Interior Architecture with Foundation Year

Interior architecture is the discipline concerned with the design of internal spaces within existing and new buildings, asking how spaces can be made to work better, look better and feel more appropriate for the people who use them. It encompasses spatial planning, materials and surfaces, lighting design, furniture specification, structural considerations and sustainability, and it operates at the boundary between architecture, interior design and environmental design. As cities face growing pressure on space and existing buildings need to be adapted for new uses, interior architects play an increasingly central role in how the built environment evolves.

At the University of Salford this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, which builds your design knowledge and understanding of built environment principles before the main degree begins. The interior architecture degree addresses the particular challenge of finding imaginative and sustainable uses for buildings in space-constrained urban environments, equipping you with the design thinking, technical knowledge and spatial awareness to make significant interventions within existing structures. You will develop skills in spatial design, drawing and digital representation, material specification and sustainable design practice.

Interior architecture graduates work in design practices, architectural firms, property development companies, retail and hospitality businesses, hotel chains, healthcare organisations and the public sector. Roles include interior architect, interior designer, space planner, fit-out designer and project architect for interior renovations. The focus on sustainability and adaptive reuse is increasingly valued across the building and property sector.

Postgraduate study in interior architecture, architectural design, sustainable design or urban design is a natural further route for those who wish to develop specialist expertise or research careers.