01 — Design & Studio
Move from brief to concept, programme, site response, spatial organization and critique.
- Brief & user needs
- Concept development
- Site analysis
- Spatial planning
- Design rationale
LIVE LEARNING STUDIOArchitecture Professional TrackDesign → Technology → PracticeGlobal + Local Code Literacy
Architecture Knowledge & Professional Practice Track
Use this studio to learn a concept, study a real project, check relevant standards, run a small calculation, document evidence, and produce a structured project review. Start with the learning path, then move through practice, self-check and evidence.
1. Complete Architecture Curriculum
Use the domains as a connected learning path. Each domain links theory to application, evidence and professional review.
02 — Drawing & Layout
Learn how plans, sections, elevations, diagrams and presentation boards communicate a design.
- Plans / sections / elevations
- Human scale
- Graphic hierarchy
- Presentation layout
03 — History & Theory
Study architecture across cultures, periods, materials, belief systems and social conditions.
- Ancient & classical
- Islamic / Asian traditions
- Modernism
- Contemporary practice
04 — Building Technology
Connect materials and construction systems to performance, detailing and constructability.
- Materials
- Envelope
- Construction sequence
- Details
05 — Structures
Understand structural concepts without confusing architectural study tools with engineering approval.
- Loads & paths
- Frames / walls / slabs
- Foundations
- Coordination
06 — Climate & Sustainability
Study orientation, solar response, daylight, ventilation, energy, water and resilience.
- Passive design
- Thermal comfort
- Daylight
- Resource efficiency
07 — Building Services
See how architecture coordinates HVAC, electrical, plumbing, fire/life safety and acoustics.
- MEP coordination
- Fire strategy
- Vertical shafts
- Plant / service zones
08 — CAD, BIM & AI
Build responsible digital workflows for drawings, information management, modelling and research.
- CAD fundamentals
- BIM information management
- 3D modelling
- AI-assisted research
09 — Urban & Landscape
Connect building design with streets, public space, landscape, density and infrastructure.
- Site planning
- Public space
- Landscape systems
- Urban context
10 — Professional Practice
Understand documentation, ethics, procurement, coordination, client communication and evidence.
- Professional responsibility
- Contracts / tendering
- Documentation
- Team coordination
11 — Architecture Research
Turn observation into a research question, evidence set, case study and defensible conclusion.
- Research questions
- Literature review
- Case-study method
- Source evaluation
12 — AI for Architecture
Use AI for ideation, research and workflow support while keeping authorship, verification and professional judgement with the student.
- Prompting
- Research support
- Visualization support
- Verification & attribution
1A. High-Use Architecture Skills — Course Links
Start with the skills most useful across architecture study and early professional workflows: CAD, BIM, 3D modelling, digital design and AI fundamentals. The links below point to established learning providers and official course pages.
CAD
AutoCAD Foundations
Core AutoCAD workflows, drawing creation and foundational exercises.
Start CAD Foundations ↗TECHNICAL DRAWING
Technical Drawing for Design & Drafting
Build practical drafting skills and strengthen architectural drawing workflows.
Open Autodesk Learning ↗BIM
Introduction to BIM for Architectural Design
A structured Revit/architectural BIM course covering modelling, project data and documentation.
Start BIM Course ↗3D MODELING
Advanced 3D Modeling for Architectural Design
Revit-based architectural modelling covering walls, floors, roofs, stairs, site/topography, massing, rooms and materials.
Open 3D Modeling ↗AI FUNDAMENTALS
Google AI Fundamentals
Beginner-level AI foundations, effective instructions and responsible human-in-the-loop use.
Start AI Fundamentals ↗DESIGN COMPUTING
MIT Introduction to Design Computing
Architecture-focused design computing with CAD drawing, 3D modelling, rendering and digital fabrication.
Open MIT OCW ↗Learning sequence: CAD fundamentals → BIM workflow → 3D modelling → design computing → AI fundamentals → responsible AI-assisted architecture research.
2. International Standards & Country Code Navigator
Use these as learning gateways. A global standard or model code does not replace the law adopted by the project jurisdiction. Always identify the applicable country, state/province, city and authority before treating a requirement as project-applicable.
ISO 19650 — BIM information management
Learn how information is organized, exchanged, recorded and managed across the asset lifecycle.
Open ISO 19650-1 ↗ISO 21542 — Accessibility
A global reference for accessibility and usability of the built environment, including access, circulation and egress.
Open ISO 21542:2021 ↗ICC I-Codes / IBC
A major international model-code family covering building safety topics. Treat it as a model-code reference and check local adoption/amendments.
Open ICC I-Codes ↗ · Digital Codes ↗NFPA 101 — Life Safety
Use for study of life-safety concepts, movement of people and fire-related building protection. Verify the edition and local adoption.
Open NFPA 101 ↗LEED — Sustainability
Explore performance-oriented green-building design, construction and operations frameworks.
Open USGBC LEED ↗UN-Habitat — Public Space
Study city-scale public-space strategies, accessibility, connectivity, quality and long-term implementation.
Open UN-Habitat guide ↗United Kingdom — Approved Documents
England's official collection provides guidance on ways to meet Building Regulations, including structure, fire, ventilation, energy and access.
Open GOV.UK Approved Documents ↗Australia — National Construction Code
Australia's primary technical design and construction provisions; study the performance-based approach and state/territory adoption.
Open NCC ↗Canada — National Building Code
Use the federal model-code resource, then verify the applicable provincial or territorial requirements.
Open NBC Canada 2025 ↗India — National Building Code
BIS provides the National Building Code of India 2016 as a national model for building regulation and design requirements.
Open BIS NBC ↗Bangladesh — BNBC 2020
For Bangladesh projects, use the official HBRI BNBC resource and verify the applicable local authority requirements.
Open HBRI BNBC 2020 ↗Jurisdiction check
Before using any code in an assignment, record: country → state/province/division → city/local authority → code edition → amendment date.
Use the project evidence log ↓3. Global Architecture Case-Study Lab
Do not only read the architect's name. Study the brief, context, circulation, material logic, structure, climate response and evidence. Then write what you would change if the project were placed in another context.
Church of the Light / spatial sequence
Study how light, concrete, openings, boundaries and movement are used as architectural drivers. The Pritzker profile also documents Ando's approach to light, wind, water and spatial enclosure.
Study Pritzker profile ↗Aranya Low Cost Housing
Study housing, courtyards, pathways, social space, climate response and affordability. The Pritzker record describes how the project accommodates a large community through a system of houses, courtyards and internal paths.
Study Doshi case ↗Vitra Fire Station — movement, form & structure
Study the 1993 Vitra Fire Station as a specific project: linear concrete planes, circulation, site relationship and the translation of conceptual drawings into built space.
Study Pritzker project record ↗Ningbo History Museum — material memory & context
Study the museum as a specific precedent: context, circulation, monumental massing and the use of recycled materials to connect contemporary construction with regional memory.
Study Pritzker project record ↗ARCHITECTURE FIELD GUIDE · 03
Architecture Case Study Method
Read a precedent like an architect: observe first, document evidence, then turn the observation into a design lesson.
OBSERVEDOCUMENTINTERPRETTRANSFER
Studio rule
Do not copy the project. Identify the decision, the evidence behind it, and how the lesson changes in a new context.
Do not copy the project. Identify the decision, the evidence behind it, and how the lesson changes in a new context.
01
Identify the briefUsers, purpose, programme, constraints and design intent.
02
Map site & contextClimate, orientation, surroundings, access, culture and place.
03
Trace circulationEntry, movement, thresholds, public/private sequence and wayfinding.
04
Mark structure & materialsStructural idea, envelope, material logic, details and construction.
05
Identify environmental strategyDaylight, ventilation, thermal response, water and resource choices.
06
Compare drawings & photosRead plans, sections, elevations, details and built evidence together.
07
Cite the sourceRecord the official, institutional or primary reference used for the observation.
08
Write your design lessonState what you would retain, adapt or reject—and why.
3A. Architecture Case Study Lab
Choose a precedent, record what you observe, identify the evidence source, and turn observation into a design lesson. Your notes stay in this browser until you save or print them.
SAMPLE CASE STUDY
Church of the Light — Tadao Ando
Learning focus: spatial sequence, light, concrete, geometry, circulation and context. The sample uses museum/primary project records so students can inspect drawings and project information rather than relying only on a summary.
No case study saved yet.
4. Design, Plans, Sections & Layout References
These external learning resources let students inspect real architectural drawings, layouts, sections, details and project workflows. Use them as references—not as material to copy into an assignment.
Plans, Sections & Details
Browse a large visual collection of plans, sections and construction details from sustainable projects.
Open drawing gallery ↗Human Scale in Sections
Learn how sections communicate people, furniture, material and spatial experience—not only geometry.
Study sections ↗Architectural Project Stages
Follow a project from preliminary design through schematic/regulatory work to construction documentation.
Study project stages ↗RIBA Design Case Studies
Explore professional case-study thinking and global architectural work through the Royal Institute of British Architects.
Open RIBA resources ↗RIBA Plan of Work
Use the eight-stage project framework to connect briefing, design, construction and use with stage outcomes and information exchanges.
Open RIBA Plan of Work ↗RIBA Student Learning Resources
Use educator resources for sustainability, reuse, climate, design thinking and built-environment learning activities.
Open RIBA learning ↗Pritzker Laureate Archive
Use one archive to compare architects, countries, ideas and project histories across generations.
Explore laureates ↗Global History of Architecture
Study architecture across cultures and time through a structured, educational history syllabus.
Open history syllabus ↗5. History & Old Architecture Explorer
Architecture history becomes more useful when students compare structure, materials, social purpose, climate and spatial organization rather than memorizing styles alone.
Ancient → Classical → Medieval
Compare Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Gothic and other traditions through form, structure, ritual and urban context.
Explore Smarthistory architecture ↗South Asian & Global Traditions
Use a global syllabus to move beyond a single Western timeline and examine architecture across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
Open global syllabus ↗Ancient Cities & Buildings
The Metropolitan Museum's architectural history resources provide object-based studies of ancient buildings, cities and cultural contexts.
Open Met Heilbrunn Timeline ↗Book: Architecture: Form, Space, and Order
Francis D. K. Ching's fifth edition is a major introductory reference for form, space, organization, circulation, proportion and scale.
Open publisher reference ↗Book: Modern Architecture — A Critical History
Kenneth Frampton's fifth edition provides a broad critical history and includes global modern architecture and regional perspectives.
Open publisher reference ↗Research habit
For every historical example, record architect/designer, date, place, client/use, material, structure, climate/context and the source you consulted.
Apply this to your project evidence ↗6. Architecture Study Calculators
These are learning calculators for early-stage study. They do not replace code calculations, structural design, energy modelling or professional approval.
Room / Floor Area
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FAR / FSI Learning Check
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Drawing Scale Converter
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Site Coverage
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Ramp Slope Check
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Architecture Lab · Solution Logic
🧠 Calculation, Verification & Answer
Run any calculator above to generate a transparent worked solution.
Ready
Understand
Choose a calculator and enter valid values.
Why this method?
The method will be stated with the relevant formula.
Calculation
—
Verification
—
Answer
—
Learning calculation only. Verify applicable codes, standards, units, site conditions and professional requirements against authoritative sources before relying on a result.
6A. Smart Measure — Measure a Wall or Space
Use phone camera AR to measure real-world length, height, or area without a reference object. The calibrated photo method below is a fallback only.
AR + PHOTO MEASUREMENT
AR WHEN SUPPORTEDSmart Measure Lab
Use browser AR when your device supports WebXR AR hit-testing. When AR is unavailable, the calibrated-photo method is the recommended fallback. Both are learning tools, not professional surveying.
SMART AR MEASURE
No reference object required
Choose a mode, start AR, move the phone so the centre reticle sits on the first point, then tap the screen. Aim at the second point and tap again. The result is calculated in real-world metres from WebXR/ARCore hit-test coordinates.
Ready. No reference length is required in AR mode.
01 · AR SCANStart AR and scan the real surface slowly.
02 · SET POINTSPlace the centre reticle on each real-world point and tap.
03 · MEASUREGet the real-world metric result from AR coordinates.
04 · RECORDUse the result for study and verify on site.
Easy photo method — 3 steps
Put a known-size object flat on the same wall/floor plane as the part you want to measure. For the easiest setup, use an A4 sheet.
1 · Reference2 · Length3 · Height
First choose a reference, then tap its two ends on the photo.
Your photo will appear here. For best results, keep the reference object and wall surface close to the same plane.
Reference—
Wall / space length—
Wall / space height—
Estimated area—
Accuracy note: this is a calibrated photo-learning tool, not LiDAR, surveying or professional measurement. Perspective, lens distortion and a reference object that is not in the same plane can materially affect the result. For construction, structural, accessibility, legal or professional work, verify dimensions with appropriate site measurement equipment.
7A. Architecture Practice Studio & Visual Design Lab
Use the same learning loop as the Mathematics Lab: understand the problem, apply a method, verify the result, and record the design decision. These tools are educational and do not replace professional design review.
Practice Tutor
📐 Worked Architecture Problems
Practice logic
Select a problem and enter the requested values.
Design Reasoning
🧩 Design Decision Matrix
Record a design decision with evidence, constraint and verification source.
Visual Design Lab
🖼️ Scale & Proportion Visualiser
Enter a real room size and drawing scale to generate a proportional visual reference.
6 m × 4 m at 1:100 → 60 mm × 40 mm on drawing.
7. Architecture Project Review — Assignment & Evidence
Turn the architecture checklist into a documented studio exercise. Enter your project details, tick completed review points, add evidence notes, and generate a clean assignment result that can be printed or saved as PDF with one click.
WORKED SAMPLE · READ THIS FIRST
Community Learning Centre — Sample Student Project
This is an illustrative student example showing how a project brief becomes a documented architecture review. Students can use the structure—not the facts—as a model for their own project.
Sample project brief: Design a compact two-storey community learning centre with classrooms, a small library, a multipurpose room, administration, accessible sanitation and a shaded outdoor learning area. The design should respond to site access, climate, daylight, ventilation, life-safety, structure, services, constructability and the applicable regulatory framework. For learning only: project dimensions, code compliance and technical calculations must be independently verified for a real project.
1. Define brief2. Analyse site3. Develop plan4. Coordinate technical systems5. Check standards/code6. Record evidence7. Review8. Print result
Show the worked evidence map
Brief & usersEvidence: room schedule + user/client requirement matrix.
Site & climateEvidence: site photos, sun/wind diagram and orientation study.
Access & circulationEvidence: site access plan + pedestrian/service circulation diagram.
Functional zoningEvidence: bubble diagram + annotated floor plan.
AccessibilityEvidence: accessible route and toilet layout; verify against applicable requirements.
Fire / life safetyEvidence: exit/egress diagram + identified code/authority references.
StructureEvidence: structural grid and preliminary load-path sketch; engineering review remains separate.
Envelope & materialsEvidence: wall/roof section, material schedule and shading detail.
Water & drainageEvidence: roof drainage concept + site drainage/water-management diagram.
Daylight & ventilationEvidence: section, opening strategy and daylight/airflow study.
ServicesEvidence: coordinated MEP/service-zone overlay and shaft locations.
Construction & detailsEvidence: construction sequence + key wall/floor/roof detail references.
CAD / BIMEvidence: drawing index, model views or information-coordination record.
Local codeEvidence: current applicable code/authority source recorded by title and edition.
International referenceEvidence: relevant standard/framework name, edition and official source.
Research & rationaleEvidence: cited precedent, design-decision matrix and short rationale.
Sample status: 24 / 24 review points illustrated16 evidence domains support the 24 review pointsEvidence examples: drawings · calculations · photos · sourcesOutput: printable assignment record
How to use this sample: read the brief → see what evidence is attached to each decision → replace the sample facts with your own project → add your actual drawing/source references → check the applicable code and standards → save and print your own result. This example is not a code-compliance certificate or professional approval.
0 of 24 review points completed
Complete the review points and add evidence where possible.
Privacy: assignment inputs and evidence notes are stored only in this browser's local storage unless you choose to copy/print them. This is a learning aid, not a professional code-compliance certificate.
8. Architecture Resource Desk
Use a mix of primary standards, professional institutions, academic resources and visual project references. Verify the edition and jurisdiction before relying on a requirement.
Primary standards
ISO, ICC, NFPA and other standards organizations are the first stop when you need the authoritative standard text or current edition information.
Open standards navigator ↑Professional practice
RIBA and similar professional bodies are useful for project practice, research, competitions, ethics and case-study learning.
Open RIBA Knowledge ↗Drawing & visual references
Use published plans, sections and details to understand representation. Do not copy protected drawings into your submission without permission.
Open drawing references ↑Urban design
UN-Habitat resources connect public space, accessibility, connectivity and sustainable urban development.
Open UN-Habitat ↗Responsible study rule: use external projects, books, standards and images as references; cite the source, respect copyright, distinguish your own design from precedent, and never treat an AI-generated statement as a verified code requirement. For professional work, the applicable authority, licensed professional and current code edition remain decisive.