ABN403 Transdisciplinary Design: Communities
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | ABN403 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | (ABB244 or DLB303) or admission to DE83 |
| Equivalent(s): | DAN111 |
| Credit points: | 24 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $2,328 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $7,224 |
| International unit fee | $10,392 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | ABN403 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 24 |
| Pre-requisite: | (ABB244 or DLB303) or admission into DE83 Master of Architecture |
| Equivalent: | DAN111 |
| Coordinator: | Tim Schork | tim.schork@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This is a studio-based design unit, with a cohort comprising students of both the Masters of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (Honours) programs. Your skills in designing highly resolved design propositions that address critical real-world scenarios will be developed via intensive collaborative processes within the design studio. Here, transdisciplinary collaborations and industry-informed scenarios will set the framework for project-based speculations that investigate and engage with and across different programs, scales, cultures, contexts, technologies, and environments. You will conduct design-led research while working jointly with others from outside your discipline area to create new conceptual, theoretical, methodological and translational propositions that integrate and move beyond conventional discipline-specific boundaries and approaches.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply practice-led thinking to explore design possibilities for an industry design brief.
- Apply an effective professional process to manage design activities.
- Collaborate with other designers and stakeholders through team-based processes.
- Create design solutions that demonstrate technical proficiency in order to respond to complex multi-disciplinary issues at the community scale.
- Communicate effectively through a range of professional media and methods.
Content
The unit will engage you with an exploration of the following major themes:
- Transdisciplinary design methodologies
- Climate change & regenerative design practices
- Principles of Indigenous knowledge for spatial design
- Use of technology, tectonics and material systems
In this unit, you will develop an in-depth understanding of methods and methodologies to engage real-world community partners to address emerging issues, adopting transdisciplinary lenses. In the unit, you will be challenged to explore different points of view, with particular attention to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges.
Learning Approaches
Complex societal and environmental challenges cannot be solved via conventional modes of disciplinary practice. These challenges are common to the disciplines of both Architecture and Landscape Architecture and in using a transdisciplinary approach new conceptual, theoretical, methodological and translational propositions are more able to be advanced, advocated for and ultimately realised in the real-world.
This unit adopts a project-based approach to transciplinary design, focusing on specific project types, areas and/or issues. Presentations, guest speakers and workshops will provide a theoretical framework for the project-focused work. You will learn primarily through practical activity in the studio setting as well as self-directed problem analysis and research, design development, collaborative and transdisciplinary design development, individual and group reflective practice, design presentation in multiple media and modes - both digital and analogue. You will be expected to independently progress your design propositions between weekly classes, participate in and contribute to studio activities, and engage in constructive critique of each other's work led by your teaching staff.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in the unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- in-class formative exercises with peers, academics and industry experts
- in-class review of weekly activities
- criteria referenced assessment (CRA) sheets
- verbal feedback from teaching staff
- verbal feedback from guest reviewers at studio pin-up/review sessions.
Assessment
Overview
This is a studio-based unit. Assessment will take the form of two design-based projects. The first assessment will require group work, in which students collaborate to undertake the early stages of a design process to understand the design brief, site, context, and project stakeholders. The second assessment will build on this work to enable students individually to complete a highly resolved detailed design project. While each project will be assessed for grading at the completion of the project, there will also be ongoing formative feedback throughout the semester to guide your progress. Assessment expectations will be provided through assessment briefs and criteria rubrics, and also discussed during relevant lectures and presentations.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Project Formulation
You will work collaboratively in a group to develop a schematic design proposal, presenting your understanding of the geographical and contextual background, addressing social and cultural responses, and demonstrating the proposal's relevance. While the project involves group collaboration, your assessment will be individual. Through design-led research you will explore the site, context, and problem in depth. The project will address social justice and incorporate a high level of complexity.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Final Project
Building on your schematic design proposal from the first assessment, you will develop a highly refined and detailed design coordinated and situated in context, that responds to client and societal needs. The specific requirements will be dependent on the parameters of the specific studio brief given by your studio leader.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Costs
There are no additional costs associated with this unit
Resources
Required and recommended resources will be provided and signposted to through the online learning platform.
Risk Assessment Statement
Substantial computer-based work will be required. You are recommended to take regular rest breaks when engaging in prolonged computer-based work, and ensure that your workstation is set up for optimal comfort to prevent strain or injury.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.AB01 Bachelor of Built Environment (Honours)
- Apply theoretical, practical and cultural knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines and specialist knowledge and skills in one built environment area.
Relates to: Project Formulation, Final Project - Design and critically evaluate sustainable and creative solutions to social, economic, technological and environmental challenges.
Relates to: Final Project - Communicate knowledge, ideas and creative solutions in diverse modes, for a range of contexts and diverse audiences.
Relates to: Final Project - Plan, develop and complete research and other projects.
Relates to: Project Formulation, Final Project - Strategically collaborate with diverse stakeholders and communities, including First Nations peoples.
Relates to: Project Formulation, Final Project - Reflect on feedback and experience, and display professional and ethical judgment and initiative.
Relates to: Project Formulation, Final Project
DE83 Master of Architecture
- Identifying, explaining and working with appropriate knowledge of architecture, its history and precedents and with knowledge of people, environments, culture, technology, history and ideas pertinent to architectural propositions.
Relates to: ULO1, Project Formulation, Final Project - Independently researching and evaluating emergent knowledge as it becomes necessary to fulfil the profession's role in society.
Relates to: ULO2, Project Formulation, Final Project - Propositional, imaginative, iterative, integrated thinking to synthesise complex architectural designs.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO4, Project Formulation, Final Project - Supporting their decision-making using evidence-based, reasoned argument and judgement pertaining to architectural propositions.
Relates to: ULO2, Project Formulation, Final Project - Communicating with a variety of audiences in appropriate ways.
Relates to: ULO5, Final Project - Demonstrating their understanding of architecture's status as an ethical service-oriented profession committed to responsible care for the inhabited environment.
Relates to: ULO4, Final Project - Engaging proactively and autonomously in the effective procurement of architectural propositions.
Relates to: ULO3, Project Formulation, Final Project