The aims of this module are for the students to:

• Examine the opportunities, constraints and realities of professional practice.
• Recognise and demonstrate the architect's responsibility to society.
• Analyse procurement, contracts and management processes and the role of architect as an agent and stakeholder within them.
• Apply critical evaluation of architectural practice, its modes and processes of operation both as public service and business.
• Demonstrate understanding of the specific requirements of a role within practice to include observations on issues including leadership, prioritisation, crisis management and ethics.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• Debate the contribution of architectural and urban design theories towards the creation of sustainable urban futures.
• Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary urban challenges as multi-dimensional issues by applying complex analytical thinking through cross-disciplinary lenses.
  
• Demonstrate a social, ethical, cultural and ecological awareness of the impacts of design across a range of cultural contexts, settlement types and scales.
  
• Evaluate the use of practical and speculative design tools as currently applied in the professional remit for the design and production of urban form.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• Discuss complex multi-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder contributions relative the broader landscape of design thinking.
• Synthesise theoretical models to develop novel conceptual and practical interpretations of design systems, products, spaces and places.
  
• Examine models of users and occupiers and their spatial relationships through transdisciplinary methodologies of spatial agency and cognition, experience design, behavioural studies, psychology and phenomenology.
  
• Evaluate new and emergent technologies and their potential contributions and uses in design.
  
• Demonstrate experimental design and prototyping by crafting bespoke methods, tools and/or 'making' processes.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• Apply the knowledge and skills gained in previous architectural education and practice experience to design propositions with increased complexity offering a more detailed technical resolution, whilst addressing issues of urban design and placemaking.
  
• Demonstrate originality of thought the definition of architectural problems design solutions.
  
• Produce architectural drawings and documentation that communicates architectural design proposals in line with expected industry standards.
  
• Demonstrate a holistic approach to and understanding of the complex relationships that exist between technical challenges and design considerations in the delivery of architecture and built environment practice.
  
• Mobilise their experience in architectural practice to develop their critical thinking in design and their understanding of social, economic, cultural and environmental impact of architecture.
• Demonstrate understanding of the regulatory, legislative and ethical context for their project.

The aims of this module are for the students to:

• Illustrate their innovative and imaginative architectural thinking by demonstrating originality in problem definition and solving, pushing boundaries of current architectural practices.
• Apply a mix of design research methods through speculative modes of inquiry to evidence an original and comprehensive research-led architectural proposition from the urban-scale to the detail scale.
• Formulate an ambitious, layered and appropriate brief that responds to an in-depth investigation of a specific area of architectural research.
• Synthesize the knowledge and skills learnt in previous years to construct a creative, convincing and rigorous design proposition of an increased scope and complexity to an advanced level of detailed and professional resolution.
• Evaluate architectural, tectonic and environmental options to infer an integrated design approach and well-developed understanding of the building's technical performance.
• Argue their own architectural standpoint through a clear articulation of a self-guided exploration and proposition in response to an individually defined design problem that pertains to the complex and multi-layered environment of contemporary practice.
• Interpret the complex relationships between external form and interior spatial programming by proposing an urban scale intervention in the form of multiple buildings with surrounding external spaces and landscape.
• Critically assess their design propositions with wider issues of social, economic, ethical and environmental demands in relationship to the client, user and public in a global and local context.

Develop the competencies to design, research and deliver an original and rigorous piece of architecture- related research, including:

• Compose coherent and deliverable aims and objectives.
• Select and apply correct research methodologies.
• Locate, analyse and synthesize research literature from a diverse variety of sources.
• Synthesize, evaluate and model information and data.
• Construct a coherent and sustained narrative of argument with a rational and compelling conclusion.#
• Present `work-in-progress in live interactive critical forums.
• Understand the mutually beneficial interdependency of research and architectural design.
• Understand the inter-relationship between people, buildings and the environment and to become aware of and to investigate the impacts of the built environment on social practices and relationships of various groups and individuals.
• Demonstrate an ability to appraise critically the spatial, aesthetic, technical and social qualities of a design within the scope and scale of a wider environment.

The aims of this module is to:

• Understand the climate factors that are a determinant of building performance and energy usage and how those are affected by climate change.
• Apply the principles of predictive modelling for building performance and energy usage across a range of scales from individual buildings to cities.
• Construct and analyse urban modelling studies using appropriate tools.

This module is intended to complement and support the M2 Design Studio project, providing an opportunity for students to clearly and coherently articulate the structural, material and technical resolution of their design scheme.

Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate detailed consideration of contemporary aspects of construction legislation as well as broader strategic consideration of aspects regenerative, and sustainable building design, and building safety and construction processes throughout the building’s life cycle from construction to demolition.