M Arch 1
Course Leader:
The structure of the first year of the MArch is unique to the WSA as the ‘Year of Education in Practice’ is spent predominantly in the workplace. Fourth-year is divided into three modules: Design in Practice, Reflective Practice and Research Preparation. Each module focuses on particular areas to enhance and support students’ architectural education by connecting practice and university, whilst setting a foundation for final year studies back in Cardiff.
A comprehensive design project makes a link between design as experienced in education and that conducted by the practices in which students are working. Projects are structured in accordance with the RIBA Stages, include planning and funding constraints, with submissions and engagements mirroring professional practice in format. Design in Practice aims to address the adjustment required from designing in studio to the rigours of practice, providing a platform for engagement with work-colleagues and all stages of design. The School is also concerned with providing a grounding in design economics and students must consider whether what they propose represents good value to their client while bearing in mind what ‘value’ might mean in a changing world.
Reflective Practice is a work-based learning module that asks students to think more deeply about what they are seeing and doing in practice. As COVID posed significant challenges for job-seekers this year, the School established a Welsh Government Funded learning partnership with Ty Banc Canal Group to provide valuable professional experience for those students unable to obtain employment and to make direct and meaningful contributions to the community of Resolven, Neath Port Talbot.
2020-21 Design work:
This year, students worked collaboratively as part of a design team to prepare a Brief and Business Case for a performance facility for Llandaff Cathedral School which also provided considerable community benefit. The site of the ruined Bishop’s Palace in Llandaff, Cardiff required students to engage with conservation, urban and landscape challenges. Teams developed Strategic Proposals towards RIBA Stage 2 over a number of weeks, working remotely from each other, alongside their work in practice.
Opportunities to collaborate reflect the realities of team-working in practice and enabled small groups of students to keep in regular contact whilst working remotely this year. The module comprised 4 design phases, culminating in an individual integrated design report to demonstrate how the research-led groupwork had been developed according to a personal design agenda. This final stage encouraged a process of continual reflection, investigation and experimentation to drive and refine design, grounded in real-world concerns such as environmental performance, social and financial sustainability.
Given the work of the year derives from a single brief, the range of approaches and proposals were staggering! The students are commended for their engagement and resilience in the face of the considerable challenges posed by the pandemic, not least working independently, without the usual support of practice.
Beacon of Hope in a Post Covid Era
A safe social and work hub to reunite the local community after Covid 19.
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Bishop’s Palace Music Centre
Hub for music, education and leisure, all under one roof that wraps around the medieval walls.
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Llandaff Theatre Centre
A group project, where the initial concept was further developed individually, leading to a performing arts centre for the Llandaff community situated in the historic Bishop's Palace
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The Community Chorus
The proposal seeks to create strong relationships between the elderly community and the school children, resulting in educational benefits for the children and improved wellbeing for the elders.
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Llandaff Arts Centre
A group project following individual development of shared initial concept- a theatre and arts centre for the Llandaff community situated in the historical Bishop's Palace.
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A Flexible Cymmer
Creating a space for the community to enjoy and improve the rural places of Wales where people have better access to nature and lower living costs.
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Llandaff Arts Centre
Llandaff Arts Centre fuses visual and performance arts in a sustainable new home for the Cathedral School.
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Water as a Lifeline
Liveable Urbanism - Water as a Lifeline, Mullassery Community Centre
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Llandaff Youth Pavilion
A flexible performance pavilion and social arcade where performing arts is supported through the discipline of sport.
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The Turntide
Reviving Barry Island's relevance through a civic proposal critically sited against the socio-political backdrop of its leisure and industrial decline, in order to secure Barry's uncertain environmental and economic future.
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The Bishops Palace Centre
A local work and performing arts hub for the Llandaff community both during and after COVID
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Llandaff Youth Mental Health Alleviation Centre
Sustainably Celebrating Historic Palimpsest
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The Sgwâr – Bishop’s Palace Llandaff
Celebrating the Art of Llandaff / Llandaff Art’s Centre
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Bishop's Palace Cinema and Theatre
Venue for Welsh focused performing arts - stage, music and film
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The 'Creative Castle' ('Y Castell Creadigol') of Bishop's Palace
How spatial relationships transition during the creation of journeys between building and site
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Llandaff Cathedral School | Talent Acquisition Centre
Further education and talent recruitment does not necessarily need to be tedious and monotonous, but rather exciting and inspirational.
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Bishop’s Welsh Art Centre
Celebrating Llandaff’s Welsh Heritage Through Performing Arts
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