Aims

To enable students to:
Develop an awareness of theories and ideas from a range of disciplines relating to architecture,
cities, space and the production of the built environment.
Recognise how factors external to the practice of architecture, such as planning, regulation,
economy, diverse cultures, ways of living and thinking about the world, influence both the production
of the built environment and the frameworks we use to evaluate it.
Appreciate the complex interplay between architects’ designs, techniques and practices and their
theoretical approaches, principles and political aspirations (such as ecology, participation, diversity,
critique) in architectural cultures since the late 19th century to the present day.
Inform and strengthen the theoretical basis on which students develop design approaches and take
decisions

Outline Of Syllabus

This course examines the major currents in architectural and urban thinking, and the social, political,
economic, environmental, technological and ideological factors that have shaped, and continue to
shape, the production and design of buildings and cities since the emergence of modernity.
Organised in three thematics; cities, cultures and space, the course introduces
students to key concepts and theories for thinking about architecture, space and the built
environment and to the importance of disciplinary perspectives from beyond architecture such as
planning, urban design, social sciences, anthropology, philosophy, cultural studies, history and the
humanities.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Teaching is by means of weekly blocks 2.5 hour lecture sessions. These will be in-person, with 1 hour dedicated to subject introduction and close reading of texts led by lecturer. 1 hour will be a continuation of last years ‘zoom-interviews’ - which will take place either with an interviewed guest in conversation in person, or via zoom to the lecture theatre. This enables us to invite guests from across the world, as has happened in 2020/21, but with a live ‘in-person’ audience. This structured interview in the lecture theatre will be followed by a half hour Q+A with invited guest.

These in-person event will be supported by one hour per week of pre-recorded content that takes students on a virtual tour of a city, exploring thematic content in relation to real world examples. These will be in twenty minute sections and relate to the content of the in-person lecture and interview.

Seminars will be delivered in-person where allowed, with 1 hour per block, allowing students to explore a key thematic text with an academic colleague.

Online discussion groups and fora will remain, with canvas used to file and respond to lecture questions and module information as the semester progresses.

In the event of further public health measures, all of this content and student engagement can move online as in academic year 2020/21.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The essay assesses students’ overview and knowledge of the syllabus and their ability to consider the built environment in relation to some of the theories and ideas they have been introduced to, and to access and synthesise materials and evidence to support their arguments.