Architecture students’ live projects

You will have the opportunity to engage with industry professionals, clients and partner organisations on the development and resolution of live projects throughout the course.

Our students have engaged in the following ‘live’ projects – following the RIBA Plan of Works (from Consultation, Design to Construction, Handover and In Use).

The Dartington Hall Trust wrote the competition brief for a temporary 7m × 5m timber shelter campsite and a meeting space. 14 groups comprised of second and third year BA (Hons) Architecture and BA (Hons) Architecture Technology and the Environment students worked over a period of 5 days to respond to the competition brief for a demountable structure. The winning scheme was highly praised both by Dartington Hall and the wider community. The students underwent the process of completing the costing, measurement, planning permission and construction manual. The construction stage included Year 2 students staying in accommodation on site all week to construct the project and Year 3 students made ‘site visits’ in smaller groups each day acting as project managers.

Our students were asked to design an eco-pod which would become part of new camping facilities on the Dartington estate, a 1,200-acre country estate on the outskirts of Totnes in South Devon and an internationally renowned centre for progressive education, ecology, the arts and architecture.

The only stipulations were that their design should embody the values and principles of the estate’s emerging vision and strategy; be an exemplar in sustainable construction and positively contribute to its surroundings. The pod was constructed using local and sustainable materials including larch, Douglas fir and sheep’s wool, while craft tutors on the Trust’s wide-ranging craft education programme helped create a bespoke interior that will provide guests with a unique experience as part of the Trust’s new camping initiative.