Architecture & Environmental Design BSc Honours
In recent decades, global policies and research institutions have increasingly recognised the imperative of addressing climate change through higher education. Climate change stands as one of the most pressing issues of our time, demanding urgent action and innovative solutions. In response to this urgency, the Architecture and Environmental Design BSc Honours (BSc AED) programme has been developed, offering undergraduate students a unique interdisciplinary education in architecture and environmental design. This programme aims to nurture a new generation of architects who possess not only a deep understanding of environmental issues but also the ability to quantify and mitigate the environmental impact of their designs.
At the heart of the BSc AED curriculum lies a holistic approach to addressing climate change within the context of design practice. Emphasising the physical ecologies of building, proficiency in numeracy and computation, and the broader principles of social sustainability, students are immersed in a comprehensive exploration of environmental design. Over the course of three years, BSc AED students engage with the poetic and scientific aspects of the design process, gaining insights into both the creative expression and technical precision required for effective and beautiful architectural solutions.
In the first year, BSc AED students share the design studios with the BArch programme to acquire basic architectural design knowledge, observational and drawing skills through design projects, and study trips.
An evidence-informed design approach is introduced through lectures, hands-on workshops, group seminars, and individual study sessions.
Through four design briefs, second year BSc AED students explore the urban dimension by investigating social, economic and building-related environmental and energy issues. The four briefs are written in collaboration with Technical Studies to ensure that students acquire an understanding of digital environmental simulations at different scales and learn to develop environmental design strategies based on an evidence-based approach to design.
The third year is structured around the Final Thesis Project, a research-by-design studio investigating innovative forms of performative architecture, negotiating social and environmental dynamics. Three separate modules allow students to enrich their projects by studying the relationship between the geometry, the material system and the performances of their architectural proposals.
Through the BSc AED programme, students are empowered to become agents of positive change within the architectural profession, advocating for sustainability and resilience in their future endeavours. By fostering a deep integration of environmental awareness and design expertise, the programme equips graduates to address the complex challenges of climate change with creativity, innovation and social responsibility.
Stefania Boccaletti
Course Leader
Architecture & Environmental Design BSc Honours
In recent decades, global policies and research institutions have increasingly recognised the imperative of addressing climate change through higher education. Climate change stands as one of the most pressing issues of our time, demanding urgent action and innovative solutions. In response to this urgency, the Architecture and Environmental Design BSc Honours (BSc AED) programme has been developed, offering undergraduate students a unique interdisciplinary education in architecture and environmental design. This programme aims to nurture a new generation of architects who possess not only a deep understanding of environmental issues but also the ability to quantify and mitigate the environmental impact of their designs.
At the heart of the BSc AED curriculum lies a holistic approach to addressing climate change within the context of design practice. Emphasising the physical ecologies of building, proficiency in numeracy and computation, and the broader principles of social sustainability, students are immersed in a comprehensive exploration of environmental design. Over the course of three years, BSc AED students engage with the poetic and scientific aspects of the design process, gaining insights into both the creative expression and technical precision required for effective and beautiful architectural solutions.
In the first year, BSc AED students share the design studios with the BArch programme to acquire basic architectural design knowledge, observational and drawing skills through design projects, and study trips.
An evidence-informed design approach is introduced through lectures, hands-on workshops, group seminars, and individual study sessions.
Through four design briefs, second year BSc AED students explore the urban dimension by investigating social, economic and building-related environmental and energy issues. The four briefs are written in collaboration with Technical Studies to ensure that students acquire an understanding of digital environmental simulations at different scales and learn to develop environmental design strategies based on an evidence-based approach to design.
The third year is structured around the Final Thesis Project, a research-by-design studio investigating innovative forms of performative architecture, negotiating social and environmental dynamics. Three separate modules allow students to enrich their projects by studying the relationship between the geometry, the material system and the performances of their architectural proposals.
Through the BSc AED programme, students are empowered to become agents of positive change within the architectural profession, advocating for sustainability and resilience in their future endeavours. By fostering a deep integration of environmental awareness and design expertise, the programme equips graduates to address the complex challenges of climate change with creativity, innovation and social responsibility.
Stefania Boccaletti
Course Leader