BA (Honours) Architecture: Spaces & Objects explores design for the human environment through the buildings and spaces that we inhabit, and the objects that we employ within those spaces. Through a consideration of the interaction between built form and material culture we develop a greater understanding of the role that architects and designers can play in the broader contexts of contemporary society.

Architecture plays a unique role in expressing a society's values. Our buildings and spaces, whether in the urban or rural environment, indicate our priorities and aspirations. But architecture is not alone in achieving this. The spaces and objects that are within and around buildings also inform and transform our understanding and use of buildings and cities. The interrelation of the architecture, spaces and objects forms our human environment.The practice of architecture has always been collaborative. However, the modern practitioner is increasingly called upon to both design and to facilitate the integration of a broad range of other practices - from the arts to engineering. In order to successfully bring these (sometimes) divergent practices into a coherent and viable design proposition, the architect must be able to understand the practices of others while also communicating the nature of their own practice. Building, space, light (both natural and artificial), functional and expressive objects and media, all combine to create the everyday world that we inhabit.

As we live in an increasingly connected world, as designers we must develop the ability to understand and integrate different agendas in order to offer design solutions that are responsive to local as well as global influences. The methods and materials that we use to construct and maintain our built environment become critical in reflecting and questioning the impact that we have upon the natural environment.

Sustainability is of primary importance throughout the course. This includes all aspects of how our work as designers and architects effects the natural environment, but also brings to bear consideration of social, economic and community sustainability. Through the consideration of all of these, sometimes conflicting, forces we aim to develop solutions which engage in the ways in which design changes lives.

The course enables students to adopt a critical perspective on the architectural design of our human environment in all its aspects; to understand how it came to be and how we might lead its evolution in the future.