AA3HTAN: Dissertation

Module code: AA3HTAN

Module provider: School of Architecture, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Penelope Plaza, email: p.plaza@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE AA3REA1 AND TAKE AA3DS5N AND TAKE AA3REA2 AND TAKE AA3DS6N (Compulsory)

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is a third year module within a series of modules which relate to the history and theory of architecture, to be provided over three years within the Architecture programme. It is closely related to other modules including the third year design module. All architecture and design whether at the scale of a room, a building or a city plan, needs to be informed by rigorous research and understanding of precedent both historical and cultural and of a current societal issues related to architecture and the built environment. This module will engage students in a discourse connected to architecture, so that a piece of structured critical writing is developed that will inform subsequent design work in the studio.

Students will produce a piece of critical writing, as a structured essay, connected to architecture, culture and society chosen from a range of subjects.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate, in written assignments, knowledge and understanding of the cultural, social and intellectual histories, theories and technologies that influence the design of buildings; GC 2.1
2. Demonstrate, in written assignments, knowledge and understanding of the influence of history and theory on the spatial, social, and technological aspects of architecture; GC 2.2
3. Demonstrate, in written assignments, knowledge and understanding of how the theories, practices and technologies of the arts influence architectural design; GC 3.1
4. Demonstrate, in written assignments, knowledge and understanding of the creative application of the fine arts and their relevance and impact on architecture; GC 3.2
5. Demonstrate, in written assignments, knowledge and understanding of theories of urban design and the planning of communities; GC 4.1
6. Demonstrate, in written assignments, knowledge and understanding of the influence of the design and development of cities, past and present on the contemporary built environment; GC 4.2
7. Demonstrate, in written assignments, knowledge and understanding of students will also have gained an understanding of the application of appropriate theoretical concepts to studio design projects, demonstrating a reflective and critical approach; GC 2.3
8. Demonstrate, in written assignments, knowledge and understanding of students will have the ability to evaluate evidence, arguments and assumptions in order to make and present sound judgments within a structured discourse relating to architectural culture, theory and design; GA 1.4

They will also be able to demonstrate:

• An ability to engage in independent research, develop a structured informed argument related to architecture and use appropriate methodologies and written communication methods.
• Students will have developed an insight into relationships between buildings and society.
• Students will have developed their critical thinking, as well as their understanding of architecture and culture.

Module content

The module is structured around several topic areas related to set of themes set by invited speakers who will talk on a range of subjects connected to architecture, culture, society and the built environment.

Students will explore these topics by means of case studies and will choose which of the above topics to explore in more detail within a substantial piece of written work.

The student’s reading will be personalized, however core texts available through the module reading list and the library include:

• Forty, A., (2000) Words and buildings, London. Thames & Hudson Jacobs, J.,
• Groat, L., and Wang, D., (2013) Architectural Research Methods 2nd edition., New Jersey: Wiley.
• Koolhaas, R., (1989) Toward the contemporary city, L’Architecture d’Aujourd’hui, April. Unpaginated.
• Le Corbusier, (1975) The city of tomorrow and its planning. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
• Lynch, K., (2000) The image of the city. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
• Mumford, L., (1997) The city in history: Its origins, its transformations, and its prospects. New York: MJF Books
• Mumford, E., (2000) The CIAM discourse on urbanism, 1928–1960. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
• These could be selectively supplemented with further materials.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

There will be an assigned tutor who will arrange discussions in seminar and tutorials around the progress and development of an individual piece of writing.

Study hours

At least 50 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

This module will include formative assessment related to written assignments including interim feedback as work for formal assessment is developed.

Reassessment

Additional costs