Selwyn Alternative Prospectus

Architecture
“Studying architecture at Cambridge is by all means an eclectic pursuit! In
addition to what may be considered standard architectural training in
representing and communicating spatial ideas through plans, sections,
elevations, axonometries, collages, renderings and physical models, you'll be
bombarded by all sorts of "technical" instruction. First and second year lecture
courses cover topics in Historic and Theory, Construction, Structure, and
Environmental Design. You'll be learning seemingly irreconcilable subjects
such as Islamic architecture and sustainable building systems, or the effects of
psychoanalysis or post-colonialism on architecture thought and practice
alongside learning how to conduct structural analysis and calculations. In
third year a greater range of technical lectures are covered, and whilst it may
seem overwhelming to attempt to synthesise all these sources of academic
knowledge, it’s one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of the course.
Studio and design work is at the heart of the Cambridge course and it will be
where most of your time goes. Projects in first year are welcoming playful,
explorative, abstract and open ended. One of the most enjoyable being a large
scale first-hand build project with a real client and site. In second and third
year, projects are more architectural, with three studio options per year
offering varied teaching styles and design briefs.
There is a vibrant architecture society called Arcsoc. Through this we partner
up with different organizations such as the Cambridge Union to run events
that help to fundraise for the annual year-end exhibition in London which is
all student run and organised. Study trips throughout the year are extremely
relaxing and fun but surprisingly didactic, and going on one will make sure
you don't travel the same again!
Being one of the smallest subjects at the University, every year group of
architects is extremely tight-knit and even across the years in the department.
After all, architecture is termed a "social art", which makes it easy for you to
make friends across colleges, and for lecturers to notice if you decide to miss a
lecture!
30
If you're considering studying Architecture, why not apply to Selwyn as your
College? We're on the other side of the river, far away enough from town to be
off the crazed tourist tracks but close enough to make transport short. We're
also very close to the University library, always a great go-to place when
books in the department have already been taken out!” - Emma