Advanced Architectural Design: Masterclass (ARCH7007)

Course overview

Students in this course engage critically and intensively with the distinctive formal commitments, theoretical position and modus operandi of a leading practitioner or practice or visiting academic. Their example is used as a springboard for advancing new directions in which students can formulate and demonstrate a related but independent position responsive to their own time, place and culture. Studio activities are typically conducted in an intensive mode to enable significant national and international guests to lead the studio and may be held off campus.

ARCH7007 is an Advanced Architectural Design course where students creatively respond to a specific scenario involving future social, cultural and/or environmental challenges. Students will be led by a leading external practitioner or visiting academic, to build skills of independent critical thinking and test intellectual ideas through a designﾠproposal. In addition to extending competence in previously acquired design knowledge and skills, ARCH7007 provides an introduction to research-based design of the built environment in relation to issues in contemporary practice. Students will be divided into studio units of 30 students or less.ﾠEach studio will be directed by a Studio Principal and supported by an Assistant.ﾠStudio Principals will set their own projects to achieve learning objectives within common assessment criteria. ARCH7007 also develops knowledge of 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 design works as a process through exploration of, or reflection on, a specific architectural or urban design theme. Knowledge acquired in this exploration or reflection is applied to the design of a complex project.

Semester 2, 2025 ﾠDesign Studio topic: Towards Inclusive, Intergenerational, and Productive Urban Districts – Designing a Cultural Precinct for Salisbury

This Masters level Architectural Design masterclass studio explores how strategic land use planning and design innovation can transform urban areas where current or proposed land uses are no longer appropriate, sustainable, or aligned with emerging needs. The studio challenges students to rethink how underutilised, overlooked, or partially developed locations—including those with legacy industrial uses, infrastructural remnants, or low-intensity land occupation—can be reimagined to support more resilient, inclusive, and community-driven urban outcomes.

Rather than proposing wholesale redevelopment, students will explore how existing land use can be critically assessed and reimagined to support climate resilience, intergenerational inclusion, health, and productive urbanism. This includes introducing adaptable and socially responsive programmes such as clean industries, hybrid or mixed-use development, community-based facilities, and adaptive reuse. Opportunities for interaction between different demographic groups will also be explored, as will neighbourhood models that support social resilience and inclusive participation. Using site observation studies and data-informed analysis, students will test evidence-based design strategies that address typological innovation, land use change, development feasibility, infrastructure, energy systems, and mobility adopting scenario-based planning approaches.

Studio Theme:

Designing a Cultural Precinct for Salisbury

This studio specifically explores the potential of arts and culture as catalysts for urban regeneration. Focusing on Salisbury, a historically industrial suburb in Brisbane, students will investigate how a cultural precinct can support community identity, economic development, and urban vibrancy. The studio will engage with local stakeholders and urban designers to develop scenario-based design strategies that integrate cultural production, public space, and creative industries. The deliverables will include graphical reports containing comprehensive urban analysis, spatial planning and design recommendations, along with written documentation including a Strategic Urban Design Framework.

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.

Restrictions

MArch students only. Study Abroad students must seek Head of School permission to enrol. Summer Semester offering subject to Permission by Head of School.

Course contact

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Aims and outcomes

This course aims to extend students’ ability to develop imaginative and critical design proposals in response to contemporary issues and practice in the built environment.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

Assessment

Assessment summary

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

Report 1: Urban Analysis and Community Oriented Development Strategies

• Identity Verified

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Product/ Design, Project

Weight

40%

Due date

Digital submission 2/09/2025 4:00 pm

Presentations in class 3/09/2025 9:00 am

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L04

Task description

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.  

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.

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. The maximum extension limit for assessment items in all design studio courses is 14 days.

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: 

First 1-hour block - initial 1 hour grace period no penalty.

Second 1-hour block - An penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item will be deducted

Third 1-hour block - An additional penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item will be deducted. (adding up to a total penalty of 20% of the maximum possible mark)

Any submissions received after three 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. 

Report 2: Urban Design and Implementation Plan

• Hurdle
• Identity Verified

Mode

Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia

Category

Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Product/ Design, Project

Weight

60%

Due date

Digital Submission 28/10/2025 4:00 pm

Presentations in class 29/10/2025 9:00 am

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04

Task description

Hurdle requirements

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.  

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.

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. The maximum extension limit for assessment items in all design studio courses is 14 days.

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: 

First 1-hour block - initial 1 hour grace period no penalty.

Second 1-hour block - An penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item will be deducted

Third 1-hour block - An additional penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark allocated for the assessment item will be deducted. (adding up to a total penalty of 20% of the maximum possible mark)

Any submissions received after three 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. 

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Identity verified assessment (IVA) -ﾠArchitectural Design Courses

Architectural Design 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 in Architectural Design Courses, students must regularly present and discuss their work with staff over the course of scheduled studio learning activities including lectures, structured studio activities, workshops, individual and group consultations, presentations and critiques. 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.

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

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.