Birmingham City University – Malaysian Institute of Art BA(Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

20th Century Architecture and Design ARC4027

Teaching Staff: William Chew

Ministry of Culture (Singapore), Architects Team 3, 1961-1965

Module Introduction
This module engages with the key design ideologies of the 20th Century. The History of
Western Architecture has an on-going complex relationship with Modernism. Despite having
moved beyond Modernism and post-modernism at the beginning of the 21st Century, the
designed environment; buildings, furniture, interiors and the public realm still holds traces of
and responds to elements of the Modernist ideologies. This module will enable you to
engage with design precedents from the 20th Century through a series of lectures and
seminars. You will learn about their history and the social, political and cultural context that
gave rise to specific design movements within this period.

Submission Date
December 2023
Feedback date – February 2024
Submission Details
This module requires you to engage with design precedents from the 20th Century. You are
required to digest and explore the social, political, and cultural context that gave rise to
specific design movements within this period. You will be required to investigate and analyse
Interior Design case studies, as well as appreciating the wider context of 20th Century
design evolution within the built environment.

Output 1:
An illustrated portfolio (with images and your own drawings) submitted as an A4 PDF file:

Assignment 1: Digital Diary

- a short summary 100-word (+/- 10%) of each week’s lecture
- completion of weekly workshops and guided exercises

Assignment 2: Case Study Analysis

Your 1000 word (+/- 10%) 20th century design movement and case study
analysis should include:
- An introduction to your chosen design movement
- An analysis of the internal environment within the context of your chosen 20th
century movement
- A summary of the designer from your case study
- A conclusion
- A study model that supports your main observation or critique

* PDF submission will be through Microsoft Teams, max. combined file size 20mb

Output 2:
A word document containing all text and references but no images for a plagiarism check,
including checks for any AI written content.

City Walks
A series of visits will be held in the first half of the semester, most of which are within the city.
These visits will then form the sites that you may choose for your case study analysis. Below
are some of the places that we will visit, but it is subject to change:

Kuala Lumpur
Rex KL Stadium Merdeka KL Railway station
Maybank Lobby Stadium Negara TAR Memorial
Badan Warisan Masjid Negara Muzium Negara
Flaah Four Points The Row KL Transparent coffee
SSS TAR Memorial VCR Ritchie
D6 Sentul KLPAC Plaza Ampang City
Petaling Jaya
TTDI market PJ Trade Centre PAM Building
Klang Valley
Cyberjaya Mosque KLIA Licky Chan SS15
Wangsa Ukay Wooi Residence Subang Parade/Guthrie Pavilion
Other states
Plan B Ipoh NS State Mosque Sekeping Serendah
Assignment 1: Digital Diary
This is a collated, formatted and illustrated documentation (of your own learning) that should
include:
- a short summary 100-word (+/- 10%) of each week’s lecture
- completion of weekly workshops and guided exercises

You should demonstrate a range of research methods, critical analysis, debate and
reflection, supported by good quality relevant images and your own sketch drawings. Layout
and presentation should also be considered.

Harvard referencing should be used when necessary.

Please note that there are variations in the format and expectations of each exercise, and
you will decide how best to present these in your summary document, considering graphics
and aesthetic impact of the pages.

Design Movements to choose from:

Kenneth Frampton – Critical Regionalism

Le Corbusier – 5 Points Towards a New Architecture

CIAM – Athens Charter

Team X – Doorn Manifesto

Alison & Peter Smithson - Brutalism

Ken Yeang, Tay Kheng Soon, Lai Chee Kien, Maxwell Fry - Tropical Modernism

Kisho Kurokawa – Metabolism

Rogers Piano - Hi-Tech

Assignment 2: Case Study Analysis
For this assignment, you will choose one interior space from the field trip to make a case
study analysis. You will analyse the interior space through the lens of a 20th century design
movement of your choice. Pay close attention to the designed elements within the interior
spaces such as the use of light, circulation, colour, atmosphere, materials, and detail design
etc. You should also reflect upon the designer themselves, their design philosophy and
development processes.

Your 1000 word (+/- 10%) 20th century design movement and case study analysis
should include:
 An introduction to your chosen design movement
 An analysis of the internal environment within the context of your chosen 20th
century movement
 A summary of the designer from your case study
 A conclusion
 A study model that supports your main observation or critique

Students’ work, Interior model of Adolf Loos’ Villa Muller

Whilst a certain amount of description is necessary to set the context for your analysis, the
main characteristic of your case study is its criticality; supported by reliable evidence from a
range of research methods that are correctly referenced within the main text and
bibliography. The submission should be supported by appropriate quotes, citations, images,
and your own drawings.

BCU Harvard referencing should be used when necessary.

Marking Criteria
Learning Outcome
1. Carry out independent structured research into aspects of the designed and non-designed
enviornment.
2. Understand the meaning and value of key words and ideas in the history of design,
architecture, landscape architecture or interior and urban design.
3. Recognise and begin to use the representational and written terminology of design.
4. Correct use of appropriate academic conventions of research, literature review, structure,
referencing, bibliography.

Assessment Criteria 1 (Weighting 35%): Evidence of independent, structured research to support the analysis of
a selected case study.

0-29% The submission makes no reference to resource material.

30-39% The submission makes reference to irrelevant or unreliable resource material.

40-49% The submission makes limited use of the core text but relies almost exclusively on a single source
material. Case study analysis is limited to the formal qualities of the space.

50-59% The submission makes use of the core text, and supplements this with other compatible source
material which is relevant to case study analysis. Case study analysis is limited to the formal
qualities of the space.

60-69% The submission makes use of the core text, and supplements this with other compatible source
material which is relevant to case study analysis. Case study analysis identifies the formal qualities
of the spaces as well as at least one designed element.

70-79% The submission makes use of the core text, and supplements this with other compatible source
material which is relevant to case study analysis. Case study analysis identifies the formal qualities
of the spaces as well as at least one designed element and compares this to other case study
examples.

80- The submission undertakes original research which adds depth, identifying several key contextual
100% elements or ideological opinions and connecting them to the case study analysis. Case study
analysis identifies the formal qualities of the spaces as well as at least one designed element and
compares this to other case study examples.

Assessment Criteria 2 (Weighting 35%): Fabrication of relevant illustrative and written content that represents
clear understanding and perception of the history of design during the 20th Century provided in weekly lectures,
workshops and exercises.

0-29% Untenable understanding of 20th century design with minimal presentation of knowledge.

30-39% Erroneous understanding of 20th century design with preliminary presentation of knowledge.

40-49% Superficial understanding of 20th century design with unstructured presentation of knowledge.

50-59% Broad understanding of 20th century design with evidence of creative presentation of knowledge.

60-69% Comprehensible understanding of 20th century design with consistent evidence of holistic and
creative presentation of knowledge.

70-79% Excellent understanding of 20th century design with synthesized evidence of holistic and creative
presentation of knowledge. Evidence of expansion beyond the guided sessions and lectures.

80- Extensive understanding of 20th century design with extensive evidence of holistic and creative
100% presentation of knowledge. Evidence of expansion beyond the guided sessions, lectures and
discipline.
Assessment Criteria 3 (Weighting 20%): Demonstrate use of appropriate formatting and written terminology of
design to promote effective comprehension of research and analysis.

0-29% The proposal is incomplete, or the documentation is unreadable.

30-39% Lack of defined structure, rambling language, repeated simple errors. Use of poor-quality resolution images.

40-49% Simple understandable structure. Clear use of simple English, with numerous spelling and grammar mistakes.

50-59% Clear written structure, basic formatting of images and text, simple clear English, with few mistakes.

60-69% Clear structure. Use of clear English including relevant technical language, with few mistakes. Overall content is enhanced by
choice of layout and quality of images combined with text.

70-79% Structure aids comprehension of analysis as it develops. Flowing use of clear English including relevant technical language, with
few mistakes. Innovative ways of combining images, own drawings, and text to promote argument.

80- Structure aids comprehension of a complex analysis as it develops. Language is used as an expressive tool. Innovative use of
format to build compelling argument, exploring drawing and research techniques combined with research.
100%

Assessment Criteria 4 (Weighting 10%): Correct use of academic referencing: Referencing of quotes and ideas,
bibliography, annotation and referencing of illustrations.

0-29% No attempt at academic referencing.

30-39% Elements missing, and inconsistences in referencing method.

40-49% BCU Harvard academic elements present with inconsistencies, omissions, and errors throughout.

50-59% BCU Harvard academic elements present with omissions and errors throughout.

60-69% BCU Harvard academic elements present with few omissions and errors.

70-79% BCU Harvard academic elements present with no omissions and very few errors.

80- BCU Harvard academic elements present with no omissions or errors.

100%

Referencing information Bibliography and In-Text Citation:

Please remember to refer to the information on the module brief regarding plagiarism and
reference using the Birmingham City University Harvard Referencing style. It is unacceptable
to simply ‘copy and paste’ information into your work. Please remember that you need to use
good, reliable sources. This means being sure that you can trust where your information
comes from and know who the author is.

Generalist websites, blogs, unreferenced You Tube videos etc. are not typically considered
reliable sources that we want to see referenced in academic work. You must reference both
images and text.

Opportunities for Formative Assessment and Progress Appraisal

Feedback is an ongoing dialogue. During studio sessions, you will receive verbal and written
feedback, it is your responsibility to document this feedback and synthesise it into your
project development. As your project progresses, you will be required to balance potentially
conflicting design advice, from various sources, relevant to your design objectives.

Formative Pin-Up presentations will occur regularly and will provide an indication of progress
at specific milestones relative to the module assignment. Feedback will include peer-review.
Plagiarism Statement & Assessment Submission
Requirements
1. Work must be submitted by 10pm on the due date. Work submitted late
may be subject to penalties, which are set out in the Academic
Regulations. - 4th Edition.

2. If you think you might struggle to meet your assessment deadline you should
read the University’s procedure for Extenuating Circumstances. For more
information, please contact the BSoAD Administrators - to arrange to speak
with a Student Success Adviser.

3. The University expects you to use the BCU Harvard Referencing system.
Create a comprehensive reference list that includes all of the following:
Images/Data/Figures/Bibliography/Academic Papers/Journals/Other Sources
– in alphabetical order.

4. To avoid an allegation of Academic Misconduct (meaning any behaviour which

is likely to give you an unfair advantage in an assessment), you must ensure that
any work that is produced by someone else, is referenced properly and cited
within your own work. If copying material or concepts (from any source such as
websites, books or journals), in any medium (for example, design work, written
work, video, sound recording and so on) you must acknowledge the original
creator of that work or concept. This means that you also have to reference any
work that you have previously produced.

5. Failing to reference the work of others, copying work from sources such as
essay banks or asking someone else to write an assessment for you may
constitute ‘Plagiarism’. This is an offence that the University takes very
seriously and will result in disciplinary action. For more information see: The
University’s ‘Student Disciplinary Procedure’.