Design Studio Beta (ARCH20001)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Subject Coordinators
David Mah
Leire Asensio-Villoria
Semester 2
Subject Coordinators
Leire Asensio-Villoria
David Mah
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Underlying the undergraduate design course is the development of both design thinking and dexterity with tools and techniques. The focus of this design subject will be on generating design ideas, translating them into architectural forms, spaces, materials and programs. Students will learn how to refine architecture through consideration of spatial organisation, environmental context and structural necessity. Students will also learn how to communicate comprehensive architectural propositions through 2D- and 3D-modelling (physical and digital), visual and written media and oral presentations.
The focus in the design studio shifts to technologies and techniques in architectural practice. The studio assignments create an accretive conceptual investigation of fundamental principles into the making of buildings, including structure, enclosure, circulation, program, site, and light. An essential aspect of the design process is the incorporation of abstract thinking and abstraction within architectural production.
Critical use of diagramming, conceptual mapping, narratives, animations and performative expositions join with conventional techniques (plan, section, elevation, axonometric projections and perspectives) to generate and document design ideas.
The design studio focuses on singular, medium-scale programs on prototypical sites, with the development scope of up to 1000m2.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who have successfully completed this subject should be able to:
- Understand and integrate building functionality, site and landscape interface, and environmental building systems such as air circulation and light, into design proposals;
- Use abstract thinking to compliment conventional design techniques;
- Design medium-scale buildings and tailor designs to the context of a particular site;
- Read, understand and create architectural documentation, including plans, sections, elevations, diagrams, three-dimensional representations, renderings and animations;
- Communicate and test ideas and design propositions through iterative use of orthographic drawing, 3D-modelling (digital or physical), photomontage, renderings, and animations;
- Understand, interrogate and work to a design brief;
- Apply critical thinking to the assessment of design proposals, and to make changes and improvements based on that assessment through iterative design processes;
- Formulate a conceptual design proposal (in the form of a speculative architectural design proposition) that tests a design idea or design method;
- Present, substantiate and advocate for design proposals in a public setting, and accept critique in a constructive manner;
- Engage with and contribution to studio culture.
Generic skills
Students completing this subject will have developed the following generic skills:
- Ability to generate and iteratively test design ideas
- Ability to work with design precedents
- Ability to work with different design methodologies
- Physical and digital model-making and its translation process
- Ability to integrate digital tools into the design generation and design development processes
- Graphic communication (including orthographic projections: plans, sections, elevations, axonometric and other projections)
- Verbal presentation and appropriate use of design terminology
- Time management and project management
- Constructive acceptance of feedback and criticism.
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCH10003 | Design Studio Alpha |
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABPL20027 | Architecture Design Studio: Earth | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ABPL20028 | Architecture Design Studio: Water | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| ABPL30048 | Architecture Design Studio: Air |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
Recommended background knowledge
One of:
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCH10002 | Construction as Alchemy |
Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)
Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LARC10001 | Natural History | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
There are no corequisites, however co-enrollment is recommended in:
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCH20004 | Digital Design | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Assignment 1 (25 to 30 hours of work). Individual review (critique) and oral presentation, demonstrating design output that may include physical or digital models, drawings, written assignments, site analyses, journals and sketches
| Week 4 | 25% |
Assignment 2: Major Project Interim Submission (equivalent to 30-35 hours of work). Individual review (critique) and oral presentation, demonstrating design output that may include physical or digital models, drawings, written assignments, site analyses, journals and sketches. .
| Week 8 | 30% |
Assignment 3: Major Project Interim (equivalent to 30-35 hours of work). Individual review (critique) and oral presentation, demonstrating design output that may include physical or digital models, drawings, written assignments, site analyses, journals and sketches;
| Week 12 | 30% |
Design Journal. (approximately 15-18 hours of work per student). Completed throughout semester, based on themes developed through the lectures, including esquisses and quizzes completed in studios and lectures
| Week 12 | 15% |
Class Attendance Hurdle requirement: Attendance of 75% of studio classes. | N/A |
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinators Leire Asensio Villoria and David Mah Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 1X1 hour lecture and 1X3 hour studio per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020 Semester 1 contact information
Subject Coordinators
David Mah
Leire Asensio-Villoria
- Semester 2
Coordinators Leire Asensio Villoria and David Mah Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 1X1 hour lecture and 1X3 hour studio per week Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Subject Coordinators
Leire Asensio-Villoria
David Mah
Last updated: 9 April 2025
Further information
- Texts
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Informal specialisation Bachelor of Design Elective Subjects Informal specialisation Non-allowed Breadth Subjects within the Bachelor of Design - relating to specific majors - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Biomedicine
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Science
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 9 April 2025