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The distinctiveness of this School lies in its tradition of combining creativity with a focus on making, its research portfolio, the calibre of its staff and in its unique location... that is a gateway to the stunning landscape of Wales. We’re not London, we’re Cardiff, and that gives us easy access to diverse physical, social and cultural contexts we can explore in our teaching and research.
Welsh School of Architecture Cardiff University Bute Building, King Edward VII Ave. Cardiff CF10 3NB UK Telephone: 029 2087 4430 Email: archi-reception@cardiff.ac.uk www.cardiff.ac.uk/archi 2014 Copyright Š Designed by: Height Studio (www.heightstudio.com) We hope that the diversity and richness of the WSA experience is reflected in the illustrations in this brochure and we would like to thank and acknowledge the very wide range of contributors for providing the pictures.
HEAD OF SCHOOL LETTER Dear Reader, Welcome to this year’s brochure from the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA). If you are reading this, I imagine you are interested in architecture and the School. Obviously we are too. But more than that, we have a passion for creating a built environment that will enhance people’s lives without destroying the planet for future generations. We want our architecture graduates to design and make beautiful buildings that respond to changing technological, social, cultural, economic and professional contexts. We want our Masters graduates to use their expertise to shape sustainable buildings, cities, and communities. And all of our graduates should leave us as creative problem solvers who can apply their newly acquired understanding, knowledge and skills to the challenges practice and life throw at them. Much of that understanding and knowledge we distil from the research we do in-house. The School’s portfolio of research spans architectural science, low carbon building design, history and theory of architecture, interactions between people and the built environment, and research into design tools, practices and methods. Research is conducted through projects funded by UK Research Councils, Welsh government, industry, and the European Commission, and by a lively group of PhD students. Our research underpins the BSc and MArch degree programmes as well as the specialisms we teach through advanced Masters programmes that cater to graduates across the broad spectrum of built environment professions, embracing environmental and sustainable design, conservation, energy modelling, urban design and professional studies. We have exciting plans for the School and have already started a programme of improvements to accommodation and facilities in the Bute Building with funding from the University. This summer that includes new design studios to integrate digital and fabrication facilities in traditional design studios such that conventional ‘messy’ paper and model based methods sit alongside new computer based tools rather than setting them apart in labs. We like mixing things up, and we think it is the best way to teach design. The distinctiveness of this School lies in its tradition of combining creativity with a focus on making, its research portfolio, the calibre of its staff and in its unique location in a friendly, liveable and affordable capital city that is a gateway to the stunning landscape of Wales. We’re not London, we’re Cardiff, and that gives us easy access to diverse physical, social and cultural contexts we can explore in our teaching and research. The WSA is not an easy option. We set high standards for students and staff and expect great things from them. But we stand by the quality of our graduates and are proud of what they achieve. You will find them working around the world, and prospective employers keeping coming back for more. That’s the greatest reward for us. We are proud of our staff too, whether they are publishing in key international journals, conducting ‘crits’ on student designs, or helping to make the School run smoothly. I hope you enjoy reading about the School and what we do. You will find details of the degree programmes and research in the pages of this brochure and on our website. If you have any questions, please get in touch or better still, come and see us at an open day. Yours faithfully,
Professor Chris Tweed (Head of School)
Contents
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Welsh School of Architecture
09 Introduction 10 The School 14 Architectural Education 15 The School’s distinguished visitors and contributors 16 Journals 17 Architectural Education at the WSA 18 Teaching Methods and Assessment 22 BSc Architectural Studies 26 MArch 29 Taught Masters Courses 30 Architectural Science Masters 34 PhD and MPhil Research Degrees 35 The Research Community 36 Research Centres 38 Applications 42 Division of Student Support and Well Being 42 Alumni 43 The Building and Facilities 44 Wales – a Spirited Encounter 48 The University 50 Accommodation
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Welsh School of Architecture
The Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) consistently appears in the top rankings for schools of architecture in the UK, based on its performance in architectural education and research. In the 2008 RAE (Research Assessment Exercise) 90% of the School’s research activity was classed as internationally recognised or better. The WSA attracts undergraduate and graduate students from around the world who benefit from the unique experience gained from studying and living in Wales. The School offers a solid base from which to make connections to UK and international partners and collaborators, through the School’s extensive education and research networks.
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The School
Welsh School of Architecture
Established in 1920, the national school of architecture in Wales, the WSA now attracts students and staff from all over Britain and around the world. It has productive research links with practice, industry and with universities in many other countries, and sees its contribution to the cultural life of Wales, and to the dynamic city of Cardiff, as a significant part of its identity. Through its BSc in Architectural Studies, MArch, and Diploma/MA in Professional Studies the WSA provides a complete professional education for architects. In line with Cardiff’s mission as a research-led university, the strengths in research feed into its teaching at all levels, enabling students to benefit from an up-to-date, evidence based approach to architectural education. The majority of graduates proceed to a career in architectural practice, and graduates of the WSA are to be found in many eminent practices in the UK and across the world. Whilst most students go on to become architects, those who do not are prepared for careers in a variety of other creative, entrepreneurial and managerial fields because of the skills they acquire through study at the Welsh School of Architecture. This brochure can only outline the wide range of opportunities in the WSA. If you feel you are appropriately qualified for one of the degree courses or research programmes and would like to know more, please get in touch: contact details are on page 4 and on our website www.cardiff.ac.uk/archi
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Architectural Education
Cardiff continues to be ranked as one of the top schools of architecture in the UK and is consistently in the top 5 UK schools in all league tables. The School has an excellent record in recent league tables. Examples of its top performance follow: Times Good University Guide 2014 — Architecture 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Cambridge Bath Sheffield Cardiff Newcastle Edinburgh Northumbria UCL Strathclyde Nottingham
The Guardian University Guide 2014 — Architecture 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
UCL Cardiff Bath Cambridge Newcastle Kent Oxford Brookes Manchester Sheffield Edinburgh
Welsh School of Architecture
The School’s distinguished visitors and contributors
The School benefits from a host of contributors to teaching and review from industry, practice and other academic organisations.
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This year these include: Ed Jones of Dixon Jones Andrew Taylor of Patel Taylor MJ Long of Long & Kentish architects Pierre d’Avoine of Pierre d’Avoine Architects Bill Dunster of Bill Dunster Architects Tim Ronalds of Tim Ronalds Architects Neil Macomish of Scott Brownrigg Architects
Journals
The following are either based in the school or staff make a significant contribution to the editorial boards: Materials Architecture Design Environment (made) MADE – an international refereed architecture journal published annually by the School. It reflects the Schools interest in physical making in architecture, crafting and joining, as well as the intellectual making of the discipline, its science, practice, histories, theories and material culture. Architectural Research Quarterly (arq) This quarterly publication aims to act as an international forum for practitioners and academics by publishing cutting-edge work covering all aspects of architectural endeavour. Contents include building design, urbanism, history, theory, environmental design, construction, materials, information technology, and practice. Other features include interviews, occasional reports, lively letters pages, book reviews and an end feature, Insight. Reviews of significant buildings are published at length and in a detail matched today by few other architectural journals. South Asian Studies (SAS) South Asian Studies is the annual journal of the British Association for South Asian Studies, one of the Institutes founded and supported by the British Academy. SAS is the main journal in this country for the art, architecture, archaeology and material culture of South Asia, and the only major journal outside the subcontinent focusing exclusively on this field. It regularly includes contributions from throughout the world, and is refereed internationally.
Welsh School of Architecture
Architectural Education at the WSA
The WSA offers the qualifications needed to become a registered architect in the United Kingdom, and produces graduates who can address the diverse demands of practice. The School emphasises a holistic, integrated approach to design, based on a thorough understanding of how buildings are made, how they are used and their impact on the wider world, including the cultural, social and physical contexts. The BSc in Architectural Studies is a three-year undergraduate degree scheme. It satisfies Part 1 of the UK professional qualification for architects and is approved by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Architects’ Registration Board (ARB). The MArch (Master of Architecture) is a unique two-year degree scheme, taken after the BSc (or equivalent qualification from another university). It satisfies Part 2 of the UK professional qualification for architects, and is approved by RIBA and ARB. The first year of the MArch — the year of education in practice — is spent mostly in architectural practice. It includes three short courses, held in the School, and has a modular structure of associated coursework. The second year is spent entirely in the School and takes students to an advanced level of architectural design. It offers an intense and lively forum for the exploration and discussion of contemporary issues in architecture, and includes courses in building economics and professional practice.
Undergraduate Programme
Graduate Programme
BSc
MArch
Diploma/MA in Architecture: Professional Studies
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Postgraduate Programme
Year 5
Year 6
Year 7
MSc Sustainable Building Conservation MSc Sustainable Mega Buildings MSc Building Performance Modelling MSc Environmental Design of Buildings MSc Sustainable design MA Urban design MPhil PhD
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Teaching Methods and Assessment
Studios are the focus for design teaching and learning, model-making, tutorials, workshops and debate. In studio, students display their work for critical discussion and assessment by staff, peers and visiting critics. Design projects are supplemented by primer projects, precedent studies, environmental design evaluations, tectonic analyses and by study visits in the UK and abroad. Design tuition is provided by staff in the School and by external tutors based in practice. Visiting Professors include leading practitioners Juliet Davis, Ed Jones, Andrew Taylor and Pankaj Patel. Design teaching in the School is led by Peter Salter, Wayne Forster and Jacob Hotz. Contact time for students with staff is high, and they receive regular feedback throughout the year. At the end of each session, a portfolio of all design-related work is presented for formal examination. To complete the architect’s education, the School also offers a Diploma/MA degree in Professional Studies, which satisfies Part 3 of the UK qualification for architects, approved by the RIBA and ARB. Further details can be found in the Taught Masters section. The School caters for advanced study through taught Masters programmes and via MPhil and PhD research degrees. Masters programmes are available in Environmental Design, Theory and Practice of Sustainable Design, Building Energy and Environmental Performance Modelling, an MA in Urban Design, Sustainable Energy and Environment. New programmes address Sustainable Building Conservation and Sustainable Mega-Buildings.
Welsh School of Architecture
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BSc Architectural Studies
The BSc in Architectural Studies is a three-year modular undergraduate degree course. During the first and second years, the emphasis of the studio teaching alternates between a concern with the practical ‘making’ of architecture and with its broader physical, social and intellectual contexts. In the third year these concerns come together in longer studio (design) projects. Each year is comprised of 120 credits, through combinations of single, double, or multiple modules. Architectural Design is the focus of the course, as reflected by the 70 credits assigned to it in each year. The remaining 50 credits are allocated to modules in subjects associated with the cultural, technological and professional context of architecture.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Architectural Design 1
AR1101
70 Credits
Architectural Technology 1A
AR1102
10 Credits
Architectural Technology 1
AR1002
10 Credits
Building Through Time
AR1007
20 Credits
Design Principles and Methods 1
AR1006
10 Credits
Architectural Design 2
AR2201
70 Credits
Architectural Technology 2
AR2002
20 Credits
Architecture in Context
AR2007
20 Credits
Design Principles and Methods 2
AR2006
10 Credits
Architectural Design 3
AR3301
70 Credits
Architectural Technology 3
AR3002
20 Credits
Issues in Contemporary Architecture
AR3003
10 Credits
Practice Management and Economics
AR3004
10 Credits
Design Principles and Methods 3
AR3006
10 Credits
Welsh School of Architecture
BSc Year 1 Architectural Design Year one builds skills whilst fostering individual creativity. The first term uses a range of projects to focus on aspects of making, generation of ideas and response to contexts. Term two integrates these skills into a longer project, predicated on the design of a small building. Both urban and rural contexts will be addressed. ‘Vertical Studio’ occupies term three. Here years one and two work together in elective studio programs. Design is supported by Design Principles and Methods and Architectural Technology modules. There is also a week-long study visit to a major European city in which studies relate both to design and to the historical and theoretical issues. BSc Year 1 — lecture modules Building Through Time (20 credits); Architectural Technology 1 A (10 credits); Architectural Technology 1 (10 credits); Design Principles and Methods 1 (10 credits). BSc Year 2 Architectural Design During term one students work on concepts of ‘making place’ and sustainable living through a housing project in an urban context. Term two takes on broader social and contextual issues through a project to design a small public building in sensitive relationship to immediate context. Architectural Technology aims to develop a thorough understanding of domestic and medium sized buildings, and skills in the prediction of building performance combined with technical imagination. Term three runs as a Vertical Studio with Year one, (see above). A week is taken as a study visit to a major European city. Design Principles and Method supports design studio with increased emphasis on digital media. Architecture in Context offers in depth study of particular historical and theoretical issues.
BSc Year 3 Architectural Design In year three a range of studio options are offered, each with a particular intellectual focus and design agenda. The student will work within their studio for the entire year, for work is structured into a continuous investigation specific to the studio. This moves from initial investigative and propositional work at the scale of the urban block or neighbourhood, to a subsequent close focus on a particular moderately complex building within the proposal. This will be explored at various scales; it will incorporate low environmental impact strategies; and use an appropriate architectonic language, brought to a good level of technical resolution. The third year study visit serves as a preparatory stage to introduce the aim of the second term project. DPM 3 currently focusses on digital methods and media; Issues in Contemporary Architecture provides a theoretical background for studies; the Architectural Technology module addresses increasingly complex and integrative methods of environmental, structural and constructional design; Practice Management and Economics offers practice skills and preparation for the year four placement. BSc Year 3 — lecture modules Issues in Contemporary Architecture (10 credits); Practice Management and Economics (10 credits); Architectural Technology 3 (20 credits); Design Principles and Methods 3 (10 credits).
BSc Year 2 — lecture modules Architecture in Context (20 credits); Architectural Technology 2 (20 credits); Design Principles and Methods 2 (10 credits).
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MArch
Year 1
Year 2
The MArch is a two-year second degree that combines experience in practice with challenges in advanced architectural design. Uniquely in the UK, the first year, which has its own modular structure, is conducted primarily in practice. Students return from practice to the school to pursue an intensive year of study and design to complete their RIBA Part 2 exemption. This structure creates a good balance between learning in practice and in the university.
Design in Practice
AR4401
60 Credits
Research Preparation
AR4402
20 Credits
Reflective Practice
AR4403
40 Credits
Design Thesis
AR5001
80 Credits
Dissertation
AR5002
30 Credits
Practice Management and Economics
AR5003
10 Credits
Welsh School of Architecture
MArch Year 1 The Year of Education in Practice Students are in paid employment based full-time in an architect’s office, but contact with the School is maintained throughout the year. Students are normally visited by a member of staff, and also return to the Welsh School of Architecture for short courses in aspects of architectural design, technology, research, professional practice and building economics. These are timed to allow those students wishing to work abroad to do so with the minimum of disruption and additional travel costs. Students working abroad (EU only) may be eligible to receive additional financial support through the current Erasmus Scheme.
MArch Year 2 Based full-time in the School In the second year of the MArch, students are asked to establish their own position in architectural design, whilst meeting the requirements of the RIBA/ARB for Part 2 exemption. The focus of the year is the Design Thesis. Students choose from several Design Thesis units representing different themes and issues for contemporary architecture and urbanism. Each is led by an internal or external tutor. The themes may vary year on year but are related to research areas and strengths within the WSA in History and Theory, Practice Based Research and Architectural Science. The Thesis begins with an induction phase designed to help students understand its challenges. During the course of the Design Thesis, units usually undertake study visits to European destinations that provide either sites or precedents connected to their themes. Developing the Design Thesis involves using theoretically informed analysis of a range of spatial and social issues to construct an argument through architectural and urban design propositions. Students are encouraged to draw on precedents from the history of architecture to inform their approaches to form, language, tectonics, materials and representation. MArch Year 2 students also submit a 10,000 word dissertation on a research topic for which they undertake preparatory work during the Year in Practice. This research can valuably support the Design Thesis, though students are currently able to determine the degree of connection between the two. Architectural technology teaching is integrated with the Design Thesis, and specialist advice is provided through consultancies with experts in structural design, environmental design and fire safety. Studies in building economics and professional practice take place through a lecture module, though teaching is also closely integrated with the design work.
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Welsh School of Architecture
Taught Masters Courses
Masters courses aim to attract students from a wide range of disciplines to courses dealing with current issues that reflect our research interests and expertise in sustainability, conservation, urban design and energy studies. These courses are designed to be of value both to architectural students as well as many other professions involved in designing, developing and evaluating the built environment. For up-to-date information on these degree schemes, please contact the School or visit our website. Course Structure All of our taught masters courses follow a similar structure; Stage 1 comprises taught modules worth 120 credits and Stage 2 is a 60 credit research dissertation. Both full and part time options are available. While the Diploma/MA in Professional Studies is completed on a blended learning basis, the MSc in Environmental Design of Building also has the option of full distance learning. Master of Arts (MA) in Architecture: Professional Studies The MA in Architecture: Professional Studies is a two-stage postgraduate Diploma/Masters course; where the Diploma has RIBA/ARB recognition for the RIBA Examination in Professional Practice (Part 3). On the course, students are encouraged to develop a critical awareness of current challenges and will have the opportunity to acquire an in-depth understanding of the legal and economic aspects of architectural practice and construction procurement, as well as to develop the related skills necessary to practice effectively on entry into the architectural profession. The course is undertaken while the student is in an approved work placement, and is taught through a combination of distance learning and intensive residential short courses normally held in October, January and April. Students eligible for admission will hold a degree validated at RIBA/ARB Part 2 level, and will have completed the requisite period of Professional Experience.
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Architectural Science Masters
Master of Science (MSc) in Theory and Practice of Sustainable Design Designed for graduates or experienced professionals in disciplines related to the built environment, such as architecture, town and country planning, civil engineering, construction and property development as well as other professionals and practitioners who have an interest in the built environment.
The WSA also offers taught programmes in advanced practice that are open to candidates from nonarchitectural backgrounds. Among these is a suite of four MSc degree programmes that draw on the School’s established and widely recognised research strengths. Designed for practitioners who have some involvement in the production or management of the built environment, each of these programmes offer a perspective on approaches to minimise the impact that the built environment has on the sustainability of our planet and its inhabitants.
As environmental and social problems become ever more prominent in our global community, there is an increasing need for attention to the principles of sustainability in the procurement, design and construction of buildings, which is the focus of the specialist taught modules. Live project work plays a central role in the programme, where it is designed to empower students to become critically reflective practitioners, enabling them to develop their own personal stance with respect to holistic sustainability. Thus practical aspects are supported by an introduction to holistic issues that underpin sustainability at the levels of philosophy, theory and principle. Master of Science (MSc) in Building Energy and Environmental Performance Modelling Suitable for applicants from across the building and construction industries as well as from other related fields. Building on the School’s expertise in developing computer software, this course focuses on its use in design to study diverse aspects of building and urban design including lighting, thermal simulation, air flow, carbon-dioxide emission, and life-cycle analysis. Students will be exposed to a wide range of building simulation and analysis software, applying them to both large and small scale design problems. The course takes a hands-on approach requiring students to learn to use new applications, applying them to accurately solve complex design problems. Communication skills are also central to the course, with the ability to both understand and clearly explain the significance of simulation and the analysis of results being critical if they are to be used effectively to influence the design process.
Welsh School of Architecture
Master of Science (MSc) in Environmental Design of Buildings Appropriate for all members of the building design team, the course aims to return students to their disciplines as specialists in environmental design. Underlying the course is the belief that only by bridging the knowledge gap between disciplines, can environmental design advance. The subject of the course is the physical environment in and around buildings, with the focus on consideration of how to minimise the wider global impact of building environments, ensuring they are not only comfortable but healthy, energy-conscious, and sustainable. The taught modules encourage an understanding of both the principles and application of this approach to design while the project modules emphasise the practicalities of what they learn, and apply their working skills to the kinds of situations they will encounter in practice, for many building types and in diverse climates. A distance learning study route is available. Master of Science (MSc) in Sustainable Mega-Buildings Suitable for candidates with degrees in architecture, urban design, engineering, environmental science or other related disciplines, or relevant professional experience in the field of sustainable mega-buildings. Until recently, large buildings have been viewed as mega-scale energy consumers with little regard for sustainable design and performance. However, this is changing with a new generation of mega-buildings that have been designed with energy conservation and sustainability as their principal criteria. The programme focuses on principles of sustainable planning and design of mega-buildings.
Master of Science (MSc) in Sustainable Building Conservation Suitable for Architects, Surveyors, Curators, Engineers, Archaeologists, Planners, Building Managers, Developers, Contractors and all related Built Environment professionals. Unique in emphasising the role of sustainability within the historic context, the course addresses concerns identified by ICOMOS as critical to the future of Conservation Education. As an IHBC accredited course it enables suitably qualified candidates to achieve full IHBC accreditation in 2 as opposed to 5 years. For ARB/RIBA registered architects, it reduces the number of years in practice required to apply to be entitled “Specialist Conservation Architect” to 4 years (from 5) and 2 years (from 3) for “Conservation Architect”. Master of Arts (MA) in Urban Design This course is run jointly by the Cardiff School of Planning and Geography and the Welsh School of Architecture. It is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). The course responds to the need for professional skills for designing ‘places’: intimate public spaces to urban neighbourhoods; details of materials to strategic policy analysis. Design is central to the course, with the six taught modules leading to a final Research-based Design thesis. Study visits are a highlight, with day visits, a London study visit in the autumn and a European visit in the spring. This course is suitable for graduates in design, architecture, planning, landscape architecture, highway engineering, surveying, real estate management, civil engineering, while all graduates will be considered.
This course aims to train students to respond to the environmental challenges associated with megabuildings, and to adapt to shifting demands on this role as sustainable policies are increasingly supported by the public and governments worldwide.
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PhD and MPhil Research Degrees
The broad subject areas that the School offers candidates for higher degrees in research relate to the research fields in which the staff at the School work. For more information, please refer to information on the Research Community opposite. The aim of the degree is to produce a major piece of work. This is normally a written thesis, but may involve a combination of written and design work, and must embody the methods and results of systematic research. In the case of a PhD degree, the work must constitute an original contribution to knowledge in the field of study. A research degree is confirmation that its holder has gained expertise in developing and employing appropriate research methods and in drawing conclusions from their results. It is excellent training for those wishing to pursue a career in research in higher education, industry or professional consultancy. Candidates may study on a full or part-time basis, and the School complies with the university’s general regulations concerning the length of study. For updated information on Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Philosophy (MPhil), please contact the School or visit our website.
Welsh School of Architecture
The Research Community
Research is a big part of what we do. It leads to new understandings that are important in their own right, but also inform teaching and create impact in the outside world. Research is carried out by permanent staff, funded researchers and research students. The School collaborates across the University, with other universities, and with industry. The School has three major research groupings: Architectural History and Theory Group This Group has an international reputation for its diverse research covering Theory and Practice, Critical Practice, Mechanisms of Practice and Cultural Practice. A major focus in all of these areas is 20th-century architecture and urban design. ‘World Architecture’ is an important theme and the AHTG includes the PRASADA (Practice, Research and Advancement in South Asian Design and Architecture) Centre. Architectural Science Group For more than 30 years, the Architectural Science Group has conducted research on energy efficiency, environmental design and sustainability, developing a body of research methods and tools, including computer models, an environmental laboratory and building performance evaluation and social survey procedures. The Group’s work may be categorised into three main themes: research on energy and environmental performance of buildings and systems; sustainability at an urban scale; resource use and management. Design Practice Research Group The Design Practice Research Group conducts research through the act of design or study of practice. Members of this group undertake work which may be practice-based – demonstrated through creative outcomes in the form of buildings, designs, artefacts, drawings, digital design techniques etc. – or practice-led leading to new knowledge with operational or professional significance for practice, such as studies in project management, building law and architectural education.
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Research Centres
Research centres in the School provide a focus for the range of different research themes. Staff may be affiliated to one or more centres, which allows them the flexibility to pursue a range of interests and maximise interdisciplinary working. The diverse range of centres reflects the varied interests and achievements of staff. LCRI — Low Carbon Research Institute The LCRI involves a capacity for Welsh Universities to seek funding for large energy projects by targeting cross-disciplinary research in the energy field. LCRI co-ordinates research, technology development / demonstration and knowledge transfer. It seeks to achieve long term affordable low carbon energy costs, use energy efficiently from different sources, reduce energy demand across all sectors, be less dependent on imported fuels and reduce impact on climate change. SuDoBE — Centre for Sustainable Design of the Built Environment SuDoBE creates a focus for research collaboration on sustainable design in Wales, the UK and internationally. The main theme of its research is how design can enhance the quality of people’s experiences and interactions with built environment and its technologies and simultaneously minimise the impact on precious resources.
Welsh School of Architecture
DRUw — Design Research Unit Wales DRUw provides a research based approach to architectural design, urban design and landscape projects, focusing on sustainability, place-making, tectonic form and sensitive contexts. Work is carried out in partnership with industry. Projects are shaped through rigorous and critical analysis of all parameters shaping the conceptualisation, development and solution of the project. PRASADA — Practice, Research and Advancement in South Asian Design and Architecture PRASADA is an established centre for studying the architectural traditions of South Asia and its Diaspora. The centre aims to integrate academic research with creative practice through research projects and publications, design consultancy work, teaching and postgraduate research programmes. Its main current project is ‘The Indian Temple: Production, Place, Patronage’, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (£0.5m). CRiBE — Centre for Research in the Built Environment CRiBE provides a complete design and environmental consultancy service, across all aspects of the built environment. CRiBE’s interdisciplinary expertise, underpinned by a dedicated business support team, is successfully applied to both large international and small local practices and businesses.
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Applications
Admissions and Entry Requirements To be considered for entry to the BSc degree you should apply through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Their website is www.ucas.com. Follow-up enquiries can then be made to the Admissions Administrator at the WSA, Email: architecture-ug@cardiff.ac.uk. Admissions — (BSc) The typical offer for the BSc in Architectural Studies is AAA at A2 level, or equivalent qualification available on the University’s website: http://courses. cardiff.ac.uk/undergraduate/course/detail/K100.html. We also require all candidates to submit a small portfolio. This should consist of 4 sheets of A4 size reproductions of some of the applicant’s art and/or design work. This need not be architectural in any way and may include drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, graphics, product design or any other work in visual design. We will not be able to return your work to you so please do not send originals. Following submission of the UCAS form, applicants will be contacted by WSA to submit a portfolio to The Admissions Administrator at the School. An application will not be considered until we have received both the UCAS form and the portfolio. Where a portfolio is of exceptionally high quality, lower academic qualifications may be acceptable. Mature students who do not have these or equivalent qualifications, but who have strong motivation and relevant skills and experience, should contact the School to discuss the possibility of being admitted. Admissions — (MArch) Entry to the MArch is invited from graduates from other schools who have at least an upper second class degree giving exemption from RIBA Part 1. Selection is based on an interview with design portfolio. For entry directly to the MArch degree you should contact the Admissions Administrator at the School, who will send you an application form. Email: architecture-ug@cardiff.ac.uk
Welsh School of Architecture
Admissions — (Higher Degrees) The School welcomes enquiries and applications from suitably qualified people wishing to conduct research in Architectural Science, History and Theory or Design and Practice. For PhD/MPhil research application queries please contact the Research Executive Officer. For Taught Masters course application queries please contact the Postgraduate Officer. For Postgraduate Taught degrees, applications are invited from candidates with an upper second class Honours degree in a related discipline. Applicants to these higher degrees should apply online at: www.cardiff.ac.uk/for/prospective/postgraduate/ applying/how-to-apply.html Each application is considered on individual merit. Applicants are encouraged to provide as much information and supporting documentation (where requested) as possible about their academic record, relevant work experience and funding support. For research degrees, it is essential to outline a topic or area of interest in the Research Proposal. Applications can be made at any time of the year, and if successful, students may start their study on the first day of October or April. Open Days University-wide Open Days for undergraduates are held throughout the year and provide an opportunity to visit WSA in addition to residences, the Students’ Union and sports facilities. The WSA also hosts its own Open Day for those applying to the BSc degree. There is also a University-wide Open Day for postgraduates, which is held in the Autumn of each year. Equality and Diversity Cardiff University is committed to promoting equality and diversity in all of its practices and activities, including those relating to student recruitment, selection and admission. The University aims to establish an inclusive culture which welcomes and ensures equality of opportunity for applicants of all ages, ethnicities, disabilities, family structures, genders, nationalities, sexual orientations, races, religious or other beliefs, and socio-economic backgrounds. This commitment forms part of the University’s Equality and Diversity Policy, which is available on request.
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Applicants with Disabilities / Specific Needs All offers to study at Cardiff University are made solely on the basis of academic merit. The study of Architecture at Cardiff involves visits to building and other sites, and extensive use of a wide range of visual materials, from projected images to drawings and computer aided design work. Where applicants have specific requirements that relate to a disability, specific learning difficulty (dyslexia) or medical condition, they are encouraged to discuss these with relevant staff in order that appropriate arrangements can be made to ensure the University provides an accessible environment. Specifically, applicants are invited to contact the Disability and Dyslexia Team who can provide information about the applications procedure, course delivery and access to the physical environment. Where appropriate, informal visits can be arranged in which applicants can view accommodation and meet academic staff. If you would like to contact a Disability and Dyslexia adviser or require this leaflet in an alternative format (e.g. Braille, large print or audio), please contact us at: Email: dyslexia@cardiff.ac.uk or disability@cardiff.ac.uk Telephone: 029 2087 4844 www.cardiff.ac.uk/dyslx Welsh Language Applicants We recognise that if you are a Welsh speaker you may feel more comfortable speaking to a Welsh speaking personal tutor. Provided there are Welsh speaking members of staff in your subject area, every effort will be made to allocate a Welsh speaker to you. If you wish, you can also submit your assessed work and take your examinations through the medium of Welsh, regardless of the language of tuition and the course you are following. Some of the accommodation at Senghennydd Court and Talybont student residences has been allocated for Welsh speakers and learners who would like to be grouped together. Please make a note of this on your accommodation form.
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Division of Student Support and Well Being
The University’s Student Support and Development Directorate has a broad range of services designed to provide comprehensive support to students throughout their studies, from guidance on funding to careers advice. For further information, please contact Student Support Centre on: Telephone: 029 2087 4844 Email: studentsupportcentre@cardiff.ac.uk Address: 50 Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT Professional Personal Development Planning (PPDP) The School seeks to ensure that all students have access to appropriate guidance and support on professional, academic and non-academic matters. This includes support for the development, implementation and evaluation of Personal and Professional Development Planning (PPDP) systems in line with national policy guidelines. PPDP systems or Reflective Practice, as it is known within the School, has been designed both to ensure that our students gain an understanding of their individual approach to learning, and to provide students with opportunities to reflect upon their own skills and achievements.
Alumni
The School continues to go from strength to strength. When the WSA Alumni was launched in 1998, to celebrate the 75th Anniversary, for purely practical reasons it was decided to restrict the initial Alumni invitations to those who graduated in the past 25 years. Even this limited exercise produced some 900 names, but with a response of just over 50% which is exceptional. This has now grown to 1350 names, with contacts in every continent. The current chairman of the alumni is Professor C. Malcolm Parry who will be at the helm of the organisation, and steering it into the next phase of its development. Telephone: 029 2087 6473 Email: alumni@cardiff.ac.uk
Welsh School of Architecture
The Building and Facilities
The Welsh School of Architecture is based in Bute Building, at the heart of Cardiff’s beautiful Edwardian civic centre and just over a mile from Cardiff Bay, one of Europe’s major dockland redevelopments. The School’s accommodation and facilities are of a high standard and the majority of lecture theatres, exhibition galleries, studios and other teaching spaces are all under one roof. In the basement of the building is the School’s environmental design laboratory: with its artificial sky it is one of the best equipped in the UK. The Architecture Library, situated alongside the design studios, has an extensive collection of teaching and research books, subscriptions to over ninety architecture and related journals, a collection of building product manufacturers and supplier’s catalogues, a wide range of databases and an expanding rare books collection. The Library also provides networked computers, a wireless service for laptop users, scanning, printing and photocopying facilities. The design studio is the focus of life in the School, the place for design, discussion, model-making and tuition and all students are encouraged to work in studio promoting a culture of collaborative learning and mutual criticism of project work. Studios are equipped with flexible furniture, light tables, cutting areas and networked computers all available with 24 hour access affording flexibility in working hours. Alongside the studio, the School has a dedicated IT suite for teaching computer aided design and advanced visualisation techniques. A well-equipped workshop provides tools and expertise necessary for student model making along with the ventilated spray booth and model testing facility and supported by the Schools FabLab containing a laser cutter, 3D printer and CNC router. All students on research programmes are provided with their own or a shared workspace and networked computer.
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Wales – a Spirited Encounter
Š Crown copyright (2014) Visit Wales
With world-class attractions which draw people from all over the UK and abroad, Cardiff packs a huge number of attractions, sport, culture and entertainment within walking distance of the school and all in the few square miles of the city centre. Cardiff Bay is a few miles to the South of the school and is also home to the Wales Millennium Centre and the new BBC Wales studios which is the filming location for Doctor Who, Casualty and a number of other productions. The visual arts and contemporary music thrive in and around Cardiff, which features opera, ballet, musicals, and live music from world-class acts. Across the city, there are a range of theatres, galleries, museums, arts and live music venues from those accommodating thousands to more intimate spaces. Cardiff has also won a reputation as a sporting capital thanks to the quality of the events and facilities. Whether you want to watch or play, world-class stadiums for rugby, football, cricket and athletics and an International Sports Village offering an Olympic size swimming pool, ice rink and Cardiff International White Water Centre – an Olympic standard canoe slalom are all within easy reach. Other watersports, outdoor activities and the most interesting festivals are also on the doorstep and often located in some of the best, beautiful and interesting landscapes and coastlines in Britain.
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The University
Cardiff is one of Britain’s major civic universities with a history of service and achievement dating back to 1883. It is a member of the Russell Group of leading UK universities with its own Royal Charter. As a self-contained university, it is located in and around the Portland-stone buildings and tree-lined avenues that form Cardiff’s magnificent civic centre.
Our research expertise and facilities are used by industry and commercial partners, government bodies and other organisations internationally. We help to generate business ideas and spin-out companies and contribute to economic growth and job creation in Wales and beyond. Our research contracts have a total value of £500M.
The student population is drawn from a variety of backgrounds, with students attracted from throughout Wales, the rest of the UK and worldwide. The University currently has around 28,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and there is an almost equal balance between male and female students. International students comprise some 17% of the total student population. Government performance indicators show that students at Cardiff are more likely to succeed in their studies than students at most other UK universities. Currently, 95% of students successfully complete or transfer, better than many similar universities and better than the UK national average.
The 2013 National Student Survey found that 89% (92% in Architecture) of our students were satisfied with their student experience - above the UK-wide sector average.
Learning in a research-led environment means students interact with researchers working at the frontiers of knowledge in their disciplines. Our research is vigorous and pioneering – this creates a stimulating environment for study.
The Students’ Union is one of the largest and most successful in Britain. The Union building features bars, seven different places to eat, banks, shop, travel centre, advice centre, and much more. It is the base for the award-winning student newspaper and for more than a hundred student sporting and social societies. Cardiff’s Union is established as a prime venue on the national tour circuit. A free late night minibus service, with priority given to female students, is part of the Union service. A unique feature of the University is its Unistaff student employment service. This is able to provide casual cleaning, clerical and catering jobs around the University to hundreds of students for a maximum of fifteen hours a week.
Cardiff is part of the Russell Group of 24 leading research intensive UK universities. Our research staff are world-class and include Nobel Laureates, Fellows of the Royal Society and members of other prestigious institutions.
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Our graduates are among the most sought-after by employers, 95% find employment or further study within six months of graduating. The various academic buildings, the libraries, the Students’ Union, many of the student residences, along with the city centre, are within a short walking distance of each other. The University also has its own excellent sporting facilities within easy reach.
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Accommodation
Cardiff has always attached great importance to the provision of high quality accommodation and has invested heavily in recent years to provide some of the highest quality residences in the UK university sector. Most of the accommodation is located close to the academic buildings. All first year undergraduates who apply during the normal admissions cycle are guaranteed University accommodation, with a choice of traditional catered halls or modern self-catering flats for small groups of students. Several new halls have been built and many existing residences have been extensively refurbished. The vast majority of study/bedrooms now have private shower and toilet facilities and an increasing number have computer network connection points. The University also offers help to students seeking places in privately-owned accommodation. The Residences Office maintain regularly updated lists of flats and shared houses which are available for rent. Full details of all University-owned student accommodation are contained in the University Residences Brochure. Accepting an offer on a firm basis, and returning the Accommodation Request form promptly, increase the chances of your accommodation preferences being met. Contact: Residences and Catering Division Cardiff University PO Box S33 Southgate House Bevan Place Cardiff CF14 3XZ Telephone: 029 2087 4849 Fax: 029 2087 4661 www.cardiff.ac.uk/resi
Welsh School of Architecture
The WSA is not an easy option. We set high standards for students and staff and expect great things from them. But we stand by the quality of our graduates and are proud of what they achieve. You will find them working around the world, and prospective employers keeping coming back for more. That’s the greatest reward for us.
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