BARC0087 Structures Materials & Forming Techniques Coursework 2026 | UCL

BARC0087 Coursework

Building Study “BUILDING STORIES”: An illustrated case study and personal assessment of an existing building

Architecture Coursework Description 

Weighting: The coursework accounts for 100% of the mark for the module.

Format: ‘BUILDING STORIES’: An illustrated case study and personal assessment of an existing building

Students are required to apply their understanding of the content of the lecture series and their own experience to a building case study. They are encouraged to:

• Develop a personalised and richly illustrated document that examines the physical, tactile and tectonic qualities of a selected building;
• Consider the idea that all buildings are prototypes in one form or another
• Use this study creatively: consider how it might inform your final studio design project.
• Refer to the module learning outcomes and address these in appropriate Coursework sessions.

The Buildings Students will choose a building from a list supplied by Module Coordinators.

1.) Cover

2.) Site Context Analysis

3.) History

4.) Vital Statistics

5.) Materials Analysis

6.) Structural Analysis

7.) Construction Process & Impact

8.) Interpretive Model

9.) Conclusion

10.) Bibliography & References

Submission

10no. sheets (minimum) 20no. sheets (maximum) A3 landscape format

1.) Cover (5pts) – Title, student number, date (anonymous submission – no names please). anonymous submission

2.) Site Context Analysis (10pts) – How might the place and site have influenced the designers?

3.) History (10pts) – How might the site’s history have influenced the designers and the building?

4.) Vital Statistics (10pts) – Dimensions, weight, time from concept to completion, cost. Who was involved and what were their roles? Please avoid large page-filling company logos!

5.) Materials Analysis (15pts) – “The Raw and the Cooked” – Out of what and how might the main building elements have been made and assembled? What are the qualities of the materials used?

6.) Structural Analysis (15pts) – What type of structure is your building – a frame, a shell, a tension structure, a compression structure, a hybrid, a beam? Diagrams including load paths, forces, etc. How does the structure deal with vertical and horizontal forces and transfer loads to the ground? Please be graphic!

7.) Construction Process & Impact (10pts) – How might the building have been fabricated and built?

Environmental Statement – This is not an environmental analysis but, overall, is your building an environmentally conscious project? Why yes or no and how might it have been improved or not?

Buiing Statement – How might fire and safety have been considered by the designers regarding the structure and materials employed in your

8.) Interpretive Model (15pts) – Photos and analysis of a 3- D personal response. Make a testable section of your building and play with it by loading it up with measurable weight, observe how the structure responds to loading, and try to determine how the structure works.

9.) Conclusion (10pts) – Conclusive thoughts about the application of structures & materials of your study building?

10.) Bibliography & References – All non- original text and images, including AI- generated, must be noted and/or credited.

Helpful Hints

The document will be richly illustrated with your sketches and drawings, images, photographs, and other visual material you deem to be usefully related in a manner that is inventive and imaginative.

Research documents generally benefit from a combination of attractive graphics, clarity and consistency of organization, conciseness of content, and completeness in dealing with the subject. This applies to the documentation of this Coursework as well. The Coursework may be hand- generated, digitally composed, or a combination thereof.

In any case, the quality of the presentation must be considered as it is important to the assessment. Any stock images used must be credited along with all references.

Project 2 (1).pdf

Each student should submit the following format:

An electronic version of the report via the module Moodle page. This should be in PDF format compiled as a single file incorporating all sheets. The sheets may be composed in a way the student feels is appropriate and best communicates their research and thoughts. Work must be graphically clear, consistently laid out, and self- explanatory.

Documents must be titled, including the student’s student number and course code. ALL reference sources of text and images must be acknowledged. Please keep total file sizes within 10Mb.

The Coursework submission date is: 12pm noon on Thursday 26th February 2026.

Case Study Buildings List

1.) Hungerford Bridge: Isambard Kingdom Brunel/Lifschutz, Davidson, Sandilands

2.) Russell Square Cafe: Knox Bhavan

3.) Esperance Bridge: Moxon Architects

4.) Peckham Library: Alsop & Stormer

5.) Lincolns Inn Fields Cafe: Unknown architect

Coursework & Term 1 & 2 Dates

Term 1

Monday 13 October: Coursework Launch Monday 10 November: Subject Buildings selected Monday 17 November: Subject Building Visits

Term 2

Monday 12 January: Coursework Workshop No.1 (full day) & Draft Submission opens Thursday 22 January: Coursework Draft Submission Monday 26 January: Coursework Workshop No.2 (full day) Monday 3rd February: Coursework Feedback Returns

Coursework Submission: 12pm noon on Thursday 26th February 2026

See Common Timetable for times and locations

Your next step:

Select your buildings ready for Seminar 4 on the 27
th of October.

We will let you know how to submit your selections to us

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