Olamide Oluwafunmibi Lawal
📃 On paper
Module breakdown
- Design Studio: Every year there is a design studio module, where you are given a brief and expected to respond to it by creating a design that reflects your understanding of the brief.
- History and Theory: Every year, there is a History and Theory module. The aim of this module is to teach about the history of architecture and how a lot of the things we see now came about; where they originated from; how they developed over time. It also sheds light on architectural movements, architects and designers that played a vital role during those movements, and how the role they played still impacts society till date.
- Practice, Management and Law: This module was only in the First and Final years of my course at Bath. It’s aim is to get you thinking about the relationship between architects, clients and other parties involved in the process of design and construction, such as contractors. It provides you with knowledge on project and practice management, procurement routes, Architect-Client relationships, creativity management in practice and so on.
- Built Environment: This module is only in First Year. It introduces the basic considerations that one should take when designing, such as daylighting, acoustics, building orientation in relation to the sun path, prevailing wind, and neighbouring context. Additionally, it introduces topics such as embodied carbon.
- Environmental Design - This module is only in First Year as well. It introduces you to the basic environmental principles you should consider when designing, such as shading and shading devices, passive solar design, renewable and low-carbon energy resources.
- Placement - In years 2 and 3, you are expected to go on a 6-months placement to receive professional experience, which will contribute to the minimum of 24 months professional experience required before Part 3.
Design studio modules are at the core of every year in the course. In first year, there are four design projects,ranging in scale from a sculpture to a house), the first of which is a group project working with Civil Engineering students.
As you progress along the course, the design projects come bigger and more central in your studies. Second and third year feature two design projects each, with a 3-6 month placement in the second semester (Bath has two semesters, not three). The other modules’ assessments are tied in with your design project. Collaboration with Civil Engineers remains integral, with group projects taking place in the third and fourth years.
👐🏻 General approach
The architecture course, due to the fact that it is a BSc in Architecture, you can expect that the course is more technical than a BA in Architecture. You require knowledge on structural and technical principles. Creativity is appreciated, however, as you progress to different stages, you will find that creativity caps due to practicality, structural and technical principles.
Bath is the only university in the UK to house Architecture and Civil Engineering in the same department. The founders of the school felt it was important that architects and engineers work together from early on in their education, as they spend their entire careers working together. As such, the BSc (Hons) Architecture course is one of the most technical in the country and is known as an education that excellently prepares students for going into practice. Collaboration with Civil Engineering students takes place often through group projects in years one, three and four.
Preparation for future education and professional practice is also given through two placements that take place in the second half of the academic year. These can be undertaken anywhere in the world, and allows you to venture into similar fields such as landscape architecture and construction.
There is an option to study a semester abroad in third year, although it is not clear with Brexit how this will operate in the future.
Studio culture is an essential part of Bath’s Architecture course, with everyone on the course able to bond over work and inspire each other as each year group has a studio room to themselves. It is very easy to make friends and bounce ideas off of each other and especially so within studio groups (around 8-10 people taught by the same tutor, usually a practising architect).
💖 Student support
In first year, I had a peer mentor, which was useful in terms of guiding, helping and supporting me. However, after first year, it felt like I was alone and doing it all by myself. This feeling was so overwhelming especially because half of my first year and second year were spent in quarantine due to Covid.
There are well-being and student support services available at the university, however, I found myself feeling alone and overwhelmed majority of the time.
Outside of the course itself, the Students’ Union has an Architecture and Civil Engineering Society, which runs lectures from external speakers, such as from James Turner, a Bath alumnus who was the project lead for the 2019 Stirling Prize winner, Goldsmith Street.
They also run social events such as the annual ice skate and ACE Christmas Ball.
PaperspACE is the department’s student-led Architecture and Engineering magazine. It has been nominated for several awards over the year and is a great way to explore your architectural interests outside of the course.
Bath has a Museum of Bath Architecture, which is a fantastic way to explore Bath’s architectural heritage. Several History and Theory lectures have been given by people working at the museum.
At the start of the academic year, Academic Representatives are elected by the year group. They are responsible for liaising with the department about how students feel the course is going and attend regular meetings where they can feed back to the department any comments the students have.
First year students are assigned a peer mentor that is in their second year of study in Architecture, and they are able to provide advice and answer any questions concerning the course or university life.
The ACE Society has a welfare and inclusivity officer who is able to listen to any concerns students may have about the society or the course.
The Roper Centre on campus offers well-being and counseling services.
🛠️ Facilities
One of Bath’s major selling points is the sheer amount of studio space. 4 East South, the architecture building, has an entire floor per year group of studio space, with each student having a large desk to themselves. It has 24/7 access and kitchens on each floor. With studio culture being such an important part of the way architecture is taught and learned, this is an immensely useful facility to have.
6 East, an architecture and civil engineering building designed by Peter and Alison Smithson, provides even more studio space, with space for one studio group per room. There are many printers and plotters available in the studio spaces as well as across campus.
There is 24/7 access to the CAD Labs only for Architecture students, which has many computers that are fully equipped with all the main software needed for the course.
We have a 24hr library on campus, a workshop and CAD/CAM/laser cutting/3D printing facility as well (open from 09:00 - 17:00 only on week days.), and printing services to print out your reports and other documents.
The campus has a print shop that works efficiently, offers large scale prints and a binding service.
The placement scheme offers excellent experience for finding a job after graduation, as there is the opportunity to work at two different practices and thus gain a breadth of experience. Bath is known for its high graduate prospects, with many alumni going on to work at big name firms like Foster and Partners AHMM. The vast majority of students continue onto masters courses and later qualify.
📄 Application Process
The application process was really straightforward. You apply through UCAS and you either get and offer or you don’t; there were no interviews. Once you’ve gotten an offer, all you need to do to secure the offer is to get the grades (or similar) that you are required to get, by the university
😉 Insider Tips
🔗 Other links
ACE Society:
https://www.thesubath.com/ace/
PaperspACE: