Architecture is best understood when experienced firsthand.
As part of the Orientation Programme 2026, the first-year B.Arch and B.Design students of the Faculty of Architecture, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, visited the historic St. Andrew’s Church for an immersive architectural site study.
The visit provided students with an opportunity to step beyond the classroom and experience architecture in its real-world context. Through on-site observation, sketching, and analysis, students closely studied the building’s architectural elements, spatial organisation, visual character, and historical significance.
The heritage structure served as a living classroom, allowing students to understand how architectural ideas, proportions, materials, details, and spaces come together to create a meaningful environment. By observing the building firsthand, students were encouraged to look beyond what is presented in textbooks and develop a deeper appreciation for architectural spaces.
The site study also introduced students to the importance of architectural documentation and visual observation. Sketching and analysing the existing structure helped them develop an attentive eye while encouraging them to interpret and communicate what they experienced through their own creative perspectives.
The visit was an enriching start to their architectural journey, inspiring students to observe closely, think critically, and appreciate the relationship between history, space, and design.
The Orientation Programme 2026 site study demonstrated that every building has a story to tell—and sometimes, the best way to learn architecture is simply to step inside and experience it.
➤Watch the glimpses on Instagram!