects

[percentages of marking weighting will be clearly indicated in projects’ briefs]

SUPPORTIVE COMPONENTS:

  • Design development of all design projects

  • Research/study work that drove the design decisions

  • Sketchbooks used for design development

  • Online media produced in support of the design projects (QR codes)

[The Portfolio marks are mainly granted to the final design project. All supportive components are to evident and showcase the student’s thinking process and trajectory throughout the semester]

The quality and efficiency of communication is essential. Short and efficient portfolios are highly encouraged. Maximum number and size of panels may be forced by projects’ briefs.

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

The semester will be divided into intervals in relevance to the number of projects (2-3 sections) varying in lengths based on the project complexity. Each project will accommodate scheduled small group/individual tutorials for formative feedback and to conclude by a final review in front of a group of colleagues, tutors (and typically an external reviewer). The students will receive a formative feedback and guidance on work development for the inclusion in the final portfolio submission at the end of semester). In case of complex projects, the project phase may include one or more interim reviews for phased design development.

Verbal, drawn and written formative feedback will be given on interim and final reviews and a summative written feedback will be given on final submission of portfolio. The duration of feedback return will follow the University’s guidance.

Indicative reading

Essential:

Ching, F. (2019) Design drawing. JOHN WILEY & Sons.

Ching, F. (2024) Architectural graphics. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Hind, C., Orsini, F., and Pugh, S. (2022) The Architecture Drawing Book: RIBA Collections. CRC Press.

Littlefield, D., and Buxton, P., (2012) Metric handbook: planning and design data. London: Routledge

Sawyer, A., and Bright, K., (2014) The Access Manual: Designing, auditing and managing inclusive built environments 3rd edition. London: Wiley-Blackwell

Unwin, S., (2012) Exercises in architecture. London and New York: Routledge

Unwin, S., (2014) Analysing architecture, 4th edition. London and New York: Routledge

Recommended:

Ching, F.D.K., (2007) Form, Space and Order, 3rd edition. London: Wiley

Derix, C, ed. (2014) Empathic space: the computation of human-centric architecture. London: Wiley

Shaikh, H. (2023) Drawing attention: Architecture in the age of Social Media. London, UK: RIBA Publishing.

Tilley, A. R.,(2002) The measure of man and woman: Human factors in design, 2nd edition. New York: Wiley

Unwin, S. (2017) The Ten Most Influential Buildings in History. New York: Routledge