Theory of Architecture 2: Theories

Teacher(s)

De Raedt Nele;

Language

French

Main themes

The course involves a systematic but not exhaustive review of the major theories of architecture. It situates them chronologically, from Antiquity to the present. The course identifies recurring theoretical questions and possible causes for their recurrence. It also identifies more ephemeral questions and looks at their conditions of emergence and disappearance. The course puts theoretical elements into confrontation with concrete examples. Notions like the Vitruvian triad, the myth of the primitive hut, rules and the classical orders, models, the human body and proportion, objectivity and subjectivity of architecture  will be raised and discussed.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	By the end of this course, students will be able to: develop an overall view of the major theories of architecture within Western cultural tradition, distinguish the themes and recurrent questions, situate the "origins", the major stages of development, and the moments of rupture within the field of architecural theory, take a personal position within a theoretical debate.

Content

Non-exhaustive liste of topics

• What is architecture?
• Theorising design practice: imitation, invention, licence
• The elements of architecture: the classical orders
• The objectivity or subjectivity of the art of building: good taste
• The origins of architecture: the primitive hut
• Architecture as system of communication
• Theory and criticism: Utopias

Teaching methods

Lecture course
Reading seminars

Evaluation methods

Oral exam based on writing exercise

Bibliography

Non-exhaustive bibliography:
ALBERTI, LEON BATTISTA. L'art d'édifier. Edité et traduit par Pierre Caye et Françoise Choay. Paris: Seuil, 2004. 
ALEXANDER, CHRISTOPHER, Sara Ishikawa, Murray Silverstein, e.a. A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction. New York: Oxford University Press, 1977. 
BOFFRAND, GERMAIN. Livre d'architecture contenant les principes generaux de cet art et les plans, elevations et profils de quelques-uns des batimens faits en France & dans les Pays Etrangers. Paris: Guillaume Cavelier, 1745.
ECO, UMBERTO. La structure absente. Introduction à la recherche sémiotique. Traduit de l'Italien par Uccio Esposito-Torrigiani. Paris: Mercure de France, 1984. 
HOLLEIN, HANS. "Alles ist Architektur". Bau 1 /2, 1968. pp.2-35. 
LAUGIER, MARC-ANTOINE. Essai sur l'architecture. Paris: Duchesne, 1753
LOOS, ADOLF. "L'architecture". Dans: Paroles dans le vide: chroniques écrites à l'occasion de l'exposition viennoise du Jubilé 1898, [suivi de] autres chroniques des années 1897-1900; Malgré tout: 1900-1930. Traduit de l'allemand par Cornelius Heim. Paris: Editions Ivrea, 1994. pp.218-228. 
PERRAULT, CLAUDE. Ordonnance des cinq espèces de colonnes selon la méthode des anciens. Paris: Jean Baptiste Coignard, 1683
VENTURI, ROBERT. De l'ambiguité en architecture. Edité et traduit par Vincent Scully, Maurin Schlumberger e.a. Paris: Duno, 1971

Faculty or entity

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