Week |
Subject |
Related Preparation |
1) |
Introduction |
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2) |
MODERNISM W/(O) CULTURE
Part I
The contention between modernism and culture / its reflection or erasure in ‘standard stories’ of modernism / a critique of the canonic historiography of modern architecture: Sigfried Giedion’s Space, Time and Architecture (1941) / Reyner Banham’s Theory and Design in the First Machine Age (1960): “discarding cultural load” → technology versus tradition / Kenneth Frampton’s Studies in Tectonic Culture (1995) → tectonics within tradition |
Students are required to read all texts assigned for a specific week with a critical eye and write a short response paper on a specific theme. |
3) |
MODERNISM W/(O) CULTURE
Part II
The indigenous house versus the bourgeoisie dwelling / the opposite visions of early modernists towards culture: Gottfried Semper’s anthropologic approach to architecture; Adolf Loos’s underestimation of indigenous cultures and their living habits / uncultured living against Wohnkultur / cultural tours to modern dwellings organized by Loos—Wohnungswanderungen.
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4) |
MODERNISM W/(O) CULTURE
Part III
The Orientalism in Modernism / cultural contradictions of modern architecture: the Oriental carpet in modernist interiors designed by Loos / a critique of the distinction between the West and the East within modernism: Le Corbusier’s Journey to the East / Bruno Taut’s travel to Japan and Turkey
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5) |
MODERNISM W/(O) CULTURE
Part IV
The Vernacular, the Anonymous and the Indigenous in Modernism / Bernard Rudofsky’s exhibitions at MOMA: Are Clothes Modern? (1944); Architecture without Architects (1964) / Sibly Moholy-Nagy’s Native Genius in Anonymous Architecture (1957) / Christopher Alexander’s The Timeless Way of Building (1979) → his argument about the “most beautiful” interior space located in Topkapi Palace
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6) |
PRESENTATIONS and END-OF-UNIT DISCUSSIONS |
By the end of three course units, students are required to make a twenty-minute visual presentation on a case-study by analyzing a specific site, a work, a project or an architect’s attitude to modernism and culture and by relating it to the questions and issues raised in lectures and class discussions. |
7) |
THE ORDINARY IN ARCHITECTURE
Part I
The popularization of high modernism in everyday life / Everyday life as a critique of standard modernism(s) in architecture / Theories of everyday life |
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8) |
THE ORDINARY IN ARCHITECTURE
Part II
The distinction between the ordinary, the everyday, and the normative in architecture / representations of these in various scales: from the urban to the domestic.
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9) |
THE ORDINARY IN ARCHITECTURE
Part III
Critical representations of the ordinary particularly in literature, cinema and visual arts.
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10) |
PRESENTATIONS and END-OF-UNIT DISCUSSIONS |
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11) |
MODERNISM AGAINST MODERNISM
Part I
(Inter)nationalizing Modernism / The forms of architecture which resisted the canonic modernism / Alvar Aalto: the comparison of his work in Finland and abroad
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12) |
MODERNISM AGAINST MODERNISM
Part II
Critical regionalism / First-World versus Third-World geographies / CIAM (1949): Discussion on “East/West: Architects and Politics” / Vernacular modernism in postwar Turkey / Sedad Hakki Eldem and the nationalization of architectural discourse
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13) |
MODERNISM AGAINST MODERNISM
Part III
Architecture as a means of communication and exchange: exhibitions, competitions, world fairs / the city or the region as a thematic: IBA-Internationale Bauausstellung versus Aga Khan Awards → architectural versus non-architectural
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14) |
PRESENTATIONS and FINAL DISCUSSIONS |
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Course Notes / Textbooks: |
Kenneth Frampton, Modern Architecture: a critical history ( Oxford University Press, 1980);
Michael K. Hays, “Critical Architecture: between culture and form,” Perspecta, 1984, no.21, p.14-29;
Gülsüm Baydar and Wong Chong Thai (eds.) Postcolonial Space(s) (Princeton Architectural Press, 1997);
Sibyl Moholy-Nagy, Native Genius in Anonymous Architecture (Horizon Press, 1957). |
References: |
Chapters from other relevant books and selected articles will be compiled in a Course Reader that will be available to students at the beginning of the course. |
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Program Outcomes |
Level of Contribution |
1) |
Develop and deepen knowledge in the same or in a different field to the proficiency level based on Bachelor level qualifications. |
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2) |
Be able to conduct researches at proficiency level in Architecture and related disciplines individually and participate or take responsibility in groups. |
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3) |
Demostrate an ability to develop new approaches and produce knowledge at proficiency level researches both in architecture and related disciplines. |
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4) |
Apply critical thinking methods , identify, formulate, and effectively communicate the critical issues involved in the solution of design problems. |
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5) |
Evaluate the phenomena in Architectural History and analyze historical, social, political backgrounds of the contemporary developments. |
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6) |
Be able to conduct qualitative and quantitative researches on the discipline of Architecture. |
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7) |
Be able to communicate the results of his researches, design proposals, conceptual and practical thoughts in the field of architecture using written, oral, visual media |
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8) |
Develops the lifelong learning abilities. |
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9) |
Engage social, legal, ethical and aesthetical responsibility in the discipline of architecture. |
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