Architecture Theory III
Prof. Jasper Cepl
The lecture series will show how reoccurring questions central in architectural
thought were interpreted differently at different times in the history of architecture. It thus provides students with an introduction to the wide realm architectural
thought. The point is to explain how the reasoning they encounter today relates to
the past that it has to come to terms with — sometimes in refinement, sometimes in
about-turns, or sometimes in leaps sideward.
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Over the course of history, different arguments originate from different points of
view. The aim is to demonstrate that there is not one way to think, but many different ones, some more and some less viable today. The lectures thus want to convey
how thinking about architecture is in constant flux. For students of architecture, this
means that they need to find their own way of critical thinking about the influences
they are exposed to in the architectural world today.
In the lecture series, priority will be given to concepts of form and approaches to
design. Being aware of the issues surrounding these topics is the particular responsibility of all those who want to make a thoughtful contribution to our built environment. Topics discussed will include such basic questions as: What is the relationship
between construction and form? What does technology mean for the designer?
How does his work relate to society? How can we explain the idea of space in architecture? What is the meaning of place? How can we understand the city? What
does it mean to design? And so on. Last but not least, the aim is to disentangle the
intricately intertwined aspects named above and to show how they may change
their meaning and value within different approaches to architecture.
This time we will specifically focus on the city and its interpretations. There are lots
of ways to consider the city, and sometimes they do in fact contradict each other...
We will have a closer look at the different ways the city has been conceptualized
through time.
COMPULSORY COURSES | summer semester 2015