People Buildings Landscape
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| ABEE1032 | Department of Architecture and Built Environment | 1 | 10 | Autumn China |
- Code
- ABEE1032
- School
- Department of Architecture and Built Environment
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Autumn China
Summary
What characterises healthy and welcoming places? In this module, we will explore how environments can be designed to respond to a range of physical and psychological needs, from the most fundamental (comfort, shelter, safety, context, ongoing availability of resources) through to the most sophisticated (community, identity, well-being, sense of place). Students will consider how different types of indoor and outdoor spaces work. These spaces range in scale, from the qualities of individual rooms and buildings through to the structure, experience and performance of streets, public open spaces and ultimately entire cities. Concepts will be introduced which address the breadth and complexity of built environmental design, encompassing urban design, architecture, precepts of sustainable design, landscape architecture, sociology and environmental psychology. This holistic way of thinking about built environments is essential to a sustainable design approach. As it stands, there is no realistic future for our world if built environment professionals are not led by this approach. As such, it has become a prerequisite for students wishing to demonstrate competence in design.
Target Students
Students studying BEng Hons Architecture
Classes
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 11 weeks
Assessment
- 100% Coursework 1: Multiple assessment of place and space
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
The primary aim of this module is simple: to give students a thorough understanding of the impact that the built environment has on those who inhabit its spaces / places. In so doing, it affords students with the opportunity to analyse the qualities of existing built environments in some detail, as well as considering the bigger social, environmental and economic sustainability implications of built environments. More specifically, the core aims of the module seek to: broaden students’ awareness of built environment design issues to incorporate perspectives from architecture, urban design, landscape design and the broader sustainability agenda; sensitize students to the various needs of people and to explore how built and natural environments may (or may not) meet those needs over time;introduce students to theories of environmental / behavioural psychology and their influence on built environment design;illustrate how design decisions impact more broadly on environmental, economic, social and experiential issues (prompting sustainable thinking).develop skills in critical thinking, communication, observation and analysis.Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module the student will demonstrate:
· An appreciation of architecture and building engineering as professions which seek to design places for people (GC 2.1 GC2.21.3, GC5.1 GC5.2 GC5.3 6.1, 6.3)
· An awareness of the influence of the design of individual buildings, landscapes and cities upon wider global issues and human behaviour.
· Knowledge of a number of theories, concepts and debates which underpin sustainable urban design, architectural practice and decision making (GC2.1 GC2.2 4.1, GC 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 9.2, 10.1)
· An ability to critically appraise and form considered judgements about the spatial, aesthetic, environmental and social qualities of built environment (GC 2.3 GC 7.2 )
· Communicate ideas in a range of formats (verbally, visually and in writing) with creativity and clarity.
Conveners
- Miss Yucong Zhang