Design Practice for Historic Environments
Program Overview
Design Practice for Historic Environments (BARC0033)
Key Information
- Faculty: UCL Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment
- Teaching department: Bartlett School of Architecture
- Credit value: 30
- Restrictions: Module restricted to MA Architecture and Historic Urban Environments students
Alternative Credit Options
There are no alternative credit options available for this module.
Description
Content
The Design Practice for Historic Environments module integrates architecture and the city, preparing participants for a comprehensive design domain. It focuses on design innovation through the diversity of knowledge held by buildings, cities, and multiple actors involved in their production. The module aims to support social, spatial, and environmental justice through a dynamically changing field. Design is seen as a catalyst for change, emphasizing a collective, systemic, and collaborative approach over traditional views of individual creativity.
Teaching Delivery
The module builds upon knowledge and skills gained in Design Research for Historic Environments. Students work in groups to develop design proposals for reusing and reshaping a chosen site or producing a broader design strategy for an urban environment. Proposals respond to historic architectural/urban heritage through adaptive reuse, redevelopment, or design strategies. Students present their projects through various mediums, including portfolios, models, drawings, photographs, animations, or films. The design studio includes bi-weekly exercises, weekly tutorials, studio reviews, exhibitions, publications, workshops, and feedback reviews, accompanied by lectures and seminars.
Indicative Topics
- Spatial, Social and Environmental Justice
- Communities
- Urban Ecologies
- (In)equity
- Social and Cultural Values in Institutional Structures
- Economic Models of Sustainable and Equitable Urban Development
- Adaptive Reuse
- Health and Wellbeing in Urban Settings and at Home
- Social and Spatial Segregation
- Material Cultures
- Migration
- Gentrification
Module Aims and Objectives
On completion, students will demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of contemporary design practice, including:
- Analyzing historic architectural and urban environments.
- Delivering innovative design proposals for historic buildings and urban areas.
- Representing and disseminating design proposals effectively.
- Developing a socio-political statement of aims or research question.
- Emphasizing sustainable, innovative design strategies.
- Demonstrating proficiency in materials, tools, techniques, and technologies of digital and physical design and making.
Recommended Readings
Include various texts on urban theories, modernist and contemporary housing projects, real-life examples of theoretical models of 'good' cities, seminal housing projects in London, co-design and participatory design examples, institutional frameworks, works of literature/film/music, and reference drawings.
Additional Costs
- One or two TFL journeys to specific sites.
- Estimated ｣100-｣200 on specialist materials/printing, with encouragement to use recycled materials.
Module Deliveries for 2026/27 Academic Year
- Intended teaching term: Term 2
- Postgraduate (FHEQ Level 7)
Teaching and Assessment
- Mode of study: In person
- Methods of assessment: 100% Group activity
- Mark scheme: Numeric Marks
Other Information
- Number of students on module in previous year: 21
- Module leader: Professor Sophia Psarra
Sustainability
For modules related to climate change, social, and environmental sustainability at UCL, search 'climate' or 'sustainability' in the module catalogue. Visit Sustainable UCL for extra-curricular activities on sustainability.