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Unit of study_

MARC5430: Developing Architectural Briefs

Intensive July, 2023 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Formulating architectural briefs is an art. Identifying the problems that a built work might engage and solve, negotiating forces that are both contextual and generic. This intensive UoS will allow students to chart the forces that impact an architectural project, prior to design. These include forces that are contextual: constraints set by clients, budgets, sites, social functions of the building, local practices and funding, the specifics of a site and the involvement of other building specialists. Also included are forces that are generic: formal laws and regulations, institutional interests, state ideologies, cultural taboos and general social and political conditions. Through a series of workshops students will critique the architectural briefs developed for a series of projects and develop their own architectural briefs.

Unit details and rules

Unit code MARC5430
Academic unit Architecture
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

BDES3025

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Jason Dibbs, jason.dibbs@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Thomas Stromberg, thomas.stromberg@sydney.edu.au
Emma Anderson, e-justine.anderson@sydney.edu.au
Jason Dibbs, jason.dibbs@sydney.edu.au
Sean Akahane-Bryen, sean.akahane-bryen@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Proposal for an Architectural Brief
.
50% Week -01
Due date: 26 Jul 2023 at 23:59
.
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Assignment Critical Appraisal of an Architectural Project and its Architectural Brief
.
50% Week -02
Due date: 17 Jul 2023 at 10:00
.
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6

Assessment summary

Detailed information on each item of assessment is to be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week -02 Brief Creation 1: Formulating the Important Questions Block teaching (5 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Brief Creation 2: Finding, Collating and Interpreting Information and Data Block teaching (5 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Brief Creation 3: The Final Document Block teaching (5 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week -03 Brief and Project Appraisal 1: Cultural Ambitions and Technical Possibilities Block teaching (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO6
Brief and Project Appraisal 2: Plotting Results Against Intentions Block teaching (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO6
Brief and Project Appraisal 3: Communicating a Final Evaluation Block teaching (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance (in person) at all scheduled lecture, tutorial and workshop sessions of Developing Architectural Briefs is mandatory, except in the case of illness or misadventure, in accordance with the School’s attendance policy.

 

Attendance means arriving at the time required and staying until teaching ends. Attendance and contribution to class discussion will be monitored and may be factored into allocated grades. Announcements made at Synchronous Zoom lectures are deemed to be made to the whole group. Contact with staff should generally be within the allocated teaching times. Consultation outside of these hours shall be by prior appointment, and in addition to, not in lieu of, the regular class time. The timetable is subject to minor adjustment, and individual tutors may issue more detailed schedules.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All prescribed readings for this Unit of Study are available on the Canvas site, and a list of recommended readings is also provided there.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Identify the factors that act on the architectural design of a public building and assess the extent to which a given brief addresses them.
  • LO2. Evaluate multiple written and graphic sources in order to filter and synthesise information.
  • LO3. Write coherent and convincing appraisals of buildings in respect to the architectural brief that they were made in response to, and illustrate and compose these appraisals into formal documents.
  • LO4. Demonstrate ethical and cultural competence in architectural design by recognising the intended and unintended consequences of the articulation of an architectural brief.
  • LO5. Devise an architectural brief for a public building that balances competing requirements for feasibility, desirability and innovation.
  • LO6. Work productively in a tutorial/workshop setting to assess, reflect and provide feedback on one's own work process as well as that of others.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The selection of competition projects for students to analyse has been updated.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.