Interior Architecture and Design Welcome Guide

Preparing for your course

We're delighted that you've chosen to join our creative community at Arts University Bournemouth. We can't wait to see what you'll create.

Welcome to BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design

This welcome pack is designed to give you an idea of what to expect during the first weeks of your course. Please take the time to read it carefully and take particular note of the pre-course preparation. We hope that you'll enjoy a happy and productive time with us, and we look forward to meeting you in October.

On behalf of the team, I am delighted to welcome you to Arts University Bournemouth.

Within this Welcome Guide, you'll find important information on preparing for starting your studies. Please read this carefully and refer to it before commencing your course. The course team and I are excited to welcome you in October. We're very much looking forward to meeting you.

Congratulations on your place. This year, there's been keen competition for places on the IAD course and you should be reassured that your offer was made on the grounds of your potential. You'll be part of a growing student body made up of people from a wide variety of cultural and educational backgrounds. This ensures a lively studio atmosphere and your course team are sure that you'll participate fully. The team expects that your focus and contribution in class and the quality of your project work will reflect the commitment you've made to higher education.

At University level, it's expected that additional reading and research is undertaken to supplement your lectures and tutorials. Units and assessment will be explained to you by your tutor. However, it's crucial that you organise your time, as deadlines are strict and effective time management will be in your best interest. Work hard and stay focussed. Though we expect a lot from you, we hope you'll enjoy your time at AUB and wish you every success.

Congratulations on your place at AUB – we very much look forward to an exciting and diverse three years.

– Monica Franchin RIBA, Course Leader

A message from your Course Leader

The majority of materials that you'll use are supplied by the course. If we're not able to, for any reason, then the course team will suggest appropriate local or online suppliers to purchase materials.

IAD tries to keep any additional costs to a minimum, but there'll be occasions where you'll want to make and produce work that uses materials we're unable to supply. Again, staff can discuss local and online suppliers where you can purchase the materials you need.

Before you join us

The Library here at AUB is extremely well resourced and includes all key texts that you'll need. The list below indicates the texts that will be useful throughout your studies. All of these are available from the Library at AUB. You might want to borrow a copy from your local library to look at before you arrive but it is NOT intended that you should buy any of these at this stage.

Brooker, G. & Weinthal, L. (Eds.) The Handbook of Interior Architecture and Design (2016, Bloomsbury)
Ching, F.D.K. (2022). Architecture: Form, Space, and Order (5th ed., Wiley)
Gannon, M. (2020). Interior Design: A Professional Guide (Laurence King)
Poldma, T. (2019). Meanings of Designed Spaces (2nd ed., Routledge)
Silver, P., McLean, W. & Evans, P. (2014). Structural Engineering for Architects: A Handbook. Laurence King.
Ballast, D.K. (2020). Interior Design Reference Manual: Everything You Need to Pass the NCIDQ Exam (6th ed., PPI)
Anderson, J. (2017). Architectural Design with SketchUp: 3D Modeling, Extensions, BIM, Rendering, and Scripting (2nd ed., Wiley)
Ravetz, A., & Grubbauer, M. (2019). Urban Design and the Politics of Aesthetics: Critical Interventions (Routledge)
Brooker, G. & Stone, S. (2008). Context & Environment (Basics Interior Architecture Series 02). Lausanne: AVA Academia.
Moxon, S. (2018). Sustainable Design: A Critical Guide (2nd ed., Princeton Architectural Press)
Cairns, G (2013). Reinventing Architecture and Interiors: A Sociopolitical View on Building Adaptation. Libri Publishing

Recommended Journals:

Frame
Domus
Interior
Wallpaper

Recommended Online Magazines:

There is no summer project for this course.

Current student work

Have a look through some of the work our current students are producing to get an idea of the type of work you may be making on our course.

Concept art of an outdoor kitchen, with three people working at a table on the left-hand side. Boxes of fruit and vegetables appear on the right.

Aerial photograph showing the interiors of a model building.

Sketch of a building overlayed with the current building as a photograph

Abstract watercolour image with handwritten annotation appearing next to it. Annotation reads, ''This might seem as a rather dark stage set, however my intention is to keep the projections & the stage illuminated when the surrounding area would fade in the dark as if the story takes place in the open cosmos...'

Children in an outdoor play area with green areas to the side and a concrete playground area in the middle.

People sitting and walking around an outdoor market in the evening.

An illustration of The Xanthos Room West Section

A cardboard model of a large building with a rounded roof and two doors at the bottom

Interior architecture, blue lit seating area

What to bring on your first day

On your first day, bring along:

Curiosity and questions
A notebook and something to write with
Your ID and documents for face-to-face registration (see the "Next Steps" tab for more details)
Your Temporary ID card from your Welcome notebook inside cover if you have one

Course materials

The majority of materials that you'll use are supplied by the course. If we're unable to, for any reason, then the course team will suggest appropriate local or online suppliers to purchase materials.