Designed Environments (T/A)

Designed Environments (Architecture)

The Designed Environments course examines architecture, interior design, landscape design, and urban design, focusing on creating spaces that are sustainable, functional, and attractive. Through drawing, model-making, and working through the design process, students learn to create useful places such as buildings and playgrounds. As a senior secondary technology course, it highlights fair use of space and how people interact.

Building on these foundations, students explore key aspects of Designed Environments across focus areas such as architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, and sustainable building design. They develop skills in technical hand and computer drawing, design processes, and model making. Core themes such as sustainability, aesthetics, human interaction, ergonomics, and ethical use of space are emphasised. Furthermore, this course can be combined with Design and Graphics, Design and Textiles, or Engineering, enabling students to achieve a major, minor, or double major.

List of Units 

• Architectural Design

• Town Planning & Urban Design

• Interior Design

• Landscape Architecture

Architectural Design

Examines architecture and design theory. Students learn that architects investigate new technologies and materials, and environmental sustainability. Students engage with established methodologies for generating creative design concepts and learn strategies for generating and communicating ideas. Students learn the contextual elements that inform the design of environments, including ethical considerations.

Landscape Architecture

This unit examines architecture and design theory. Students learn that architects investigate new technologies and materials to create buildings or structures and ensure that what is designed is environmentally sustainable and addresses the user(s) needs. Students engage with established methodologies for generating creative design concepts and learn strategies for generating and communicating ideas.

Interior Design

Interior designers shape perceptions and responses to physical space (including commercial, residential, public and temporary) through form, light, colour, texture, and sound. Good interior design enables spaces to be more efficient, comfortable, aesthetically fulfilling, evocative of emotional responses, and functional for their user(s). Students learn the principles of design, the elements to consider in their design solutions, and communication skills for presenting ideas using appropriate terminology and technology.

Town Planning and Urban Design

Town Planning and Urban Design are concerned with shaping cities, towns, and regions by managing development, infrastructure, and services to make them attractive and convenient for residents. Students learn that design concepts include sustainability, aesthetics, human interaction, the ethical use of space and functionality.