In these introductory sessions, students are expected to develop an awareness of working to scale, constructing space around the body through a range of physical and drawn proxemics studies.

Daily observational drawing exercises get students used to the sketchbook – the place of ideas, fine tuning ways of looking at and analysing architecture revealing individual interests and sensibilities.

Combining ways of looking and drawing, students then begin to deconstruct three-dimensional spaces and objects into three-dimensional orthographic projections. Plans, sections and elevation drawings are fundamental tools for an architect. In order to learn to apply these skills students survey, draft and design a place or device related to a small design brief.

As we navigate students through these design steps, they begin to engage in a valuable design process, a messy and exciting way of building up design intention and challenging it through collaboration in studio – much like working in practice.

In recent years students have visited the nearby museum, The Box, and received a talk about curating and exhibiting their work, skills to be applied to their own presentation of work from the first few weeks of studying architecture.