The aim of First year Design Studio is to enable the student to become an active participant in the architectural design process. The field of architecture is broad and the methodologies used to work within it varied. In addition, architecture interacts closely with a number of related disciplines. First year Design Studio exposes the student to the types of thinking and acting inherent in this process with the objective of helping the student become conversant with the process and capable of developing initial architectural projects.

Design Studio is the backbone of study in Architecture. Study is organised around design æproblemsÆ or projects, a number of which are given each term. By working through the project, the student will become exposed to the architectural design process, a new and complex process for most first year students. Each project introduces a different aspect of the architectural design process in order to help the student develop a range of methods of working. Each project also introduces a new programmatic theme so that students understand and become conversant with the many fields of operation of an architect. Themes include space and light explorations through model making, understanding the process of abstraction and transformation through model making/two dimensional work, building full scale structures in timber to explore architectural concepts such as scale, framing, section and thresholds, developing observational skills through sketching on site, learning how to make a site plan by developing a pattern of occupation on an open site, learning how to develop a building design grounded in this context. Studio work is organised so that close contact is maintained with the student. Work is analysed and discussed with the student on an individual basis and within the group. The student is taught to recognise the design process and to value and catalogue their own work. As the year progresses the student is encouraged to become increasingly responsible for organising and developing their own work process. The studio is co-ordinated with the content of parallel course modules and integration between studio work and course module work is a vital and innovative component of the studio structure.

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Design Studio is the backbone of study in Architecture. Study is organised around design æproblemsÆ or projects, a number of which are given each term. Each project introduces a different programmatic theme so that students understand and become conversant with the many fields of operation and with the design method of an architect. The studio is co-ordinated with the content of parallel course modules and integration between studio work and course module work is a vital and innovative component of the studio structure.