Back Briefs: Architecture in Context 1 (DESN10055)

Breakdown of module:
-

Patchwork Essay 50%

E-Test 25%
Precedents Blog 25%

Learning Outcomes
1. Context: Identify and evaluate, through discussion and formal critique, the social,
historical and cultural contexts of architecture, cities and landscapes.
2. Critical engagement: Analyze and debate the architectural perceptions and
manifestations of a range of cultures and societies.
3. Overall content: Recognize the relationship between historic and contemporary
architectural contexts.
4. Research: Evaluate information and use it to plan and develop investigation
strategies and responses.
5. Communication: Use visual, verbal and written communication methods to
effectively engage in and convey contextual knowledge and understanding.
6. Referencing: Use a referencing system related to academic writing in order to avoid
plagiarism.
Patchwork Essay
- Definition: an essay that is constructed gradually in parts and then stitched together
- Choose a pair of buildings (from list on coursework brief)
- Analyse buildings in terms of social, historical and cultural contexts
- Third section discusses buildings in relation to the quote: The relationship between
the object and the intervening spaces is not formal: it is always rooted in the context
of a particular setting. Dalibor Vesely (in Brooker and Stone, 2007, p57)
Presentation
- Language throughout should be of that used in a formal academic essay
- Include fitting images
- Use Harvard reference scheme
Structure
Patchwork #1
500 words, suitable images
1. Introduction
2. General notes on history and wider context of location (not on buildings
themselves)
3. Conclusion
Deadlines and feedback:
- Week 19 Draft submission 30/11/15
- Week 25 Submission 11/01/16 @ 08:45
- Week 26 Presentation 18/01/15 (0% formative feedback)
Patchwork #2
500 words, suitable, images
1. Introduction
2. General notes on style and main features of building
3. Conclusion
Deadlines and feedback:
- Week 28 Draft submission 01/02/16
- Week 30 Submission and presentation 15/02/16 @ 08:45 (10% formative feedback)
- Week 33 (Summative feedback received by this week)
Patchwork #3
1, 500 words, suitable images including first two patchworks
1. Introduction (to whole essay)
2. Patchwork #1
3. Patchwork #2
4. Evaluate and analyse information gathered for first patchworks

What does it tell you about how different contexts have influenced the buildings and
how the way they are perceived has changed over time?
- Include reflective comment about the quote do you agree or not and why?
- Conclusion (of whole essay)
Deadlines and feedback:
- Week 32 Draft submission 29/02/16
- Week 34 Submission 07/03/16 @ 08:45
- Week 35 Presentation 14/03/16
- Week 40 (40% summative feedback received by this week)
Assessment Criteria (linked to learning outcomes):
Research (25%) L.O. 4
Referencing (10%) L.O. 6
Context (25%) L.O. 1
Critical Engagement (25%) L.O. 2
Communication (15%) L.O. 5
e-test
- A randomised individual e-assessment
- Multiple choice questions
- Date of test: Week 46 06/06/16
- Assesses knowledge of module based on:
- Content of lectures (different architectural periods, debates and theories)
- Image identification (take from lectures)
- Length: 40 minutes
- Can bring notes from lectures on lecture slide print-outs (but not one without the
other)
Assessment Criteria (linked to learning outcomes):
Overall Context L.O. 3
Context L.O. 1
Precedents Blog
- Create an online blog
- Upload set tasks related to Architecture Context and Design Studio
- Complete tasks on a regular basis (given schedule) and update blog weekly
- Include written research, drawings, pictures, models
- Reflect on feedback received from other coursework (patchwork, blog, e-test)
- Never copy published work (text or images) unless in a brief referenced quote
Submission Requirements
- Link to blog in Word document
- PDF of each screenshot page using Fireshot lite
Sources
- Library (text, scanned images, paper and e-journals)
- Internet (architects website, newspaper articles NOT Wikipedia)
- Always credit sources (http address and date)
Assessment Schedule (for detailed description read Precedents blog coursework brief)
Links to studio project:
Week 11 Task 1. Understanding precedents
1
Week 12 Task 2. Back briefs
Week 14 Task 3. Academic writing and plagiarism
Week 15 Task 4. Exploration of human scale
2
Week 17 Task 5. Light and shadow
3
Week 26 Task 6. Social space (tbc)
4
Week 30 Task 7. Experiencing space phenomenology
5
Week 38 Task 8. Architecture and landscape
6
Week 40 Task 9. Self-appraisal
Week 42 Final deadline (09/06/16 08:45 to Dropbox)
Assessment Criteria (linked to learning outcomes):
Context (25%) L.O. 1
Critical Engagement (25%) L.O. 2

Overall Content (25%) L.O. 3

Research (25% combining L.O 4 and 6)