If you had told me a year ago that my week would involve walking along the walls and cobbled streets of York. I’m not sure I would have believed you. Yet here I am, halfway through my first year at the York School of Architecture (YSA), and that’s just a standard week.
Studying at the University of York isn’t just about the fundamentals of architecture; it’s about showcasing the features of a city that is essentially a living museum. Being part of the very first undergraduate cohort at YSA is a rewarding milestone as we’re helping to emphasise the school’s morals in architectural education, but also to highlight our work across the university.
Why YSA?
What sets the York School of Architecture apart is its holistic approach to architectural design. As future architects, we learn to consider key features of a site’s heritage as well as the future implications our designs. The exposure to lecturers and practising architects is unparalleled. Throughout your time in the design studio, you build connections with each tutor, guest lecturer and organisation. You expand your social network to better your future prospects in the industry.
Whether we’re in a workshop making models, or at an evening lecture, we continue to develop multidisciplinary skills that enable us to present our ideas to different audiences, making our designs more universal.
Studio life
As architecture students, we are told to see the studio space as a second home. In some ways, it does feel like this, as we spend most of our day in the studio and some even stay late into evening!
The course allows us to use both technical precision and our own creativity to design buildings and structures which may address problems faced in society today (e.g. carbon-conscious construction). The first semester helped us engage the world around us like architects, rather than A-Level students. Furthermore, there’s a lot of emphasis on sustainability and heritage. Since we’re in York, we spend a lot of time analysing how we can harmonise new structures with the weight of York’s identity.
Our lecturers act as tutors in the studio who aid us to see the potential of our designs- shaping our understanding of the essentials to being successful in practice.
Beyond the studio
One of the highlights of studying at YSA is the direct link to industry. Aside from lectures in the Piazza Building, we often go on site visits to various locations. These ranged from projects focused on cultural landmarks such as The Retreat to larger-scale projects like York Central, where we learned about the role of the wider construction industry. One of the key differences in our seminars compared to those from other courses is that we engage in discussions and debates with architects and professionals from various industries: both locally and globally. Whether it be religious architecture or the use of AI in the built environment, each lecture and seminar covers a diverse range of topics, so you can pursue your own interests.
Further to this, the YSA has collaborated with the York Architectural Association to deliver an evening lecture series. Open to all, they help us understand more about the public’s perspective on local projects, the work of firms and much more. Along with trips and visits (e.g. Yorkshire Sculpture Park), we can understand the importance of a client in each project.
Ultimately, we, as the first cohort, have the opportunity to shape the reputation of the YSA by actively engaging as Course Reps like myself to advocate for our peers. Or, by expanding our network to the wider community, the brand-new Architecture Society invites all students to collaborate and learn to see like an architect.
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