Subject 'Theory of Architecture'

Year:   2012/2013    2013/2014    2014/2015    2015/2016    2016/2017    

Architect must be able to present own ideas and works visually as well as in texts. The selected literature should help students to develop and prepare for the future. The course introduces nowadays architectural topics from the point of view which has emerged since the Postmoderne period. At the end of the course the students write an essay about the topics given in the course, at student's own choice.

The aim is to glance through architecture-related topics of the present day. Secondary is to research further the themes at own choice and write an essay, which shall help to define the themes and ideas of the coming Diploma Work.

Students will acquaint with the topics given in the course and gain necessary basic knowledge for future career in the field. The students will get used to critical reading by reading and analysing the selected articles. Later the essay shall be discussed with the tutor of the Diploma Work and developed further for the base of the Work to be included as a theoretical part of the Work.

The course is built up from the 3 parts; 1) Reading thoroughly the selected articles as home work 2) Discussion in the class 3) Theme-related presentation

Discussion in the class can be done in English, so to get used to express oneself in the foreign language. The presentation is to bridge between theory and practice.

Literatures used in the course:
- Kate Nasbitt, ed., Theorizing a New Agenda for Architecture: an Anthology of Architectural Theory 1965-1995 (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1996)
- Kenny Cupers, Markus Miessen, Spaces of Uncertainty (Verlag Müller und Busmann, 2002)
- Doreen Mende, ed. DISPLAYER 03, (Karlsruhe: University of Arts and Design Karlsruhe, 2009)
Literatures recommended:
- Triin Ojari, ed., Positsioonid: Lugemik uuest Eesti arhitektuurist (Tallinn: Solnessi Arhitektuurikirjastus, 2012)
- Peter Zumthor, Thinking Architecture (Basel, Switzerland: Birkhäuser Architecture, 2nd ed. 2006)
- Momoyo Kaijima, Junzo Kuroda, Yoshiharu Tsukamoto, Made in Tokyo: Guide Book (Tokyo: Kajima Institute, 2001)
- Marc Auge, Non-places: An Introduction to Supermodernity (New York: Verso, 2nd ed. 2009)
- Bernard Rudofsky, Architecture Without Architects: A Short Introduction to Non-Pedigreed Architecture (orig. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1964, Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1987)
- Juhani Pallasmaa, The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses (London: Academy Editions, 2nd ed. 2005)

2017: FOR*  

2016: FOR*  

2015: FOR*  

2014: FOR*  RA  

2013: FOR*  RA  

2012: RA  

* Optional subject