Architecture Studio 2 PG (7893.7)

Please note these are the 2026 details for this unit
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Architecture Studio 2 PG
Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
View teaching periods On-campus
 Bruce, Canberra
EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.25 6 Faculty Of Arts And Design
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
School Of Design And The Built Environment Post Graduate Level Band 2 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 3 2021 (Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
In this Studio, students undertake an advanced research based design project that examines the sociopolitical, cultural, environmental and technical aspects of the theme of housing.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
1. Examine the role of research in design;
2. Formulate specific design research fields and methods;
3. Inspect architecture's rapport with specific ideas; and
4. Propose formal, spatial and programmatic resolution of a major urban project.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - make creative use of technology in their learning and professional lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - evaluate and adopt new technology
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Skills development

Delivery Mode
Architecture Studio 2 PG (7893) is a studio-based subject, supplemented where appropriate by lectures, site visits and workshops up to six hours per week (or equivalent). While attendance of studios is not assessed, it is considered mandatory and crucial to achieving learning outcomes in this unit, in receiving regular individual or group feedback, and observing and learning from the work of your peers.

 

Studio Brief

A detailed studio project brief will be uploaded to Canvas prior to the start of semester.

 

Studio tutorials
Studios are the core of design education. They are the primary vehicles of the Architecture program. Studios are for the development of your design work and are an essential element in developing self- sufficiency and originality in your design. They provide a flexible and customised learning environment, where critique and feedback is provided by contact with your tutor, tailored to your design direction and interests. Complete attendance of the weekly studio tutorials is compulsory.

 

Lectures
Lectures may be held from time to time to reinforce core themes, agendas or questions realted to the scope of the design studio. Attendance at these sessions is expected. Notice of a coming lecture will be provided in the studio, the notice board or the previous lecture or class. Some lectures will feature visiting guest speakers or industry practitioners, such as professional architects. Other sessions will be video or audio based, and will sometimes be followed by discussion in the studio. 

 

Workshops
Skill based workshops may be held from time to time to assist with technical and other skills related directly to the current project.

 

Site Visits & Field
Trips Site visits and field study trips are essential to studies of architectural design. Participation is expected. Local site visit details will be confirmed in the studio classes. Field trips may entail interstate travel. Proposed dates, locations, travel and accommodation requirements will be discussed in class and determined in relation to the proposed program and architectural project/s to be visited. Travel authorisation documentation may be required.

 

Professional Accreditation

The University of Canberra Master of Architecture course content addresses Performance Criteria for students of the 2021 National Standard of Competency for Architects (NSCA), required for the professional accreditation of our course by the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia. These criteria consist of specified abilities and understandings that graduating students must demonstrate. This unit contributes to addressing the following 2021 NSCA Performance Criteria: PC18; PC19; PC24; PC25; PC26; PC28; PC30; PC32; PC34; PC39; PC47.

 



Prerequisites

None.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Availability for enrolment in 2026 is subject to change and may not be confirmed until closer to the teaching start date.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
2025 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 28 July 2025 On-campus Dr Sally Farrah
2026 Bruce, Canberra Semester 2 10 August 2026 On-campus Dr Sally Farrah
The information provided should be used as a guide only. Timetables may not be finalised until week 2 of the teaching period and are subject to change. Search for the unit timetable.

Required texts

Please refer to Canvas teaching site for the following:

  • Detailed studio project brief (site, program)
  • Schedule of weekly activities (workshops, lectures)
  • Further reading list (see ‘Reading List' > open new tab)
  • Lecture slides (once delivered in-class)

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Non-Conforming Submissions of Assessment Items 

Submissions that do not meet the specified content, format or other requirements will be penalised through a reduction in the grade. 
It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the correct version of any given assignment is submitted by the due date and time as indicated in the unit's Canvas site and unit outline. 
CD/DVD/USB/emailed assignment submissions will not be accepted. Submissions that do not meet the specified content, format or other requirements may be penalised through a reduction in marks.
Where students are required to submit models, drawings, posters or other physical artefacts that cannot be submitted electronically, students must create an electronic record (PDF) of the artefact and submit this in the appropriate assignment dropbox as evidence of their completed and on time submission.

Special assessment requirements

Special Consideration
If circumstances beyond your control prevent your submitting an assignment, notify your Unit Convenor at the time they occur. You can apply for an extension due to illness or other unavoidable and verifiable personal circumstances. Supporting documentation is normally required. Doctor's or Counsellor's Certificates, dated at the time of the difficulty, will be accepted as grounds for Special Consideration.

Feedback
Feedback will be provided in the form of verbal comments and critique during studio classes and at review Juries. In architectural education and practice a fundamental vehicle for receiving feedback is the verbal response or critique. Architects are expected to listen carefully and dispassionately to what is said and respond accordingly. It is therefore important that you develop the facility for recording what is said - this may include enlisting a fellow student to take notes of what is said during your presentation and then you do the same in return.

Three-dimensional physical models
Architects create models of architecture to manifest ideas in three dimensions. More than records of already developed designs, models are integral to the creative, generative process of inventing new structures. In this way, modeling need not be concerned entirely with realism or authenticity – some level of abstraction of site features or materials may be more effective. You will need to provide most of your own purchased, recycled or salvaged materials.

Drawings and other graphics
Presentations will usually require site plans, floor plans, sections and details, site elevations, building elevations and perspective drawings. These can be hand drawn or digital, depending on the particular assignment. Design technical drawings should generally be to a scale and labeled as such. Presentation of earlier concept and site sketching can also be useful. Always ensure the scale of graphics is suitable for the presentation, usually viewed at a distance of around 2–3 meters.

‘Stand up' presentations
An ability to present, explain and justify your work is an essential task of any design professional. Students will be required to stand up, pin up, and ‘talk to your work,' presenting your ideas and explaining your design to a group. You will be given time slots with time for questions. You should be able to discuss your aims, design process and how you have approached the design. It's often a good idea to jot down some key points for presentation and discussion. Often presentations will be to a panel of visiting critics (a design jury). You will need to design your presentation assuming the guest has no prior knowledge of the project site, program or your previous design work. Students should sit in on all other student's presentations and ask questions. Final presentations to a design jury should provide an opportunity for group learning, and a satisfying conclusion to each project. Late submissions are not the subject of stand up presentation.

Student support

UC has support for students who are having a challenging time:

Accreditation and Submission Materials

Some submissions materials will be held for program accreditation purposes. UC staff and sessional studio tutors are not responsible for submission materials. Students are required to retrieve submission at the end of the jury day as noted. Unless special arrangements have been made with the unit convener or your studio tutor items that are not collected as required may be discarded without further notice. This is particularly important at the end of semester, when the studios and pin-up spaces must be cleared for graduation exhibitions. A 5% penalty on the relevant assessment item may be applied if this is not adhered to.

Additional information

Good studio practices – The following additional Discipline specific regulations and procedures are designed to ensure equity for students in the submission, feedback and assessment of projects

Studios are to be cleared of work at the end of each class. Students are responsible for removing their materials and equipment. Students that fail to remove their materials and equipment may be penalised through a reduction in marks.

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Learner engagement

Architectural Design Studio demands significant time due to the explorative nature of the work in combination with the time required to produced accurate and compelling presentation material. Students will need to allocate sufficient time outside of the timetabled teaching sessions to successfully pass this unit.

Participation requirements

Students who attend campus for class or other purposes must play their part in keeping our campus and community safe by following these basic guidelines to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission:

  • Practise good hand hygiene, washing hands regularly;
  • If you do happen to cough or sneeze, please do so into the crook of your elbow, dispose of tissues immediately and wash hands immediately
  • Practise effective physical distancing;
  • Follow all directions of teaching and other UC staff regarding safety measures;
  • Stay off campus if you are unwell and get tested according to ACT Government guidelines, and 
  • Follow University communications about campus arrangements https://www.canberra.edu.au/coronavirus-advice

Attendance at scheduled lectures and studios and contribution over the semester is expected. Presentation and discussion of your work in progress in weekly studio sessions is essential for the development of your architectural skills in meeting the learning outcomes of the subject and for your architectural education. Participation in studio sessions and reviews provides important opportunities for feedback. Please advise your Studio Tutor if you are unable to attend a particular class or studio.

Required IT skills

Students are expected to have advanced digital drawing and modeling skills; advanced online research skills; and advanced word processing skills necessary to participate in weekly studios, to source reference material, and to prepare design development and final presentation drawings, 3D physcial and digital models, and process and final presentation materials.

In-unit costs

Students are expected to continuously produce study models and presentation drawings throughout the design studio. We encourage all students to plan their model-making activities carefully in order to manage costs associated with materials and large format presentation panel printing. Students should also familiarise themselves with Workshop7's services as the workshop offers materials, laser cutting, 3D printing and poster printing at highly competitive rates. 

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

Additional information, including assignment and submission requirements will be provided in Canvas. Reading and complying with this information and instruction is a requirement for students enrolled in this unit.

Announcements
Announcements made during studios, seminars, lectures, or posted on to the unit moodle site and/or sent to your University of Canberra student email address, will be deemed to have been made to the whole group. Students are responsible for regularly checking their UC student email for individual emails that the Unit Convener may decide to send.

Consultation with Staff
Contact with staff should be within the allocated class times, and if required, via email within business hours, and will not be answered outside of business hours, on weekends, or on public holidays. Teaching staff may not be able to reply to emails immediately. Please ensure any urgent matters are brought to their attention within the studio session, or request assistance in notifying the Unit Convener.

Consultation outside of these hours shall be by prior appointment, and in addition to, not in lieu of, the scheduled class time. Students, who fail to attend classes, and who do not have a Medical or Counselor's Certificate or other genuine reason for missing classes, should not expect additional consultation time.


Retained Work
Due to the requirements of professional accreditation samples of student work may be retained and stored at the School for periods of up to three years. Where possible, each student should make a copy of any assignment (prior to submission), as that work may be retained and inaccessible thereafter.

Late Collection of Assignments
Architects, and architecture students, are expected to take responsibility for their work. Collection times will be advised for submissions where appropriate. Where a project/assignment is not collected by that time it may be discarded.

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