THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Design

Undergraduate Course: Researching Places (DESI10118)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course will investigate an historic site within the city of Edinburgh using a variety of research methods. Through this work, students will gain an in-depth understanding of the site, its historic evolution, its impact on people, its purpose and sense of place. Students will then use this knowledge to produce a proposal for the future of the site, either written or design-focused, setting out what they feel should happen to it.
Course description This course involves students attending a series of lectures where the fundamentals of a variety of research methods in relation to conservation and placemaking will be explained and discussed. Initially working in groups, students will then use lecture content in order to undertake research into a site in Edinburgh, exploring it from a variety of different positions - historic, ethnographic, emotional, urban context, and so on.

Students will then take the findings from this research and use these to generate and support an individual proposal for a response to the site in its current state. This individual response could relate to an addition to, intervention in or removal from some aspect - or all - of the site, in order to support the latter's sense of place. The individual design response could take the form of a written piece, a design intervention, or a curated event, among other possible options.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs Sketch book, basic model making materials, general printing for interim presentations and printing of final submission document (approximately £40 max)
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate knowledge that integrates the principal theories and concepts of relevant research methods in relation to an historic site.
  2. Apply knowledge gained from practice of relevant research methods to inform and develop a solution to an historic site using suitable design techniques.
  3. Critically present design proposals in a professionally relevant and innovative manner.
Reading List
Martin, Bella. Universal methods of design: 100 ways to research complex problems, develop innovative ideas, and design effective solutions. Rockport, 2012

Hollis, Edward. The Secret Lives of Buildings. Portobello Books, 2010

Jokilehto, Jukka. The History of Building Conservation. Routledge, 2002
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Research, group working, portfolio presentation
Keywordsresearch,placemaking,design intervention
Contacts
Course organiserMs Rachel Simmonds
Tel: 0131 221 6130
Email: Rachel.Simmonds@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Jane Thomson
Tel: (0131 6)51 5713
Email: jane.thomson@ed.ac.uk
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