CQUniversity Unit Profile
BLAR12055 History and Theory of Building Design
History and Theory of Building Design
All details in this unit profile for BLAR12055 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit provides a broad introduction to the history and theories of building design with specific focus on the cultural importance, practical uses, construction and stylistic designs of those buildings. The fundamental knowledge gained in this unit will underpin many design processes and decisions that you will encounter in your work as licensed building designers. The study topics and assessment tasks will develop skills that will enable you to identify and evaluate the successes and failures of historic and contemporary building types as well as the suitability of those buildings for conservation, re-use or re-development.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: BLAR11045

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 3 - 2017

Distance

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Presentation and Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
2. Group Work
Weighting: 30%
3. Examination
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student Feedback

Feedback

Stephanie's obvious passion for building history kept the lectures interesting. Being able to provide our opinion and not just the facts helped to think more deeply about the buildings we researched, resulting in further understanding.

Recommendation

Continue providing assessments that encourage students to think about and provide their own opinion on design.

Feedback from Student Feedback

Feedback

One thing that stood out from this course was that I understand the History Events now, how, why and where buildings had such a historical effect on history and the people who either made them or designed them, this has been my favourite subject so far. The two books recommended are brilliant reading, very insightful and give so much information on history of inventions, buildings and people.:)

Recommendation

Continue to use the same textbooks whilst possibly limiting the amount of core readings.

Feedback from Student Feedback

Feedback

As I found this subject so engaging and inspiring. I strongly believe that this subject should be taught first, or at least very early on in the Built Environment program because it really gives students a more full appreciation of not just the history of Architecture and Design, but also of the many different and unique styles of Architecture and influential Architects, including Australian. This can only help to inspire the students on to find their own particular style or styles of Architecture that they really like, as well as empowering them to be better able to more easily identify, engage, and discuss on Architectural styles and buildings as they travel around both the country, and the broader world.

Recommendation

I agree that it would be highly beneficial for students to study this unit earlier in the degree (ideally prior to Building Design 1). I am currently looking into options to see how we could make this happen.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Analyse the historical development of building design and construction
  2. Explain culturally diverse values in buildings and spaces
  3. Compare the major stylistic trends of building design around the world
  4. Describe the historic and contemporary styles of building design in Australia
  5. Apply the reasoning behind an exemplary building’s design to a team solution.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Group Work - 30%
3 - Examination - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Group Work - 30%
3 - Examination - 40%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Building: 3000 Years Of Design, Engineering And Construction

(2015)
Authors: Addis, B
Phaidon Press
London London , UK
ISBN: 9780714869391
Binding: Paperback

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • MS Office or equivalent software
  • USB Microphone and speaker headset (compulsory)
  • Webcam (optional but preferred)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Stephanie Flowers Unit Coordinator
s.flowers@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 06 Nov 2017

Module/Topic

The Ancient World

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 13 Nov 2017

Module/Topic

Ancient and Classical Greece and the Roman Empire

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 20 Nov 2017

Module/Topic

Buildings of the East

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 27 Nov 2017

Module/Topic

Medieval Times: Romanesque and Gothic Architecture

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 04 Dec 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 11 Dec 2017

Module/Topic

Renaissance and Baroque Architecture

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 1 Due: Week 5 Monday (11 Dec 2017) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 6 Begin Date: 18 Dec 2017

Module/Topic

Buildings of the French and Industrial Revolutions

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 01 Jan 2018

Module/Topic

Architecture in the late 19th and 20th Centuries

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 08 Jan 2018

Module/Topic

  20th Century Design Theories and Movements

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 15 Jan 2018

Module/Topic

Early Australian Building

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 22 Jan 2018

Module/Topic

Federation, inter-war and post-war Australian Building

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assignment 2 Due: Week 10 Monday (22 Jan 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 11 Begin Date: 29 Jan 2018

Module/Topic

Australian Post War and late 20th Century Building

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 05 Feb 2018

Module/Topic

Exam Review

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 12 Feb 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Presentation and Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Assignment 1

Task Description

Assignment 1 comprises a written report with illustrations. The assignment will focus on Topics 1, 2, 3 and 4. Full and detailed briefing for this assignment will be available in the Assessment Block in Moodle.


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Monday (11 Dec 2017) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 7 Tuesday (2 Jan 2018)


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
Must achieve 40% minimum in each assessment and an overall unit result of 50% to pass.

Assessment Criteria

Marks will be allocated as specified in the marking rubric of the Assessment Task located in the Assessment Block in Moodle.

The assessment criteria used are:

  • Cohesive analysis of the the historical development of building design and construction
  • Insightful explanation of culturally diverse values in buildings and spaces
  • Conceptual comparison of major stylistic trends of building design around the world



Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Analyse the historical development of building design and construction
  • Explain culturally diverse values in buildings and spaces
  • Compare the major stylistic trends of building design around the world


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence

2 Group Work

Assessment Title
Assignment 2

Task Description

Assignment 2 comprises an individual written report with illustrations. Group interactions will be necessary via an online discussion forum utilising a prescribed communication process. The assignment will focus on Topics 5, 6, 7 and 8. Full and detailed briefing for this assignment will be available in the Assessment Block in Moodle.


Assessment Due Date

Week 10 Monday (22 Jan 2018) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 12 Monday (5 Feb 2018)


Weighting
30%

Minimum mark or grade
Must achieve 40% minimum in each assessment and an overall unit result of 50% to pass.

Assessment Criteria

Marks will be allocated as specified in the assignment brief in the Assessment Block in Moodle.


The assessment criteria used are:

  • Cohesive analysis of the the historical development of building design and construction
  • Insightful explanation of culturally diverse values in buildings and spaces
  • Conceptual comparison of major stylistic trends of building design around the world
  • Considered application of the reasoning behind an exemplary building’s design to a team solution






Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
The submission is to be made via the Moodle portal by each individual student (not by group).

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Analyse the historical development of building design and construction
  • Explain culturally diverse values in buildings and spaces
  • Compare the major stylistic trends of building design around the world
  • Apply the reasoning behind an exemplary building’s design to a team solution.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Team Work
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Examination

Outline
Complete an invigilated examination

Date
During the examination period at a CQUniversity examination centre

Weighting
40%

Length
180 minutes

Minimum mark or grade
Must achieve 40% minimum in each assessment (including the exam) and an overall unit result of 50% to pass.

Exam Conditions
Open Book

Materials
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
No calculators permitted
Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?