Architectural Theory: Structure, Culture, Text

Architectural Theory: Structure, Culture, Text is a Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies class taught by Karen Koehler.

Course Description
This interdisciplinary course is a focused examination of architectural theories, ranging from the canonical writings of Vitruvius and Alberti to the ideas of contemporary architects like Koolhaas, Lebeskind, and Diller & Scofido, with an emphasis on twentieth-century architects (Le Corbusier, Gropius, Venturi, Tschumi, etc.) and the spatial philosophies of critical theorists (Benjamin, Heidigger, Bachelard, etc.) Concepts of space and experience will be discussed as well as the social, cultural, economic and political issues that are raised in writing about and for the built environment. Students will be responsible for rigorous weekly readings of treatises, essays, and books, as well as the visual analysis of plans, pictures and structures. Each student will develop a substantial research project that reflects an awareness of art historical methodologies, as well as keep a journal of reading and looking responses. Permission of instructor.