Students visit prestigious local architectural practice

Through observing the progression of the students’ designs over the course of their first semester, Wayne Reakes of Adam Architecture selected the projects displaying the most innovative and stimulating proposals. The architectural teaching team commended the students selected for this visit on their application to their studies, highlighting their dedication to producing creative and original designs.

“The quality of the projects produced by this year’s Level 4 (Year 1) cohort is of a very high-level” said Matt Swan, the Level 4 Leader and Module Tutor. “Through ongoing discussions in the studio and receiving of feedback both from lecturers, peers and visiting industry professionals, the students have pushed each other to develop impressive designs that are aesthetically striking but importantly are also highly purposeful, responding to the nature of the site and parameters that have been presented to them.”

Developed in collaboration with Adam Architecture, the project brief outlines the design requirements for a contemporary, high-end single-family dwelling located in the heart of Southampton. The objective is to create a sustainable, functional, and aesthetically striking residence that complements the urban surroundings while providing a comfortable and modern living environment.

“The quality of work undertaken by students in only their first semester has been exceptional this year, combining both excellence in architectural design and visualisation, with considered site analysis and construction principles / technology” said Wayne Reakes, Chief Operating Officer of Adam Architecture. “A small group of 7 students were invited to spend a day at Adam Architecture’s office in Winchester to gain more of an insight into the profession and benefitted from seeing first-hand how their housing project would run end-to-end in practice. They also visited a house on site under construction and were able to observe first-hand the typical construction principles and details they have been learning about and detailing at university.”

The visit to the offices of Adam Architecture in Winchester presented the invited students with the opportunity to discuss the process of one of their prestigious projects from inception to completion, explore how the practice implements BIM modelling and how this is reflected in their drawing packs. Alongside this they had an extensive tour of the offices and met some of the specialist departments. Additionally, they had the invaluable experience of a visit to one of the practices live construction sites, allowing them to experience the real-world application of what they have been studying in their studio sessions at the university.

Of their visit, one of the students said: “I found the visit highly valuable in understanding how the concepts we learn at university are directly applicable in practice. It was also fascinating to observe the progression of a project, from drawing packs and renderings to an on-site visit.”

The achievements of these students highlight the impact the practice-based approach to learning implemented by the teaching team is having on the architecture students. This, alongside the utilisation of live briefs across many modules on the course, equips the students with not only theoretical understanding, but also real-life skills and knowledge required when they venture into the industry, giving them a head start right from the beginning of their careers.

For more information about Southampton Solent University’s Architecture and Technology courses, visit their website.