Ian Colquhoun, a Director of Design for Homes, has compiled a list of UK courses related to residential design, as below in alphabetical order by school. Anybody wishing to amend or add to this list should
email us or post to Design for Homes, 79 Parkway, Camden, London, NW1 7PP. If you are a teacher and you would like an architect to come and speak to your pupils about a career in designing homes, please email or contact us at the address above.
DESIGN FOR HOMES SURVEY OF THE TEACHING OF HOUSING IN SCHOOLS OF ARCHITECTURE
1 INTRODUCTION
1.2 This report gives an indication of the extent to which housing is taught and/or researched in Schools of Architecture. Questionnaires were sent to all schools of architecture. 20 were returned representing just fewer than 60% of schools.
1.3 The questionnaire asked Schools for the following information: - Was housing included in design and theory courses in any Part 1 undergraduate and Part 2 (Diploma) courses? - Did students write essay/dissertations on a housing topic during any academic year? - Were there any taught post graduate MA, MSc or M.Phil. courses, or was research undertaken at this level? - Was housing the subject of PhD research?
1.4 It asked if the following housing issues were included in courses: - Energy - sustainability - regeneration - participation - special needs - any other
1.5 It also requested information on whether schools were involved in teaching housing in CIOH courses, Town Planning, Landscape Architecture, Estate Management and others.
1.6 The questionnaire was written in a form that could be quickly replied to. One or two Schools sent additional information of their courses or offered to provide further details.
1.7 This report summarises the replies from each school. Regrettably there were too many variables in the content and the quality of the replies to put the answers together in a more analytical form.
1.8 Names, addresses, telephone, fax numbers and emails of a contact person are given where this information was provided.
1.19 Ian Colquhoun, Professor of Architecture, and Steven George, PhD student, Hull School of Architecture, carried out the survey during the summer of 2000.
2. RESPONSES
2.1 Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University John Donald, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen AB9 2QB, phone: 01224 263501, fax: 01224 263535, email: j.donald@rgu.ac.uk Housing is part of the 2nd year design and theory undergraduate course. There are design projects in 5th year and design, theory and dissertation work in the 6th year. Housing research is undertaken at MPhil/PhD level including energy, sustainability and special needs housing which are areas of special interest in the school.
2.2 Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London Dr. Alan Young. phone: 020 7679 5905, fax: 020 7916 1887, email: alan.young@ucl.ac.uk The Bartlett offers over 100 modules on its MSc Built Environment and Planning Programmes, many of which refer to housing design issues in the UK and other countries of the European Union, as well as in the developing world. Some of its MPhil and PhD students (they have around 150 registered at present) are also directly involved in research relating to domestic buildings, and many will, as part of their studies deal with many of the particular areas of housing interest listed in the questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed for post-graduate architecture courses. It indicated design/theory and dissertation work at MA/MSc level and research/theory/dissertation for MPhil/PhD. There are particular design and research interests in energy, sustainability, regeneration, and special needs housing.
2.3 Bath Alan Day phone: 01225 826389, fax: 01225 826691, email: A.K.Day@bath.ac.uk (may be: a.k.day@bath.ac.uk) Housing design projects are undertaken in 1st and 2nd years of the undergraduate course and then again in 5th and 6th years. Theory input is given in the 2nd year. Research is undertaken at MPhil/PhD level. There are particular housing interests in energy, sustainability, regeneration in design projects and theory/essay/dissertation writing. Participation and special needs housing feature in theory courses.
2.4 Brighton Dave Robson. Mithras House, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4AT, phone: 01273 642349, fax: 01273 642348, email: d.robson@brighton.ac.uk Brighton concentrates it teaching of housing design in the 5th and 6th year courses. Students are involved in design projects, theory and the writing of dissertations. Teaching includes the following particular housing interests: - energy design projects and theory - sustainability ditto - Regeneration ditto - Special needs ditto. Dave Robson is the author of books on housing.
2.5 Dundee, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art. Bill Pirnie, Perth Road, Dundee, DD1 4HT, phone: 01382 345265, (direct) 01382 345114, fax: 01382 206231, email: w.j.primie@dundee.ac.uk Design and theory are taught during all three of the undergraduate course. 6th year students undertake housing design projects and write dissertations on housing topics. The school has particular interests in energy, sustainability, regeneration, participation and special needs housing, and especially the regeneration of peripheral local authority sink estates.
2.6 Edinburgh University Fiona McLachlan, 20 Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JZ, phone (school secretary) 0131 650 2306, fax: 0131 650 8019, email: Fiona.McLachlan@ed..ac.uk Housing design features in years 1,3,5 and 6. In 3rd year students may select to write an essay/dissertation. Particular housing interests in design projects, theory courses and essay/dissertation writing are energy and sustainability. Regeneration and special needs housing feature in design projects. There has recently been housing research by a PhD student.
2.7 Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh Derek Fraser Edinburgh College of Art/Heriot-Watt University, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh EH3 9DF, phone: 0131 221 6077, fax: 0131 221 6006, email: d.fraser@eca.ac.uk The teaching of housing design starts in 1st Year with the design of a house. In 2nd Year students are involved with the design of village housing. In the 5th Year there are studio design projects for urban housing + visits and a choice of writing a dissertation/essay. The 6th year includes lectures and design projects in Urban Design and optional choice on an essay/dissertation. Particular Housing Interests included: - Energy design, theory and possibly essay/dissertation writing. - Sustainability ditto - Regeneration ditto - Special needs - ditto
2.8 Huddersfield University Susan Wood (has an MA in Housing Studies), Department of Architecture, School of Design Technology, Queensgate, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, phone: 01484 472629, fax: 01484 472440, email: swood@hud.ac.uk The 2nd year undergraduate course includes housing design and occasionally 5th year includes housing design also. The School is particularly interested in energy, sustainability and special needs. It is also interested in access. The School has a BSc in Building Conservation
2.9 Hull School of Architecture Professor Ian Colquhoun, Hull School of Architecture, Faculty of Arts and Technology, University of Lincolnshire and Humberside, George Street, Hull HU1 3BW, phone: 01482 440550, fax: 01482 44462048. Ian Colquhoun, phone/fax: 01482 442841, email: ian@noh.karoo.co.uk The 2nd year BA(Hons)Arch undergraduate course contains a housing design unit that is supported by an introductory lecture course. Some students choose housing as the topic of their 3rd year main essay. 5th year B.Arch students can select a specialist a housing design and theory unit from a number of units which include participatory design and urban design, both of which also have a housing content. The choice is made following short introductory courses, of which students take two during the first week of the first semester. The output from the theory unit is a short essay on a topic of the students? choice based on theory seminars. The B.Arch courses can be extended to MA level by writing a further dissertation. Housing design units also form part of years including the 6th when some students select housing for their final CPD. Some students choose housing topics for their dissertation. The School has particular interests in energy, sustainability, regeneration, participation and special needs housing. Research is undertaken at MA and PhD levels, and beyond by members of the teaching staff.
2.10 Leeds Metropolitan University Tony Rees, Head of Architecture, School of Art, Architecture + Design, Brunswick Building, Brunswick Terrace, Leeds LS2 8BU, phone: 0113 283 2600 ext. 4070, fax: 0113 283 3190, email: 1.rees@lmu.ac.uk The undergraduate course includes in the 1st year the design of a house and an essay on a selected house. 2nd and 3rd year courses include the design of housing in a mixed-use context. Students can choose to write about housing in their 3rd year dissertation and they have an option on housing associated schemes. In 5th and 6th years students can choose from options to design housing projects and/or write a special elective study. Housing also features during these two years in urban design and conservation dissertations. Particular housing interests are energy, sustainability, regeneration, and special needs housing. There is interest in insulation + air- tightness, research into straw-bale technology, brownfield/urban design. The school undertakes consultancy in housing - access surveys and acting as expert witness in connection with issues relating to special housing needs. The School teaches on the School of Built Environment?s Diploma of Housing course (CIOH), the BA (Hons) Housing Studies. It teaches also on the following courses: - BA(Hons) Urban and Regional Planning Housing Option - Dip in Urban Planning Studies Housing Option - BA(Hons) &Graduate Diploma, Landscape Architecture Housing Option - BA(Hons) Garden Art + Design House Module, level 2 Other activity includes research competitions.
2.11 Leicester De Montfort University E. S. Brierly, School of Architecture, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, phone: 0116 2551551, fax: 0116 250 6352, email: brierley@dmu.ac.uk Housing design is included in the first two years of the undergraduate course. In the 3rd year there is an optional urban study including housing. Students can choose a housing topic for their 3rd year dissertation. Post-graduate research on housing is an option that has recently been taken up by a PhD student.
2.12 Liverpool University Linda Sheridan phone: 0157 794 2624, email: lsheri@liv.ac.uk There are housing design projects in 2nd and 3rd 4th and 5th (final) years. Particular special design interests are regeneration, participation and special needs housing.
2.13 Liverpool John Moores University Professor Mads Gaardboe, Centre for Architecture, Liverpool John Moores University, 98 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5UT, phone: 0151 2313141, fax: 0151 7072953, email: m.gaardboe@livjm.ac.uk Housing design is included in all three years of the undergraduate course. In 2nd year history and theory deals with housing issues. Housing is also part of urban design teaching. In 5th and 6th years students can choose housing as a subject for individual dissertations. Some students undertake individual CPD's on housing. There is a strong focus on housing in urban design. MA research has focused on housing. A current PhD project is on the topic of Housing Procurement. Particular housing interests that feature in design, theory and dissertations are energy, sustainability and regeneration. These issues are dealt with as part of design and particularly covered in design reports. Town Planning issues are the subject of student electives. The full course has focused on the regeneration of Liverpool during a 5-year period. Housing is naturally a major issue, and consequently students consider housing not only as a building type but also as an influence on the city, and as part of hybrid buildings.
2.14 Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow. Professor David Porter phone: 0141 353 4651, fax: 0141 353 4703, email: d.porter@gsa.ac.uk Housing design is included in the 1st and 2nd year undergraduate course work and in the 5th year course. Theory is taught in 2nd and 5th years with dissertations in 5th year also. Research is undertaken at PhD level. There are particular interests in energy, sustainability and special needs housing.
2.15 Manchester (Metropolitan University) M.R.Jesop phone: 0161 247 6958, fax: 0161 247 6810, email: m.jessop@mmu.ac.uk Housing features in all first three years undergraduate design work and in 5th and 6th years. Theory input is given in years 1 to 3 and in 5th and 6th years some students write essays/dissertations. There are particular interests in energy and sustainability in design and theory projects. There is some housing design input into a Landscape Architecture course.
2.16 Nottingham Professor Peter Fawcett, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, phone: 0115 951 3134, fax: 0115 951 3159, email: peter.fawcett@nottingham.ac.uk Nottingham runs a housing design project in the first semester of the 2nd year undergraduate course. This involves a housing group of about 10 dwellings of identical type in a Notts/Derby village context. There is also a housing design project in its first year Diploma in Architecture course (5th year) and this is often followed by individual thesis design projects in housing design at final 6th year level. The School also runs a non-professional accredited degree in Architectural Studies, which involves as part of its requirements a dissertation. Student numbers are small but topics have included sustainable housing.
2.17 Oxford Brookes University Dr. Richard Hayward Gypsy Lane Campus, Headington, Oxford OX3 OBP, phone: 01865 483223, fax: 01865 483298, email: rshayward@brookes.ac.uk The teaching of housing design in the undergraduate programme in architecture is perhaps less formal than it was in the past, but it still figures in many studios. In the Graduate Diploma there is a Housing Design Studio which often combines with the ?Responsive Environments? studio. At every level from Undergraduate to Research, students frequently undertake written housing studies related to design, particularly so in Urban Design. Amongst ?particular housing interests? were listed the following courses: - Energy + MSc level - Sustainability + post graduate-research - Regeneration + MA and post-graduate research - Participation + MA and post-graduate research - Special needs post-graduate research - Urban Design post-graduate. Within the School, The Centre for Real Estate Management teaches a variety of housing related modules and research in the area is strong. The Post Graduate Development Practices and Vernacular Architecture courses also deal with aspects of housing design and Built Resource Studies with house conversions. There is a separate School of Planning, which with the School of Architecture developed a CIOH Course. This has a modest design element and there is related housing research in the School of Planning.
2.18 The Prince's Foundation 19-22 Charlotte Road, London EC2A 3SQ Ben Bolgam - phone: 020 7613 8500, fax: 020 7613 8599, email: enquiry@princes-foundation.org.uk Housing design features in the 1st year undergraduate course. There are particular housing interests in sustainability, regeneration and participation. The School makes a housing design contribution into a CIOH foundation course and into Town Planning.
2.19 Sheffield University Professor Jeremy Till, phone: 0114 2220305 Housing design features in the two first years of the undergraduate course together with theory. In 3rd year students have a choice of dissertation and around 3 (5%) might focus on aspects of housing. There is also a technical construction study during the undergraduate course. Housing also features in the 5th and 6th year course. The Diploma course is divided into specialist studios (6 in number). In the past two years two of these studios have included housing in their design projects. Students in their final year can chose a dissertation topic - 5% wrote on an aspect of housing. Housing features amongst post-graduate study/research at Masters and PhD levels. Presently two PhD students are looking at aspects of housing. The School is particularly interested in energy, sustainability and participation. The school teaches on a special module in housing design in the School of Landscape Architecture.
2.20 Welsh School of Architecture Bob Fowles, The Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, phone: 029 20 875969, fax: 029 20 874926, email: fowlesra@cf.ac.uk Housing is included in the 2nd year design and theory course. It is an option for 5th year dissertations and 6th year design projects. There is a particular housing interest in energy, sustainability and participation. The School does some teaching in the Cardiff University?s Department of Town and Country Planning in which there is housing research. More information can be made available.
3 REFLECTIONS
There is clearly still considerable interest in housing in Schools of Architecture. Receiving replies from nearly 60% of schools meant that the survey was reasonably extensive and it cannot be assumed that those that did not return the questionnaires have no interest in housing. The survey does not reveal the nature of the teaching but the general concern for issues such as energy, sustainability, regeneration, participation, urban design etc., suggests the possible emphasis. Many schools spread housing over the whole course but the topic is not given particular emphasis. If you are interested in general architecture courses click here for the Royal Institute of British Architects database of architectural schools.