Contextual Studies 1 consists of three nested subjects; Reading Architecture (A), History of Architecture, Environment and Culture (B) and Conceptual Thinking and Reflective Practice (C).
‘Reading Architecture’ introduces fundamental skills of architectural analysis through the study of buildings across a range of scales. Students will develop fluency in reading and interpreting architectural drawings and use this to explore spatial patterns and organisation, circulation, and typology, alongside broader compositional principles such as symmetry and asymmetry, repetition, fronts and backs, and the relationship between private and public space. By analysing architectural precedents, students begin to develop a reflective approach to design, building a foundational understanding of architectural language and form.
‘History of Architecture, Environment and Culture’ takes students through a broad survey of architectural history worldwide, from ancient times to the present. It will introduce students to fundamental concepts relating to architectural design, materials, climate adaptations, and cultural expression through buildings.
‘Conceptual Thinking and Reflective Practice’ is a seminar course which encourages students to discover what influences their identity, and how it shapes their interpretations of the world around them and how that in turn affects their designs. Through readings, peer discussion, reflective journalling, and activities that encourage conceptual exploration, the course complements design studio teaching by developing critical and creative thinking and vocabulary. The course enables students to develop consideration, creativity and reflection – desirable and essential attributes for empathetic designers.