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BDES1026 ARCHITECTURE STUDIO 1A

Semester 1, 2026 || 12 credit points

Architecture Studio 1A: A Place for Sky Country

1.Academic Content

As the first architecture studio in the Bachelor of Design in Architecture degree, the integration of Art Processes and Architectural Design in this studio will equip students with conceptual and technical skills to creatively explore form and space and to negotiate dynamic transactions between art and architecture. Three recursive major projects aim to teach students fundamental elements of architectural design whilst developing students’ sensitivity toward materials, forms and experiences, and their ability to work across different media and scales. These projects will equip students with creative and critical skills required for the translation of thought into form and will promote an understanding of the poetics of space, architecture and placemaking. This unit uses iterative modelmaking and drawing processes within strict parameters. Students will experiment with the realization of forms in three dimensions as an extension of their modelmaking, drawings and detailed analyses.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The design brief for Architecture Studio 1A calls for three recursive projects that culminate in the design of a “Place for Sky Country.” In this studio, iterative design practices are enacted against a backdrop of critical thought concerning observation, placemaking, territorialization, and deterritorialization.

Project 01 — Composition with Lines asks students to design and construct a space for experiencing shadows, using linear elements only. Students will devise a concept, or rationale, that may be based on narrative or metaphor, to inform their design decisions. Students will generate a series of study models to explore ways that linear elements frame 3-dimensional space, direct bodily movement, interact with light and shadow, and with sight lines as part of spatial experience. Through this process, the environment is understood as formed by linear elements in a complex field of dynamic forms in space.

Project 02 — Composition with Planes continues the investigation of fundamental elements of architectural form and placemaking. Students will devise a concept for their design that may be based on narrative, metaphor, or interpretation of the programmatic brief. Students will translate their 2-dimensional sites into 3- dimensional spatial topographies and develop an initial planar proposition for a Place for Sky Country: a space for the observation and celebration of light and the cosmos. This built proposition is to consist of a space for observation of light and the cosmos (stars and planets and other celestial—or terrestrial—objects). Students will explore ideas through iterative study models and architectural drawing and develop an understanding of the ways that planes form six sides of spatial enclosure—floors, ceilings and walls—with attention to material properties including opacity and translucency to create exciting spaces and choreographed spatial sequences. 

Project 03 — Composition with Volumes continues explorations completed in the first two projects by transforming linear and planar elements into volumes that the human body (and other bodies) can experience and occupy. Students will be asked to devise a concept, or rationale, for their design that may be based on narrative, metaphor, or the programmatic brief, to inform their design decisions. Students will explore ideas in iterative models and drawings. Students will finalize designs for their Place for Sky Country, consisting of spaces for observation, and recording/documentation, and one additional space corresponding to a program decided by the student with guidance from their tutor. These will be designed with careful regard for sequencing, choreography, and spatial experience. Students will learn about First Nations understandings of Country, and these understandings may inform design development and outcomes. Students will need to consider the spatial quality of their design and the kind of experience it engenders: what kind of light conditions, scale, views, etc. will these require or provide? Not only will these designs engage with all six sides of built form, but they will demonstrate an integral relationship to their site.

2. Mentoring

Throughout the semester, selected Undergraduate and Master of Architecture students have offered to join the tutorial groups as student mentors. They will work with tutors to develop your projects throughout the semester during selected weeks. This is a great opportunity to work with talented students who have experience in the school and across its architecture programs.

3. Studio and Workshop Access, Cleaning and Lockers

You are required to keep the design studio and homebase clean—there are dedicated bins for paper/ cardboard and general rubbish. After each session the studio needs to be spotless as all years share studio spaces. Student access to the DMaF Lab and other Workshop spaces on Level 1 is detailed outside the DMaF Lab entry and on: https://www.dmaf-lab.com/

Homebase is a dedicated area for you to work throughout the semester and has 24hr access. For booking lockers, please check the SUDA (Sydney University Designers’ Association) Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SUDAUSYD

4. CANVAS and eLearning

All course documents, including the Unit Outline, Week by Week outlines, Readings, Assessments, Lectures and additional material will be available on CANVAS. Please visit this each week to access required information: The Canvas site for this unit can be accessed at: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/71038

5. Mandatory DMaF Lab Site Induction Module

You are strongly encouraged to engage with the facilities offered by the DMaF Lab. Studio 1A has a focus on analogue making processes, and these are addressed in the DMAF Labs’ Timber and Metal Area-Specific Induction courses. To access and utilize the DMaF Lab and its services, students must complete the Online Site Induction Module. The Online Site Induction Module introduces users to safe work practices. Enrolment in the Online Site Induction Module is accessible via the DMaF Lab Hub Canvas page, and will be available two weeks prior to the beginning of the semester: https://www.dmaf-lab.com/access-info You should complete this induction at your earliest convenience and prior to the commencement of the semester.

Area-Specific Inductions courses are available for Timber and Metal, Laser Cutting, 3D Printing, CNC Routing, and Robotics. You must complete the Timber and Metal Area-Specific Induction in Studio 1A. Again, it is strongly recommended that you complete this at your earliest convenience, and at the beginning of the semester. Registration is available after completing the Online Site Induction Module. Note that you will not be able to access these services until the relevant induction has been completed. For additional information, the friendly DMaF Lab technicians can be contacted at: [email protected]

6. Materials and the Material Fee Payment

To ensure a smooth start to the semester, DMaF have kindly sourced essential and extensive materials packs for each student enrolled in BDES1026. These packs contain the majority of tools, equipment and materials required for BDES1026, are high quality, and represent exceptional value for money. All students must pay their material pack fee of $130 no later than 5:00 pm Monday 2 March 2026.

Financial Support is available in the form of General Bursaries to eligible domestic and international students. Further information on this program and eligibility criteria can be found here: https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/financial-support/general-bursaries.html

To purchase your materials kit, please go to the payment portal: https://sydney.onestopsecure.com/OneStopWeb/aspx/tranform.aspx?TRAN-TYPE=994

• Select the UoS you are paying for from the drop-down list -> BDES1026

• Enter your 9-digit SID (Student Identity Number)

• Click “Add to shopping cart” on bottom right corner of page

• On the next page, pay via secure payment with your credit/debit card (there is also an option to pay via EFT)

• Check your email for receipt of payment and upload your receipt to Canvas

MATERIALS + TOOLS SUPPLIED

Visual Art Diary A4

Steel Ruler 30 cm

Cutting Mat A3

Pencil 6H, HB, 3B

UHU All Purpose Glue

PVA Craft Glue 125 ml

Drafting Pens 0.1 mm, 0.3 mm

Brown Kraft Portfolio A2

Masking Tape

Bamboo Skewers

NT Cutter

Basswood sticks 24” (61 cm) x 1/32” (.79 mm) and 1/16” (1.59 mm)

Basswood sheets 24” (61 cm) x 4” (10.2 cm) x 1/32” (.79 mm) and 1/16” (1.59 mm)

Triangular Scale Ruler 30 cm

Tracing Paper (Grease Proof Roll)

Valved P2 Mask

Boxboard 1.8 mm, 2.3 mm

Packing Tape

Polypropylene 0.8 mm

Pottery plaster

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS + TOOLS REQUIRED & RECOMMENDED

— Additional pencils at different grades/thicknesses and colours

— Additional drafting pens at different line weights and colours

— Additional blades for the NT Cutter (the 30° angle blades come highly recommended)

— Additional sketching and tracing paper

— Sandpaper at various grades (for finishing models)

— A clutch or mechanical pencil and replacement leads

— Additional modelmaking materials: basswood, balsa, pine, boxboard, screenboard etc.

— Drawing and dressmaking pins

— A metal right angle

— Tweezers and needle nose pliers

— T-Square

7. Assessment

 

Assessment	Due	Weight	Deliverables (refer to week by week)	Feedback following assessment	Outcomes Assessed
EARLY FEEDBACK TASK	Tuesday 10 March, WEEK 3	0%	• In Class Exercise	Verbal Feedback, Written Feedback	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
LINES Presentation + Submission	Submission Monday 16/Presentation Tuesday 17 March, WEEK 4	25%	• Model(s) • Panels • Journal • Statement	Verbal Feedback, Written Feedback, Grade	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
PLANES Presentation + Submission	Submission Monday 20/Presentation Tuesday 21 April, WEEK 8	35%	• Model(s) • Panel(s) • Journal • Statement	Verbal Feedback Written Feedback, Grade	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
VOLUMES Presentation + Submission	Submission Monday 25/Presentation Tuesday 26 May, WEEK 13	40%	• Model(s) • Panel(s) • Journal • Statement	Verbal Feedback Written Feedback, Grade	1, 2, 3, 4, 5

SUMMARY

Assessments will consider the rigour of student design processes, engagement in experimentation with materials together with specific deliverables detailed in the weekly handouts. Feedback is ongoing through the semester and will form part of the assessment.

• All assessments are individually graded

• Submitted work: design assignments, process journals, and presentations and exhibitions

• Studio work includes split assessment tasks during the 13-week program

• A numerical grade will be issued with feedback two weeks following the Week 4, 8 and 13 submissions to CANVAS

• Refer to detailed criteria and deliverables for Week 4, 8 and 13 on Canvas

The work produced through the semester must be of presentation standard with documentation of iterative processes. Work will be resolved, well-articulated and demonstrate critical thinking and creatively rigorous processes. Emphasis is on process, participation, background research and critical engagement. Assessment is the sum total of studio work completed during the semester and weekly exercises and submissions. 

FEEDBACK

Regular one-on-one and group tutorials and verbal feedback will be given throughout the semester. Verbal feedback on the development of work should be considered with equal weight to written feedback. Please, record

feedback as your tutor discusses your project. Please, follow specific directions from your tutors, as this may vary

slightly from group to group. Detailed breakdown of weekly tasks and what is required for the following week will

be in the WEEK-BY-WEEK MODULES on CANVAS along with READINGS and LECTURES and additional

support material: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/71038

Readings are specified as part of your weekly studio work and critical responses are required for each week in your journal and will be assessed throughout the semester.

Process Journals will be reviewed by your tutor throughout the semester and assessed Week 4, Week 8 and Week 13. Your journal needs to include:

• Critical reflections upon materials, creative process and the work being produced

• Links between the work produced and readings and research

• Documentation and analysis of work produced in class throughout the duration of the course

• Each week your process needs to be documented with images, sketches and written notation

• A minimum of 2 x other Gallery visits: catalogues, sketches and notes in point form that clearly indicate you have viewed the exhibitions

• Notes and sketches made during all Lectures

• Examples of artists/designers’ creative work, relevant precedent images and materials

• Documentation of your own “working out of ideas” and reflection and analysis of your process

Please, clearly state your name and tutorial group on the cover of your Process Journal.

Late Submission of work

1. It is expected that unless special consideration or an academic adjustment has been granted, students will submit all assessment items for a unit of study on the due dates specified. If an assessment is submitted or otherwise completed within the period of extension granted by the successful application for special consideration or assessment adjustment determined by Disability Services, no academic penalty will be applied to that piece of assessment.

2. If an extension is not sought, not granted, or is granted but work is submitted after the extension due date, the late submission of assessment will result in an academic penalty as follows:

3. For every calendar day up to and including 10 calendar days after the due date, a penalty of 5% of the maximum awardable marks will be applied to the late work. For work submitted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, a mark of zero will be awarded. This is in accordance with the Assessment Procedures 2011.

Please note, that as all assessment tasks for Studio 1A are in-person assessments, simple extensions are not applicable.

Special consideration applications can be made here:

https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/special-consideration.html

Information on academic adjustments can be found here:

https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/health-wellbeing/inclusion-and-disability.html

8. Aims and Learning Outcomes

This unit of study (UoS) aims to develop students’ capacity to propose and develop innovative, culturally literate, materially and structurally credible architectural propositions in a spatial setting. Students conduct their own research, and they work critically and creatively to initiate, develop and refine their architectural projects. They develop their capacity to express themselves effectively using verbal, written, graphic and modelled modes of representation and communication, and upon completion of this UoS, students will have met the learning outcomes, which contribute to their development of the University of Sydney’s Graduate Qualities.

Learning Outcomes
1	Demonstrate an understanding of creative design processes and conceptual strategies, and architecture’s theoretical, social, cultural and historic concerns.
2	De monstrat e proficie ncy in tec hniques of  spatial de sign, and  conventi ons of architectural drawing and model making.
3	Critically evaluate written and graphic sources and engage in field research to inform creative design experimentation and development.
4	Work productively in the architectural studio setting, recording and critically analysing design development, evaluating and reflecting on feedback and contributing to class discussions and activities.
5	Effectively convey spatial and architectural propositions using verbal, written, graphic, and physical modes of communication.

At the conclusion of the semester students will be given a final grade for BDE1026 based on the University grading system:

Grade	Description
High Distinction (85-100)	Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.
Distinction (75 -84)	Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.
Credit (65 – 74)	Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.
Pass (50 – 64)	Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.
Fail (0 – 49)	Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

9. Lecture Series and Tutorial Activities

In person Lecture 9:00am – 11:00am each Tuesday (unless otherwise advised). Tutorials/design studios are in person from 12:00pm – 5:00 pm each Tuesday (unless otherwise advised). Attendance at both is mandatory: see the below from the University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning Resolutions: Coursework Awards, p. 3.

Attendance and Participation

1. Students are required to be in attendance at the correct time and place of any formal or informal assessments. Non-attendance on any grounds that is insufficient to claim special consideration or disability adjustment will result in the forfeiture of marks associated with the assessment.

2. Participation in a minimum number of assessment items may be included in the requirements specified for a unit of study.

3. A student enrolled in a unit of study must comply with the requirements set out in the unit of study outline about undertaking the unit of study. Students are expected to attend a minimum of 90% of timetabled activities for each unit of study, unless granted exemption by the Head of School and Dean, Associate Dean Education or relevant Unit Coordinator. The Head of School and Dean, Associate Dean Education or relevant Unit Coordinator may determine that a student fails a unit of study because of inadequate attendance. Alternatively, at their discretion, they may set additional assessment items when attendance is lower than 90%.

4. In the case of serious illness, injury or misadventure, a student may apply for special consideration subject to the student meeting all assessment requirements and providing satisfactory supporting documentation.

VENUE:

ABS Lecture Theatre 1110 h70.01.1110, USYD Business School: https://maps.sydney.edu.au/?room=h70.01.1110

Studio 316 or Studio 405, USYD School of Architecture, Design and Planning, the Wilkinson Building (G.04): https://maps.sydney.edu.au/?building=g04

The compulsory lecture series is delivered by the coordinator, art and architecture academics, practicing artists and researchers. Please refer to the timetable below and week by week handouts for updates.