AA3REA1: Realisation 1

Module code: AA3REA1

Module provider: School of Architecture, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Mrs Louise Humphreys, email: louise.humphreys@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Mr Sayan Skandarajah, email: s.skandarajah@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE AA3HTAN 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

The module aims to explore the territory between the academic study of architecture and different forms of practice, testing the definition of design practice within a school of architecture. Practice as prescribed and validated for the course, the practice of realising architecture in built form, acts on the content of the course, at the same time the development of theoretical positions and modes of making and drawing progress the discipline within the school, in turn acting upon the nature and objectives of the practice of architecture beyond.

In this module development of reflective approaches to re-thinking design for realisation and the potential for resulting research expertise combine with reflective approaches to design through model making using a variety of materials, media and equipment. In architecture thinking is designing and making is thinking, so students will contrast and debate the related opportunities and priorities. Student understanding of the transferability of questions around research and making between practice and school and between school and practice will be developed. By comparing prioritisation of the realisation of buildings and prioritisation of experimental processes, students will develop personal attitudes and critical thinking towards design practice.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Understand a work environment relevant to the discipline of architecture; GC 6.1; GC 6.2; GC 6.3; GC 7.3
2. Evaluate work placement roles
3. Understand relationships between graduates and employing organisations
4. Develop self-confidence and inter-personal skills
5. Have an awareness of the relationship between academic study and practice
6. Apply advanced design practice skills using a range of media that have been developed iteratively throughout the module
7. Understand conceptual and theoretical drivers for the creative development of their own academic study
8. Prepare a structured and curated portfolio submission

Students will also be expected to have developed:

1. Enhanced understanding of the nature of expertise and creative rigour
2. A clearer sense of where their interests might best be realised

Module content

The taught component of this module is structured into several topic areas, as follows;

• Design practice in the professional context
• Design practice in the academic context
• Iterative model making and skills workshops in a range of different media
• Showcasing your work, the use of photography and curation
• Understanding opportunities in relation to different strengths
• Emerging and sustained skills, the role of experience
• Motivating forces in the studio (school) and studio (workplace)
• Reflective writing: defining personal aspirations in these contexts and critical thinking
• Describing aspirations: interview techniques

The module is structured to support students to develop their awareness of differing attitudes towards design practice within the Architectural profession and be encouraged to think critically and reflectively about the experience and skills they have gained.

Students will develop an awareness of process and how their own strengths, aspirations, prioritisations and presentation of these could relate to their future identities in the studio and the workplace.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be structured across four strains of teaching:

1. Lectures on thematic approaches and critical underpinning to module, including aspects of theoretical approaches and an overview of key precedents.
   Skills workshops on specific techniques on design practice, involving practical engagement with students.
2. Working sessions, conducted in the studio and workshop environment where students will continue to develop their own project under supervision.
3. Tutorials and feedback sessions to help steer and define the strategies and direction of the output.

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.

Reassessment

Additional costs