Program Overview

SARC 471: Te Mahi a te Ao Whānui - International Field Study

Course Description

An analytical cross-cultural design exploration of designed spaces and sites with special emphasis on critical understanding of why and how they are uniquely formed by the historical and cultural contexts they are part of and the design inspiration that can be derived from such understanding.

Course Details

• Dates: 17 Nov 2025 to 8 Feb 2026
• Starts: Trimester 3
• Fees:
  • Domestic Students: NZ$1,298.55
  • International Students: NZ$5,706.60
• Campus: Te Aro
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 150 hours or 12.5 hours per week for 12 weeks
• Points: 15

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: 60 300-level ARCI/INTA/LAND/SARC points
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: SARC 371

Taught By

School of Architecture — Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation

About This Course

The value of architecture is no longer appraised merely as a formal object, but by its ability to respond to relevant transformations. Urban transformations are often marked by architectural icons and these in turn are demonstrations of local cultures, cultural change, social progress, and the economic prosperity of a city and its people over time.

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of a range of typologies of the built environment represented at a range of scales.
2. Thoroughly analyse precedents to discover design strategies for use in design research.
3. Demonstrate skills in the analysis and mapping of contextual and cultural issues that affect design.
4. Express the sensual and experiential qualities of architecture / interior architecture / landscape architecture.
5. Illustrate the importance of detail in architecture / interior architecture / landscape architecture.
6. Communicate clearly through graphic, verbal, and written techniques as well as formulate and build on critical analysis.

How This Course Is Taught

As an International Field Study, this course involves site visits, workshops, and guest lectures. Itinerary details and schedules will be published on the course Nuku page and circulated via email.

Assessment

• Project One: Analysis of Culture + Context (15%)
• Project Two: Analysis of Three Designed Environments (60%)
• Project Three: Oral Presentation (25%)

Mandatory Requirements

In addition to achieving an overall pass mark of at least 50%, students must:

1. Participate in all activities planned for the international field study component of the course.

Group Work

Group Work Project One is a group assessment with a course weight of 15%. Further details about the group assessment will be provided in the project brief.

What You'll Need to Get

Students will need to provide all materials and equipment as necessary for the completion of course work. Additional expenses, including airfares, accommodation, local travel overseas, entry tickets to sites listed in the field study itinerary, and other likely costs, will be advised in advance at scheduled pre-course commencement meetings and via email.