Second-year students from the School of Architecture and Cities at the University of Westminster are gaining invaluable hands-on experience through the innovative Site Diary module, which focuses on real-world learning by allowing them to engage directly with live construction sites across London.
Delivered by Senior Lecturer Scott Batty, the module challenges students to independently locate, access and engage with active construction sites over several weeks, observing the full complexity of a building project in progress, from scaffolding to structure. With 48 sites across London, students can monitor the progression of the build, engage with professionals and document the process through field notes, drawings, photography and film.
Students’ work is regularly showcased on a dedicated Padlet archive, where standout submissions are featured each semester. The archive not only celebrates exceptional student contributions but also serves as an evolving portfolio of practice-based learning.
The module highlights authentic learning, an educational approach that focuses on grounding education in the realities and ambiguities of the professional world. Students are encouraged to think like real architects by not just observing, but actively participating in the life of a project, asking questions, building relationships and reflecting critically. This mirrors the unpredictable, client-facing, problem-solving demands of the industry.
Reflecting on the structured approach to the module, Scott Batty said: “As architects and especially architecture students, we fetishise perfected images, on paper, on screen and in our minds. Building is not about anything being perfect. Each Site Diary shows that the practice of architecture and building is, in fact, about keeping going when nothing is perfect.”
Head of School Kate Cheyne commented: “Site Diaries is one of our most ambitious modules and unique in UK architectural education. It is increasingly difficult for students to gain access to construction sites, yet at Westminster, for over a decade, our students annually show enterprise, professionalism and tenacity in reaching out to the industry and being invited to follow site meetings across a semester. The learning they gain from visiting building sites cannot be replicated in a classroom and stays with them in their first jobs. It’s an amazing opportunity that showcases professional practice education at its best.”
This module directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4: Quality Education and 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about the Architecture, Interiors and Urban Design courses at the University of Westminster.
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