Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2026 (23/02/2026 - 20/06/2026)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 4
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Architecture, Design and Planning School
Students in this course design architecture that is shaped by landscape and in turn, shapes landscapes. The idealisation of wilderness, agrarian and (post) industrial landscapes through historical concepts such as the picturesque, as well as contemporary ideas about nature as a casualty of human activity, are the conceptual backdrop for interrogating the relationship between buildings and their environments. Design research in this course includes extensive fieldwork that may include the use of GIS and unmanned aerial vehicles, documentation of natural processes and systems, and reference to other genres in which landscapes and nature are portrayed. Students explore active and temporal relationships between architecture and its environment and develop proposals that engage a wide range of scales.
ARCH7005 is an Advanced Architectural Design course in which students respond creatively and architecturally to a specific scenario involving future social, cultural and/or environmental challenges. Students will build skills of independent critical thinking and test intellectual ideas through an architectural or planning proposal. In addition to extending competence in previously acquired architectural knowledge and skills,ﾠARCH7005 provides an introduction to architectural research and design projects situated in a distinctive landscape. Students will be divided into studio units of 36 students or less. Each studio will be directed by a Studio Principal and supported by an Assistant.ﾠStudio Principals will set their projects to achieve learning objectives within common assessment criteria.ﾠARCH7005 also develops knowledge of architectural design research; analysis of technical and theoretical options; integration of design strategies into an effective whole; communication in a professional context; critical self-reflection and experimentation; and how the engagement of ideas in architectural design works as a process through exploration of, or reflection on, a specific architectural theme. Knowledge acquired in this exploration or reflection is applied to the design of a complex architectural project.
ARCH 7005 Semester 1, 2026
Backgrounded by our recurrent discussions on the aftermath of Climate Change and the Anthropocene, this Urban-Landscape Studio engages with the contested ecological futures of Asian cities. How would new and additive urbanities envisage ‘comfort and liveability’ within such this challenging scenario? What would be the spatial changes imperative to the city fabric and its urban landscape? How could available resources be conserved, and new resources identified? Our efforts will tackle these multiple questions through a paradigmatic shift of interconnected experimentations within the tabula rasa of India’s modern city of Chandigarh. Located at the transition between the Himalayan foothills and the Gangetic plains, the alluvial tracts that pre-dated Chandigarh’s development between 1951-66 were star architect Le Corbusier’s inspiration for an unprecedented ‘ecological urbanism’ – a modern city in harmony with its natural landscape. Our efforts will recover this harmony via selective interventions within the city plan, through singular and ensemble adjustments, scales of urban spaces, and elements of infrastructure.
Course requirements
Assumed background
A Bachelor of Architectural Design, or equivalent, with either a GPA of 4.5 or above; or a GPA of 4.0 with 6 months post graduate full-time experience to the satisfaction of the Executive Dean.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
Admission to the MArch and MUrbDevDes .
Restrictions
MArch and MurbDevDes students only. Study Abroad students must seek Head of School permission to enrol.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Tutor
Mr Jonus Darr
Ms Sarada Thotapally
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to extend students' ability to formulate and implement design strategies within the constraints,ﾠopportunities and interactions of natural and human-affected landscapes.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Critically analyse landscape to inform architectural design through individual and/or collaborative analysis and propositions.
LO2.
Deploy a reflexive and research-driven design process.
LO3.
Integrate architectural technology, practice and discourse in the design of an architectural project.
LO4.
Communicate the experiential qualities and detailed resolution of an architectural proposal across a range of scales and at exhibition standard.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation, Project |
Project 1: Research & Analysis
|
40% Individual |
Submission 1/04/2026 4:00 pm Review in Class 2/04/2026 9:00 am |
| Presentation, Project |
Final Design Project
|
60% Group and Individual |
Submission 27/05/2026 4:00 pm Critique in Class 28/05/2026 10:00 am |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Project 1: Research & Analysis
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Presentation, Project
- Weight
- 40% Individual
- Due date
Submission 1/04/2026 4:00 pm
Review in Class 2/04/2026 9:00 am
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Assessment Rationale:
The task requires research and analysis of the Action Area as directed towards a schematic response to the brief. The submission will be in the form of an A3 report with necessary drawings that identify:
- Action Area history and its multiple layers
- Preliminary landscape assessment of the Action Area
- Significance of the Action Area within the Urban Plan
- Relevant survey of existing infrastructures within the Action Area
- A Tentative Design Brief correlated to your interpretation and contribution
- Schematic Masterplan and Sectional options
Complex / authentic assessment using AI and/or MT to support learning:
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
The School of Architecture, Design and Planning uses Blackboard and Turnitin for assessment submission. Turnitin is accessed through the course Blackboard site. Turnitin also checks for plagiarism or instances where the original work of others is not appropriately acknowledged. Uploaded files must contain readable text and not be rasterised. Students are advised to commence assignment uploads with sufficient amount of time (consider possible technical problems with computers, internet speed, etc). After successfully submitting an assignment through Turnitin, a ‘Submission Complete!’ screen will be displayed. It is the student’s responsibility to check assignment preview and confirm successful submission. If the ‘Submission Complete!’ screen isn’t displayed, the student should regard the submission as unsuccessful. Students should download a copy of the digital receipt as proof they have submitted the assignment. Students who are experiencing upload issues must advise the Course Coordinator immediately by email and should include screenshots and a copy of the assessment for submission. To meet professional accreditation, public engagement and quality assurance obligations, digital copies of all course assessment items must be submitted in addition to any hard copy submission requirements specified in individual Course / Studio Outlines. Any physical models should be photographed and a minimum of two photographs describing the complete and full model must be included in the digital submission.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Discretionary extensions are not available for this task.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
If a student wishes to apply for an extension, they must apply online on or before the assignment due date. When possible, it is suggested that requests are submitted 2 business days prior to the submission due date for the assignment to allow processing time. Students with outstanding applications for extensions are advised to submit their assessment by the original due date, irrespective of whether the work is complete, so that what has been done can be graded.
No Discretionary Extension will be available for the presentation or associated component of this assessment (e.g. Presentation Slides submitted the day before).
Critique panels cannot be reconvened for the presentation component of assessment when an extension has been approved. Students with granted extensions (or pending extension applications) are able to attend but are not permitted to participate in the design review.
Late submission
The late penalty for this assessment item will be calculated as follows:
1st hour block - initial 1 hour grace period no penalty.
2nd hour to 8th hour block - 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item (or 1 grade) will be deducted per hour up to a maximum of 70%
Any submissions received after eight hours will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved.
Each one-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
The stated late penalty applies. This is to allow the presentation to proceed as scheduled and is consistent with professional and industry expectations. This has been approved by the Associate Dean (Academic).
Final Design Project
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Presentation, Project
- Weight
- 60% Group and Individual
- Due date
Submission 27/05/2026 4:00 pm
Critique in Class 28/05/2026 10:00 am
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
Assessment Rationale:
The Final Design Submission will present individually developed design proposals aligning with a collaboratively-developed Team/Group-based Master Plan. These deliverables will respond to the research developed throughout the semester and design questions elicited in these analyses. Work will be presented on a range of scales incorporating charting, mapping, and planning the detailed design of landscape and built interventions pertaining to the Action Area.
This Final Design Project is collaborative group-based and an individual project. A group peer assessment will be completed by all team members to assess individual contribution towards the group component.
Complex / authentic assessment using AI and/or MT to support learning: This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools. If, for whatever reason, you find that your group is not functioning effectively, please contact your Course Coordinator for support.
Hurdle requirements
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied to receive a specific grade in the course. This assessment item is designated as a Hurdle in this course. This means a minimum achievement of 50% (a grade of 4) is required for this assessment item in order to pass the course. Meeting the hurdle requirement for a course does not guarantee a passing grade for the course and in order to pass this course, students also need to achieve a minimum grade of 4 overall.Submission guidelines
The School of Architecture, Design and Planning uses Blackboard and Turnitin for assessment submission. Turnitin is accessed through the course Blackboard site. Turnitin also checks for plagiarism or instances where the original work of others is not appropriately acknowledged. Uploaded files must contain readable text and not be rasterised. Students are advised to commence assignment uploads with sufficient amount of time (consider possible technical problems with computers, internet speed, etc). After successfully submitting an assignment through Turnitin, a ‘Submission Complete!’ screen will be displayed. It is the student’s responsibility to check assignment preview and confirm successful submission. If the ‘Submission Complete!’ screen isn’t displayed, the student should regard the submission as unsuccessful. Students should download a copy of the digital receipt as proof they have submitted the assignment. Students who are experiencing upload issues must advise the Course Coordinator immediately by email and should include screenshots and a copy of the assessment for submission. To meet professional accreditation, public engagement and quality assurance obligations, digital copies of all course assessment items must be submitted in addition to any hard copy submission requirements specified in individual Course / Studio Outlines. Any physical models should be photographed and a minimum of two photographs describing the complete and full model must be included in the digital submission.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Discretionary extensions are not available for this task.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
If a student wishes to apply for an extension, they must apply online on or before the assignment due date. When possible, it is suggested that requests are submitted 2 business days prior to the submission due date for the assignment to allow processing time. Students with outstanding applications for extensions are advised to submit their assessment by the original due date, irrespective of whether the work is complete, so that what has been done can be graded.
No Discretionary Extension will be available for the presentation or associated component of this assessment (e.g. Presentation Slides submitted the day before).
Extensions for oral groupwork are typically not available as this impacts on all members of the team.
If one student has an extension then this student will receive the same mark as their other group members. If 50% of group members do not agree, the extension will not be approved and the student will be required to undertake alternative assessment. Group requests must fill out the group member acknowledgement form: https://my.uq.edu.au/files/35533/extension-to-group-assessment.pdf with at least 50% in agreeance.
Late submission
The late penalty for this assessment item will be calculated as follows:
1st hour block - initial 1 hour grace period no penalty.
2nd hour to 8th hour block - 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item (or 1 grade) will be deducted per hour up to a maximum of 70%
Any submissions received after eight hours will not receive any marks unless an extension has been approved.
Each one-hour block is recorded from the time the submission is due.
The stated late penalty applies. This is to allow the presentation to proceed as scheduled and is consistent with professional and industry expectations. This has been approved by the Associate Dean (Academic).
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 24 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 25 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Identity verified assessment with a hurdle (IVAH)
Studio Courses require the cumulative integration of critical reflection and feedback on original creative ideas in an iterative process of project work developed over time in the studio context. To meet assessment validity and integrity obligations, this course includes at least one piece of individual Identity Verified Assessment with a Hurdle (IVAH) that is unambiguously completed by that student, and in which a minimum level of achievement is reached. IVAH assessment item(s) contribute at least 30% towards the final grade. Examples of IVAH items include any activity in which a student’s individual performance is directly monitored, such as performances, fieldwork, oral assessment (including design critiques), design studio project work and invigilated exams. In order to pass this course students must achieve a minimum grade for the IVAH designated assessment item(s) as stated in the Assessment Task Description in the ECP.
Students are expected to participate in at least 80% of scheduled studio activities in which the progress of their work is intended to be monitored and reviewed. If participation in such activities falls below 80% students may be requested to submit process work (such as drawings, models and design exegesis). If a student is not able to provide evidence of authorship to the satisfaction of the course coordinator, or if their participation falls below 50%, a maximum grade of 3 will be awarded.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is not available for this course.
Supplementary assessment will not be offered in Architectural Design courses to any student with a failing grade of 3 or less. Due to the need for the cumulative integration of critical reflection and feedback on original creative ideas in an iterative process of project work development over time.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Studio |
Studio Studio information in Blackboard Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
- AI for Assessment Guide
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
Course guidelines
Assessment task prohibiting use of AI or MT: The assessment tasks for this course evaluate students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.