URBAN DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE
SUMMER SCHOOL
Friday 11th to Sunday 20th July 2025
Applications now open
An intensive residential course in two modules providing a practical introduction to designing beautiful, sustainable, prosperous, economically and socially successful places.
Early bird discount applies to applications paid for before April 1st 2025
Please see our FAQ page for more details
Much of the knowledge needed to create traditional places where many people want to live is no longer taught in most architecture and urban design courses. Set in the heart of the beautiful market town of Sherborne in Dorset, the course introduces core urban design and architecture principles and practice. Run by Create Streets in conjunction with ADAM Architecture, it teaches students to conceive, design and create popular places, mixed-use neighbourhoods, vernacular homes and buildings and streets and squares that nestle in the landscape. You will also explore the connections between urban form and design with wellbeing, sustainability, prosperity, value and popularity. It is aimed at early or mid-career professionals, undergraduates and school leavers who are interested in pursuing a career in the built environment. However, anyone 18 and over is very welcome.
Programme
The intensive, in-person course consists of two modules. Applicants can attend either module or both. A Craft Module is included at the start of the Architecture Module which those attending just the Urban Design Module can also attend as an add-on.
Module 1 (11th to 15th July)
Urban Design
- Talks and case studies on core aspects of urban design;
- Review wider evidence into what makes for popular, healthy, happy and sustainable places;
- Tour of the town with the aim of understanding the context;
- Key aspects of English urban and vernacular design;
- Site visit for urban design study;
- Preparing site, context and policy analyses in small group workshops;
- Preparing a community consultation and engagement plan;
- Devising a site vision, design principles, concept masterplan;
- Guidance on drawing and sketching of buildings and streets; and
- Presenting the scheme to faculty and other members of the course.
Module 2 (15th to 20th July)
Architecture
- Lime-mortar craft module day (see below);
- Talks and case studies on vernacular architecture;
- Studying English vernacular building design;
- Review of contemporary vernacular architecture;
- Challenges of 21st building regulations;
- Tour of Sherborne with a focus on recognizing patterns between buildings and local details;
- Visiting the site for your design proposal;
- Designing a building or small group of buildings for your chosen site;
- Guidance on hand drawing of buildings; and
- Presenting your scheme to faculty and invited guests.
Module 2 run in partnership with Adam Architecture
Lime Mortar Craft Day (16th July)
Sherborne is largely built from beautiful honey-coloured stones. Alongside lime mortar specialists Rose of Jericho, this module is part of the Architecture Module and gives students an overview of lime mortar and its application.
- Talk and demonstration of different types of lime mortar;
- Repair of local limestone wall, including repointing;
- Discussion with expert advice from lime mortar specialists; and
- This module is not included in the Urban Design Module but can be booked as an add-on.
Craft module run in partnership with Rose of Jericho
Practical information
- Aimed at early or mid-career professionals, undergraduates and school leavers who are interested in pursuing a career in the built environment.
- The programme offers an intensive mix of workshops, lectures, and sketching activities.
- View prices and all details on FAQ.
- All necessary materials are provided.
- The course is open to 24 people.
- The residential option includes accommodation on site, in Sherborne School.
- Hourly trains from London Waterloo to Sherborne (approx. 2 hours 20 minutes).
- Find out more in the FAQ page.
Tutors
Dr James Armitage BSc BArch (Dist) PhD RIBA, a practising architect and urban designer with a particular interest in the relationship between community and urbanism. He is a fellow of Create Streets and has lectured at the Universities of London, Bath, Cardiff, Yale (US) and Notre Dame (Rome).
Professor Robert Adam DIPL ARCH (PCL), RIBA, FRSA, Hon FRIAS is a major figure in the development of traditional and classical architecture, a pioneer of contextual urban design, an author and a scholar. In 2017 he was awarded the Richard H. Dreihaus Prize, recognising a lifetime of contribution to traditional, classical and sustainable architecture and urbanism.
Robert Kwolek BA, senior architectural designer at Create Streets who is leading a wide range of master-planning and design coding projects across England and teaches at the University of Oxford.
Mark Shepherd N Dip Arch MAURP, Architectural Technician with an interest in detailing, surveying and hand drawing. Mark is a fellow of Create Streets and teaches our London Dare to Draw workshops.
Tom Balch, runs Rose of Jericho, a manufacturer of and consultant in high quality materials used for the decoration and repair of traditional and historic buildings. Clients include the Historic Royal Palaces, many Cathedrals and the National Trust, as well as cottages, townhouses, farmhouses and manor houses throughout the U.K.
Nicholas Boys Smith MBE MA MPhil (Dist) AoU FRSA, founder and chairman of Create Streets, former chair of the Office for Place and the author of many studies into the links between design with wellbeing and prosperity who has lectured at many universities including Oxford, Manchester, Leeds and London.
Hugh Petter BA (Hons), DIPL Arch, RIBA, MRIAI (IRL) FRSA is a Director at Adam Architecture. He won Rome Scholarships in 1990 and 1991. He established the Foundation Course at The Prince of Wales’s Institute of Architecture where he served as Senior Tutor for six years.
Dr Lucie Bruce MA MRes DPhil, conservation and design officer with expertise in historic building materials. During her doctoral research at the University of Oxford, she worked with Historic England on lime mortar for damp buildings. She holds degrees in Heritage Management (Newcastle) and in Art and Architectural History (Ecole du Louvre, Paris).
George Payiatis BA MA, senior urban designer at Create Streets who is leading a wide range of master-planning and regeneration projects across the UK.
Andrew Moneyheffer BA ARCH, CNU-A is an Associate Director at Adam Architecture. Prior to this, Andrew was project manager at Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company in Washington.
