FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN AND PLANNING

DAAE2002: ARCHITECTURE, PLACE AND SOCIETY

Semester 1, 2015 | 6 Credit Points | Mode: Normal-Day
Sessions Valid: Semester 1
Coordinator(s): Simon Weir

WARNING: This unit version is currently being edited and is subject to change!
1. INTRODUCTION
This unit aims to investigate the relationship between architecture, place and society and to explore the meaning
of cultural and social sustainability in architectural design. The unit assumes that designers will increasingly
work in places where cultures are unfamiliar at home or in a global context, and that an ability to understand,
and interpret, diverse cultures, and the way design occurs in diverse locations, is an important area of knowledge
for designers. A key aspect of social sustainability is the practice of social responsibility, and the unit explores
how this may occur, including involving people in the design process. On completion of this unit students will be
able to demonstrate: an ability to better understand the connections between architecture place and society, and
the social, cultural, political and economic factors affecting sustainable environments; skills and knowledge in
participatory processes necessary for effective communication about environmental design issues; increased
critical awareness about social responsibility in relation to the practice of architecture and the design of the
built environment, and an ability to exercise this awareness. This unit will provide architecture students with
knowledge of the relationship between culture and architecture, as well as practical knowledge of the social
aspects of design practice. It is intended that students from other disciplines will develop a critical awareness of
the built environment as a form of cultural production, and the possibilities for their participation in its
production.

2. LEARNING OUTCOMES
Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. See assessment
summary table below for details of which outcomes are assessed where. Outcomes are listed according to the
course goals that they support.
Information, literacy, learning and research skills
1. Reading, writing and critical thinking skills (Assessed in Class participation and presentation, Research
proposal, Essay )
2. Ability to develop a research proposal (Assessed in Research proposal )
3. Ability to carry out field research project. (Assessed in Research proposal, Research project )
Theoretical, social and/or historic engagement
4. Explorations of the social responsibilities of designers through current and past examples (Assessed in
Class participation and presentation, Research proposal, Research project )
Professionalism: Social and environmental ethics (Level 2)
5. Understanding of social and environmental sustainability, and engagement with users of the built
environment. (Assessed in Class participation and presentation, Research proposal, Essay, Research project
)
For further details of course goals related to these learning outcomes, see online unit outline at
http://cusp.eng.usyd.edu.au/students/view-unit-page/alpha/DAAE2002 .

3. ASSESSMENT TASKS
ASSESSMENT SUMMARY
Assessment name
Class participation and presentation
Research proposal
Essay
Research project

Team-based?
Yes
No
No
Yes

Weight
15%
15%
25%
45%

Due
Multiple Weeks
Week 7
Week 13
Post-Semester

Outcomes Assessed
1, 4, 5
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
1, 5
3, 4, 5

ASSESSMENT DESCRIPTION
Graphic and Written Pressentation on Research (40%); Final Research Essay (60%)

ASSESSMENT GRADING
Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for
Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment
Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies .
Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the
unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.

4. ATTRIBUTES DEVELOPED
Attributes listed here represent the course goals designated for this unit. The list below describes how these

DAAE2002: Architecture, Place and Society (Semester 1, 2015)

attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment sections above for
details of how these attributes are assessed.
Attribute

Method

Information, literacy, learning and

research skills

Students will research the relationship between architecture and

society through reading,writing and field research.

Theoretical, social and/or historic

engagement

Social engagement with different cultures in design practice and

theory.

Professionalism: Social and

environmental ethics (Level 2)

Explore and make critical judgements about design and social

sustainability.

For further details of course goals and professional attribute standards, see the online version of this outline at
http://cusp.eng.usyd.edu.au/students/view-unit-page/alpha/DAAE2002 .

5. STUDY COMMITMENT
Lectures: Lecture and tutorial contact, plus self-directed preparation and assignments, for a minimum total
student commitment averaging 9 hours per week.
Practical Work:

Activity
Lecture
Tutorial
Class Presentation of Research and Documentation

Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester

2.00
13
1.00
13
6.00
2

Standard unit of study workload at this university should be from 1.5 to 2 hours per credit point which means 912 hours for a normal 6 credit point unit of study. For units that are based on research or practical experience,
hours may vary. For lecture and tutorial timetable, see University timetable site at:
web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

6. TEACHING STAFF AND CONTACT DETAILS

COORDINATOR(S)
Name
Dr Weir, Simon

Room

Phone

Email
simon.weir@sydney.edu.au

Contact note

7. RESOURCES
RECOMMENDED REFERENCES
Collected reading, Architecture Place and Society Readings 2010.

8. ENROLMENT REQUIREMENTS
ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE
None.

PREREQUISITES
None.

PROHIBITIONS
DESA2211.

9. LEARNING & TEACHING POLICIES

www.arch.usyd.edu.au/CS/forms.shtml

10. WEEKLY SCHEDULE

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar
https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp
Week

Topics/Activities

Week 1

Lecture: Overview of course

Week 2

Lecture: Networks, Processes and Boundaries

Week 3

Lecture/Tutorial: Cultural Topologies

Week 4

Lecture/Tutorial: The Lure of the Placeless

DAAE2002: Architecture, Place and Society (Semester 1, 2015)

Week 5

Other: No Class

Week 6

Lecture/Tutorial: Guest Lecture TBA

Week 7

Lecture/Tutorial: Guest Lecture TBA

Assessment Due: Research proposal

Week 8

Lecture/Tutorial: Translocalities and Ethnoscapes

Week 9

Lecture/Tutorial: The Subjects of Time

Week 10

Lecture/Tutorial: Publics and Poetics

Week 11

Lecture/Tutorial: Migrations

Week 12

Other: Independent Research and Assignment Preparation

Week 13

Assessment Due: Final Class Presentations

Other:
Assessment Due: Essay

Post-Semester

Assessment Due: All day presentations

Assessment Due: Research project

DAAE2002: Architecture, Place and Society (Semester 1, 2015)