CE2ARD: Architectural Design

Module code: CE2ARD

Module provider: School of Construction Management and Engineering, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Amna Shibeika , email: a.shibeika@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is designed to equip students with the skills to develop architectural design concepts with a strong emphasis on achieving a Net Zero carbon future. Students will learn to balance aesthetic and technical aspects of design while addressing environmental impacts, social sustainability, and inclusivity. The module also covers defining the requirements of end users and stakeholders, focusing on architectural design strategies that reduce both operational and embodied carbon. 

This module uses the knowledge obtained from the History of the Built Environment, material, and structural analysis module to explore and develop their design capabilities.  

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Develop a critical approach to architectural design with a focus on reducing the environmental impacts of buildings and achieving a Net Zero carbon future.
2. Define user requirements and prepare briefs for architectural design projects.  
3. Demonstrate an understanding of site analysis and appraisal, and critically review precedents relevant to the function, organisation, and technological strategy of design proposals. 
4. Prepare and present a building design project in response to a brief, and demonstrate an understanding of constructional/environmental strategies and regulatory requirements that apply to the building design. 

Module content

1. An introduction to architectural design 
2. Architectural design and Net Zero carbon future
3. Architectural design process 
4. Design brief and plan of work 
5. Capturing and analysing user requirements 
6. Site analysis and research; site as a cultural and physical generator of architectural form. 
7. Function, organisation, and technological strategy of design 
8. Net Zero design strategies and the regulatory requirements 
9. Building technology for environmental and high-performance building design 
10. Design project considering the complexity of architectural design, social sustainability, inclusivity and integration of environmental aspects into it. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching in this module will be by means of lectures, workshops, and group discussions. These sessions will be complemented by project activities in environment similar to studio, as well as guided independent study. 

Study hours

At least 16 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: /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