Undergraduate Course: Architectural History and Heritage in Practice (ARHI08008)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course has two objectives. First, it introduces key ideas in architectural heritage and conservation, including the history of conservation, current practice, and some of the key philosophies and debates which shape current heritage and conservation practice. Second, it familiarises students with skills which will be of use in architectural-historical research and also in the presentation of that research. In so doing, it equips students with practical research and presentation skills of use during the Honours years and potentially beyond, in the world of work. |
| Course description |
This course introduces students to the ways that architectural history can be applied in practical settings, especially within architectural and urban heritage and conservation. It encourages students to consider the real-world applications of architectural history and also encourages the development of skills and techniques which will be of use at level 10 (Honours) as well as, potentially, in the workplace. The course builds on and applies the knowledge gained during the other level 8 Architectural History courses.
The course is taught using lectures and tutorials, and regular independent study. Attendance at lectures and tutorials is required.
There are two 50-minute lectures per week in weeks 1-10. The lectures introduce topics relating to the history and theory of conservation, heritage practice, and techniques used by historians in practice. Topics to be covered could include evolving ideas of heritage, the ways in which the significance of a site is understood and determined, the nature of the listing system which shapes the development of historic buildings in England, Scotland and Wales, and the ways in which particular types of site/building (such as examples of modern architecture) have been restored or changed.
There is one 50-minute tutorial per week in weeks 2-11. The tutorials are practically oriented and reinforce the ideas and skills discussed in the lectures through a structured programme of interactive activities and discussion.
Students will also be expected to work independently each week, in three principal ways: first, by developing their understanding and knowledge of topics covered in lectures and tutorials by reading/watching material on the resource list; second, by working on a reflective course diary, which forms one component of assessment; and third, by researching and writing a report, which forms the second component of assessment. Both components of assessment must be attempted and passed in order to pass the course.
Students should complete the course with a range of useful practical skills, and with an understanding of how architectural history can be 'applied' in heritage and conservation practice - and beyond.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed
Architectural History 1A: Introduction to World Architecture (ARHI08009) AND
Architectural History 1B: Revivalism to Modernism (ARHI08004)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | This Course requires additional costs to be met by the Student.
Travel: There are may be travel costs associated with local field-trips. Students will be expected to support the cost of local travel by public transport (if this is used).
Materials: Students will be expected to fund the purchase of general stationary materials such as paper and pens.
Printing:
Students are expected to fund occasional printing of A4/A3 sheets. This will be optional as all submissions are online.
Equipment and software: Most equipment and software required will be provided by the School. A personal laptop with a word processing application is helpful. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 7,
Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 18,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 2,
Fieldwork Hours 2,
External Visit Hours 3,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 3,
Formative Assessment Hours 1,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
138 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
This course has 2 components of assessment.
1.) Course Diary, 50%, week 11, assessed against Learning Outcomes 1 and 2. Individually assessed. This element must be passed.
2.) 2000-2500-word Report, 50%, week 11, assessed against Learning Outcomes 3 and 4. Individually assessed. This element must be passed.
Further information:
1.) Course Diary: Students will submit a course diary comprising 6 x 300-word entries expanding on and offering an analytical view of a selection of the lecture topics. We will discuss this assessment in class early in the semester and will look at sample entries in order to help students understand what is required.
2.) Report: Students will select a site or area in Edinburgh from a list supplied by the Course Organiser, and will produce an illustrated report summarising its history, character and significance, and briefly outlining strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Tutorial activities will explore the application of the kinds of urban characterisation methods and ideas of significance which this component of assessment tests, as well as the use of digital mapping techniques. Students may use a software package of their choice, with ECA offering access to advanced graphic design packages for those who wish to work in this way.
Both components of assessment must be attempted and passed in order to pass the course.
Resubmission Information
The resubmission arrangements for this course are as follows:
- The resubmission task for the Course Diary is a Course Diary, 50%, submitted according to the original brief (using lecture recordings)
- The resubmission task for the Report is a 2000-2500-word Report, 50%, submitted according to the original brief
Students will receive further resubmission information as per University regulations as necessary.
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| Feedback |
Formative Feedback
Course Diary: Formative review will take place in week 4. Students will submit a draft of a single diary entry no later than Thursday of week 3. Brief written feedback will be offered by the class tutor within 3 weeks. Students will also discuss the experience of producing the diary in groups during the week 4 class, creating an opportunity for additional peer feedback. The written feedback plus peer discussion will inform the final Course Diary submitted for assessment.
Report: In weeks 5-6, students will submit brief notes summarising their initial assessment of the area¿s urban character. Brief written feedback will be offered by the class tutor within three weeks (weeks 8-9) in time to inform the final Report submission.
Summative Feedback
Course Diary: Summative feedback will be provided by the course tutor, in writing, within 3 weeks of submission. A single mark will be provided. The feedback will address the student¿s reflective discussion of a selection of topics/teaching sessions, and will enable students to develop a reflective approach as they move into the Honours years.
Report: Summative feedback will be provided by the course tutor, in writing, within 3 weeks of submission. A single mark will be provided, plus a comment. The feedback will consider the student¿s knowledge, analysis, and presentation.
Summative feedback will be provided according to University regulations.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate, through production of an analytical Course Diary, a foundational knowledge and understanding of the history and theory of architectural and urban conservation.
- Reflect on some of the ways that professionals working in the built environment apply architectural-historical insights in practice, through the production of a Course Diary.
- Deploy a range of source materials and practical techniques in an illustrated report summarising the history of a site or urban area and analysing its character.
- Explain succinctly, in an illustrated report, the heritage values of a site or urban area, applying established heritage methods.
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Reading List
Glendinning, Miles, The Conservation Movement. Abingdon: Routledge, 2013)
Harwood, Elain, Keeping the Past in England: the History of Post-war Listing, Journal of Architecture 15/5 (2010), 671-82
Historic England, Conservation Principles (London, 2008)
Historic England, Understanding Place: Historic Area Assessments (London, 2017)
Macdonald, Susan, Conservation of Modern Architecture (Shaftesbury, 2007)
Semple Kerr, James, The Conservation Plan (Sydney, 2013)
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Reflection: The Course Diary offers students the chance to consider the material discussed in class in the light of further reading, in order to develop their own perspectives and values.
Communication: The 2000-word Report helps students consider how the complex history and character of a site or area can be communicated effectively through text and image.
Adaptivity: The practical nature of this course will require students to think in new ways about the discipline and practice of Architectural History which complement and develop the skills they have gained in previous courses.
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| Keywords | architectural history,heritage,conservation |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alistair Fair
Tel: (0131 6)51 3913
Email: Alistair.Fair@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Niall Heseltine
Tel: (0131 6)51 7112
Email: nheselti@ed.ac.uk |
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