The module aims to:

1. Introduce a broad framework of architectural concepts, themes and theories related to housing that have influenced architecture globally from 1900 to the present. This framework can then serve as the critical foundation for design modules and the final 60-credit design project or dissertation.
2. Provide students with skills to understand the challenges faced in the development of different historically relevant housing projects across the world, including the policies, economic, social, and political circumstances in which these were developed.
3. Provide students with skills to critically debate the urban and political impact of housing designs. These include but are not limited to housing rights and community development, particularly in the context of sustainable development.
4. Provide opportunities for the development of presentation, teamwork and time management skills via a variable and flexible seminar series and acti vities throughout the semester.
5. Introduce study, research and writing skills and methodologies and to link rigorous academic practices to real world and employment-related scenarios.

(LO1) Ability to analyse, compare, assess, evaluate and classify historical and contemporary urban housing a design issues and case studies.

(LO2) Ability to assess various types of housing developments (historical and current), regulatory contexts and demonstrate an understanding of the way they shape residential environments and city living in all scales.

(LO3) Identify and assess a range of theories influential in housing design from 1900 onwards.

(LO4) Recognise and argue the significance and evolution of key concepts and themes and how these reflect the development of housing trends from 1900 onwards.

(LO5) Evaluate and compare the content and different perspectives of various written architectural sources.

(LO6) Research, situate historically, critique and present visually and verbally – orally and in writing – the relationship of specific theories to relevant built or unbuilt housing projects or to the oeuvre of an architect or an architectural practice.

(LO7) Plan and manage a critical writing project.

(LO8) Construct a well-documented, referenced and appropriately illustrated academic essay.

(LO9) Use of appropriate (LO6) research to reflect on real life, contemporary issues.

(S1) Recognise and argue the significance and evolution of key concepts and themes and how these reflect the development of housing trends from 1900 onwards.

(S2) Reading, research and writing skills. How this is developed: Students will be directed to University resources on these skills. They will be implicitly taught through the scrutiny placed on related issues during the module lectures, seminars, and tutorials. They will also be practised in the module coursework. Students will be engaging in guided readings in preparation for seminars. Students will also be asked to prepare a reading list(additional, relevant to their topic), an abstract for a visual and oral presentation (summative assessment 30%). Final assessment (summative assessment 70%: essay) will be based on a well-researched discussion of an agreed topic in written form.

(S3) Critical thinking skills. How this is developed: These skills will be implicitly taught through the scrutiny placed on related issues during the module lectures, seminar discussions, seminar presentations, and tutorials. They will also be practised in the final module coursework. Students will be invited to critically evaluate and discuss related readings during seminars. Students will also be asked to present their abstract and research as a critical evaluation in a visual and oral presentation (summative assessment 30%: presentation). Final assessment will also include a critical reflection and potential relevance or real-life application of their ideas (summative assessment 70%: essay). The Essay will be based on a well-researched critical discussion of an agreed topic.

(S4) Visual and verbal communication skills. How this is developed: Students will develop these skills through practice and received feedback during the module seminar discussions, seminar presentations, tutorials, and coursework. Students will be invited to discuss readings during seminars. In selected weeks, students will also be asked to prepare a well-researched visual and oral presentation (summative assessment 30%: presentation). Final assessment (summative assessment 70%: essay) will be a written discussion accompanied by appropriate illustrations.

(S5) Teamwork skills. How this is developed: Students will develop these skills through practice and received feedback during the module seminar. Students will prepare at least one oral presentation within a group. They may also be invited to propose a specific format for some of the seminars and to collaborate towards planning those sessions themselves.

(S6) Time management skills. How this is developed: Students will develop these skills through practice during the module seminar discussions, seminar presentations, tutorials, self-directed study, and coursework. The varied format of the module’s summative assessment (presentation, and essay and world / employment-related summary) and the varied nature of tasks throughout the semester will require good time management.

The module syllabus starts with an introduction to the principal tenets of Modernism, one of the most influential architectural developments in the early twentieth century. In parallel to key concepts and texts, it briefly discusses the crisis period that led to modernism, particular positions of housing design within modernism, as well as significant diversions from mainstream modernism.

The syllabus will review subsequent development of, or challenges to, modernist housing positions in different geographical locations and timeframes. These will be organised under broad thematic headings and the discussion will be largely comparative, juxtaposing the wide range of alternative approaches within these themes. In addition to key concepts, theories, and texts, the module will review landmark architectural figures, projects and events that respond to specific 20th century crisis periods and the theoretical positions discussed.

The selection of topics, texts and projects may vary from year to year but will provide a global panoramic perspective, broadly covering modernism and post-modernism through a number of themes: space and place, gender issues, social and economic equity, nature and environment, health and hygiene, comfort and standards, sustainability. These themes will speak of as varied locations (including western and non-western) as possible, and will be studied through the lens of projects and their response to the urban challenges that these issues arise.
The module will be co-delivered with ARCH712 (Architectural History and Theory from 1900 to the Present) with the addition of distinctly housing specific lectures. Lectures will be accompanied by housing specific reading seminars and workshops helping students to develop and focus their research. All lectures will be captured. Handouts will be delivered at the beginning of selected sessions for guidance. All materials including reading lists (essential and recommended) and lectures will b e available online on Canvas.

Parallel to the lecture series, students will be requested to investigate a particular housing project and develop an essay. Students will have the chance to build their own research agenda, guided by staff with active housing research. They will also have opportunity to discuss their work and ideas with housing experts, including historians, practitioners, and others. The formative and summative assessments will materialise an authentic assessment through the semester. As such, students will gain confidence throughout their conversations with different experts and via presenting their own work in the final week. Therefore, the six hallmarks and attributes of the University of Liverpool Curriculum 2026 will be met, while student employability will be enhanced by acquiring key criteria for the development of their own research-led design projects to be delivered by the third term of the Housing MSc programme. Paving their way to ARCH723 (3rd term 60 credit module), students will be able to debate their findings and ideas in small group tutorials, besides discussing potential case studies and appropriate methodologies to shape their coursework, as well as getting formative feedback in Q&A sessions.

Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description: Weekly sessions through the semester will broadly alternate between lecture and seminar sessions.
Lectures will introduce the themes for readings and discussion in the seminars in subsequent weeks, as well as broader themes of general interest to the overall focus of the module.
The first weekly session will also cover study and research skills, as well as an introduction to resources available in the University and elsewhere.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 2 - Seminar
Description: Weekly sessions through the semester will broadly alternate between lecture and seminar sessions.
All seminars will include guided discussion on themes introduced in the lectures the weeks before. All students will be expected to do pre-selected readings and participate in discussion in the classroom. In selected weeks, students will be expected to make a presentation on agreed essay-related topics which will constitute t heir first assessment component (presentation 20%).
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Method 3 - Small group tutorial(workshops)
Description: The final two weeks of the semester will be dedicated to small group tutorials on the students’ individual coursework, further supporting the development of research and writing skills.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Self-directed learning: Readings for seminars; online training for referencing and academic integrity; research and presentation preparation for group tutorials; research and reading and writing for final coursework.

The majority of teaching will be delivered face to face on campus. Online delivery will be used to complement the on-campus delivery and where technology affords a better learning experience.