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Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Course overview
-
L27 -
City Campus -
Full-Time -
12 Months -
21 Sep 2026
Main image: photography by Tahlia Borlant
What are practices of reuse?
As the climate crisis intensifies and urban environments evolve, the way we build must change. The greenest building is often the one that already exists. Rather than tearing down the past, practices of reuse focus on transforming, adapting, and repurposing existing structures for a more sustainable tomorrow.
The future belongs to adaptive reuse architecture
MA Interior Architecture: Practices of Reuse equips you with the specialist knowledge, technical expertise, and creative skills to lead this architectural revolution in building regeneration.
As part of this course, you’ll:
- Design for transformation: develop a bold, critical mindset for reshaping buildings and infrastructure, treating design as a powerful tool for social and ecological change
- Uncover architectural history: explore theories and histories of buildings, understanding the cultural context of the spaces you’re transforming
- Master the project lifecycle: become highly competent in every phase of the reuse process, from initial site assessment and structural analysis to design, construction, and long-term building evolution
- Navigate law and regulation: gain a robust understanding of building regulations, planning permissions, and legal frameworks specific to complex adaptive reuse projects
- Develop advanced interpersonal skills: to lead versatile teams, as well as confidently manage and collaborate with conservationists, historians, surveyors, engineers, and contractors
- Champion communities: learn to pitch ideas and engage effectively with external stakeholders, including local authorities and the communities who use the spaces, ensuring each retrofitted building serves real needs and shared ambitions
Why choose MA Interior Architecture: Practices of Reuse?
This course builds directly on the foundations you'll have studied on an undergraduate degree in architecture, interiors, spatial design, or related fields. This means you'll enhance and develop your knowledge, not repeat what you've already learnt.
On this creative MA programme, you'll become a specialist in the critical reuse of existing structures, infrastructures, and places, including the thoughtful transformation of retrofitted buildings. By the end, you'll be equipped with a range of suitable methods of practice, applicable to any adaptive reuse project.
Learn from experts
Your teaching team comprises socially driven professionals with significant experience in the topics you'll cover. They'll incorporate their specialist expertise, skills, and passion to enhance your learning with valuable industry insight and best practice.
Become an independent professional
Throughout the course, you'll undertake extensive self-directed study to hone your expertise, passion, and independence. You'll also have plenty of contact with our industry partner practices, to gain essential insight into a range of projects and professional practice.
Build professional contacts
You'll develop a valuable professional network throughout your master's degree. From live projects and site visits to guest lectures, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to connect with industry figures and expand your contacts.
Why study the MA Interior Architecture: Practices of Reuse course at Leeds Beckett University?
- Build strong industry connections – study a highly specialised course with extensive links to architecture and interior architecture practice
- Grow your professional network – connect with established architecture and interior architecture practices through projects, guest speakers, and industry engagement, opening doors for mentorship and employment
- Learn from practising professionals – gain specialist knowledge in the studio from experienced tutors actively working across adaptive reuse and design
- Create in inspiring spaces – you’ll study in the Leeds School of Arts building, a creative powerhouse packed with impressive facilities
- Join a collaborative creative culture – become part of a diverse, welcoming community that encourages collaboration across fine art, film, architecture, and design
Everything you need to know
Discover all there is to know about the course, from entry requirements and fees to exploring the school you’ll be joining - we’ve got it covered.
Career prospects
There’s a lot to consider when choosing a course. Take a look at the team you’ll be working with, employability statistics and career prospects to help make up your mind.
Career Prospects
As net-zero targets and conservation reshape the built environment across the globe, demand for expertise in adaptive reuse continues to grow.
You might work within architecture and design practices, transforming historic or obsolete buildings into vibrant commercial, residential, or cultural spaces. You could also advise developers, councils, and organisations like Historic England on conserving and adapting historic buildings.
Alternatively, you could lead community-focused regeneration and infrastructure reuse projects, help organisations reduce embodied carbon through sustainable design and material strategies. You could also create temporary and permanent exhibitions and spatial interventions for museums, galleries, and public spaces.
Wherever your ambitions lie, you’ll be well prepared for a career across architecture, design, regeneration, and heritage, including:
- Specialist adaptive reuse and retrofit designer
- Heritage and conservation consultant
- Urban regeneration specialist
- Sustainability and circular economy advisor
- Exhibition and spatial designer
Rather than treating the built environment as a blank canvas, you'll engage with what's already present – its histories, inhabitants, and entanglements – to propose thoughtful architectural reuse and contextually grounded interventions. Through modules focused on site survey, dismantling, typology, material systems, and design practice, the course encourages a reflective approach to interior architecture that values rigour, care, and long-term impact."
Lara Rettondini
Course Director
Lara Rettondini
Course Director / Leeds School of Arts
Lara Rettondini is Course Director for Interior Architecture and Design in the Leeds School of Arts. She joined Leeds Beckett University in 2021 after holding teaching and leadership roles at the University of Westminster, the University for the Creative Arts (UCA), Central Saint Martins (UAL), and Kingston University. Lara is a registered architect, co-director of London-based practice Studio X Design Group, and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Beckett Careers Team
Our careers service is not just there for undergraduates, we support our postgraduate taught and research students too.
Your postgraduate degree will boost your CV and help you stand out from the crowd. Whether you're just starting out on your chosen career path, changing careers or moving to the next level, we can provide you with expert advice and resources to help you take the next steps to achieving your goals.
Student life
At Leeds Beckett your experience is important to us, find out more about what to expect from your time on this course and life at uni.
Experience Leeds Beckett
Our state-of-the-art facilities and learning environments give you everything you need to succeed – whether that’s completing your current studies or joining our cutting-edge research teams.
Thinking of staying at home for your studies?
It’s a great option for lots of our local students
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