This module aims to:
1.Assist students in the selection and definition of their thesis housing project.
2.Provide students with an understanding of the financial aspects housing industry as well as funding possibilities of housing research
3.Familiarise students with specific housing research being done in governmental and non-governmental organisations key organisations (think-tanks, local authorities, charities, academic research centres, etc.) in the UK and globally such as, but not limited to: International Association for People, Environment Studies (IAPS), the European Network for Housing Research (ENHR), the Environmental Design Research Association, (EDRA).
4.Provide students with an immersive connoisseurship of historical housing case studies in different metropolitan contexts.
5.Provide students with tools to analyse specific and current housing developments in urban contexts.

(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 and modes of housing developments, regulatory contexts and demonstrate an understanding of the way they shape and shaped residential environments and city living in all scales.

(LO3) Ability to assess and interpret the roles of stakeholders in sectors (private public) of the housing production and their approach to design, to develop ways to intervene, become active participants in this production.

(S1) Time and project management - Project planning

(S2) Research skills - All information skills

(S3) Analytical thinking applied to architectural case studies

The course will provide an understanding of typological research approaches and skills, and importantly an ability to deploy them in design. Housing Types - Research Methods aims to bridge research and design providing useful analytical tools to students who will conduct research in the future and for designers pursuing a professional path.

Visiting lecturers will describe their own housing research to students, familiarising them with work that has immediate impact in the shape of the city of London.
Students will also conduct tours through the city, getting to know specific historical precedents and current case studies of housing production.

Teaching method 1: Workshop
Description: Most weekly sessions through the semester will be structured through workshop sessions. During these sessions, students will have the opportunity to discuss their coursework and presentation, including topics, methods, locations and other related issues. In addition, professional housing experts will be invited to discuss real-world related cases/issues and research methodologies with the students in some of these workshops.
Attendance recorded: Yes
Description of how self-directed learning hours may be used: Students will be encouraged to choose and develop their research methodology for the coursework and presentation.

Teaching Method 2 - Field Work (Organised/ scheduled field work, and self-directed field work)
Attendance Recorded: Partially
Description: As mandatory “field work”, regular guided architectural tours will take place, related to workshops in the beginning of the semester. The number of field trips might vary from year to year. In addition to this, non-mandatory visit takes place to sites/places of interest pertinent to the individual project aims.

Teaching method 3: Reading seminars
Reading seminars will be conducted in groups discussing key readings before each organised site visits or building tours.
Attendance recorded: Yes
Description of how self-directed learning hours may be used: Students will be asked to prepare discussion topics based on their readings they’ve selected from an extensive reading list.