1. DIS Architecture and Design Spring 2013
Contemporary European Architectural Theories 3 Credits
Lecturer: Henning Thomsen (HT), byensojne@gmail.com
Course Assistant: Samer Khudairi (SK), sk@dis.dk
Mee ng Loca on: Vestergade 23-401
“Theories of architecture always belong to a historical context which is in
part causa ve. New systems emerge from debates on older systems; there
is no such thing as an en rely new system, and if a system claims to be
such, it is either stupid or dangerous. Thus architectural theory and the
history thereof are synonymous, to the extent that the present posi on
always represents a phase in a historical process.”
(Hanno-Walter Kru , A History of Architectural Theory from Vitruvius to
the Present, London, 1994)
“Within the discipline of architecture, theory is a discourse that describes
the prac ce and produc on of architecture and iden fies challenges to it (...)
Its specula ve, an cipatory, and cataly c nature dis nguishes theore cal
ac vity from history and cri cism. Theory operates on different levels of
abstrac on, evalua ng the architectural profession, its inten ons, and its
cultural relevance at large. Theory deals with architectures aspira ons as
much as its accomplishments.”
(Kate Nesbi , Theorizing a New Agenda for Architecture, New York, 1996)
“It is only in dialogue with each other that architectural theory and
architecture itself can flourish. The former can be a statement, a codifica on
of prac ce, or a programme; and the quality of the corresponding
architecture serves as a gauge of the usefulness of the theory. It must be
possible to check architectural theory by reference to actual buildings.”
(Hanno-Walter Kru , A History of Architectural Theory from Vitruvius to
the Present, London, 1994)
“Typically architects are more aware of the differences that separate them,
giving their work an aura of novelty and originality. This leaves behind the
common references and goals that contribute to the long term cultural
relevance of their work.”
(Dalibor Vesely, Architecture in the Age of Divided Representa on,
Cambridge, Massachuse s, 2004)
Course Descrip on: This course is a cri cal overview and introduc on
to contemporary architectural theories in Europe and aims to establish
an understanding of the main theories and posi ons as they have
developed over the course of the past five decades. The course examines
contemporary architectural theory and cri cism through the presenta on
and study of significant texts and buildings of the present and recent
past. The dialec c between the wri en theories and the built world,
between readings and buildings, between thinking and making, will play
an important role throughout the course. Not as a one-to-one schemata,
where one becomes the other, if handled well, but in a cultural contextual
sense, where one informs the other and vice versa in a complex and
ongoing manner, which some mes reaches far both in a historical as well
as a geographical sense.
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2. DIS Architecture and Design Spring 2013
Contemporary European Architectural Theories
The goal of the course is to introduce and inves gate the formal,
technological, social, poli cal, and economic debates at issue within
the discipline of architecture. You learn to evaluate and ar culate the
interac ons between theory and prac ce, between thinking and making,
thereby enabling you to formulate and assess strategies to generate
architecture.
The course is structured in three sec ons. The PRELIMINARY
OBSERVATIONS establish a pla orm from which we can begin to
understand the field of architectural theory. The CHRONOLOGICAL
OVERVIEW aims to sketch out both a theore cal and a cultural overview
of the decades from 1960s un l today. Finally the THEMATIC OVERVIEW
delves deeper into a series of recurring themes that have shaped European
architectural theories in the past five decades.
Learning Objec ves
By the end of this course you should
• be able to orient yourself in the current European landscape of
architectural theory
• be familiar with exemplary architects, buildings and projects of the past
five decades that have shaped and been shaped by theore cal thinking
• understand the importance and fundamentals of cri cal reading and
wri ng
•be able to reflect on the role and task of architecture and the architect
through the applica on of cri cal thinking
Required Texts
Reading material will be from the course reader (Kate Nesbi ).
Supplementary material will be uploaded as individual texts on DIS
Blackboard.
• Kate Nesbi : Theorizing a New Agenda for Architecture - An Anthology
of Architectural Theory 1965-1995
Approach to Teaching: The class will meet twice a week and consists of
lectures, student presenta ons and class discussions. Theory needs to
be read and therefore this course relies heavy on reading. Assigned texts
must be read in advance of the class.
The type of reading you will be required to do in this class moves beyond
finding informa on or loca ng an authorʼs purpose or iden fying main
ideas (as useful as these skills might be). It will ask you to dig deep in
theore cal texts to ferret out meaning, systems of rela onships between
ideas, and examine your own response to these ideas and their impact on
the world around them.
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3. DIS Architecture and Design Spring 2013
Contemporary European Architectural Theories
In short, cri cal reading requires that you ques on intensely. For cri cal
reading, you cannot sit back and wait. These texts are not necessarily
easy nor are you expected to swallow the words without considera on.
True reading demands that you first ac vely listen to the author without
projec ng your own agenda. In this sense, you might imagine that you
are engaged in a conversa on with the author and once he/she has
completed what he/she wants to say to you, you are in a posi on to speak
back, to say something of your own, something meaningful and thought-
out. If you have no response, you are reading lazily and need to instead,
read cri cally: to formulate a response. Such response involves analysis,
synthesis, and crea vity.
Expecta on of the Students: I expect you to be fully engaged in the
lectures, par cipate ac vely in any discussion and be open minded to your
fellow students contribu on to class. I hope to establish an environment
where we can learn from each other as well as from the texts and cases we
engage with and I expect you to ac vely support this approach. Readings
must be done before class and should be done with inquisi veness. The
ability to frame the appropriate ques ons and to apply cri cal thinking will
be valued and the class should form the se ng in which to ac vely exercise
this ability. In our discussions in class please aim to make references to our
readings, to support the points or ques ons you wish to raise.
Evalua on & Grading:
The final grade is determined as follows:
20% Ac ve individual par cipa on and engagement, in-class
presenta ons and provision of ques on points
35% Mid term exam (essay type)
45% Cri cal case study assignment (essay type: 1500-2500 words of
cri cal wri ng + illustra ons)
The mid-term exam is an essay type exam that takes place in class
and is based on ques ons about the readings. The Cri cal Case Study
Assignment is a semester long cri cal reading and wri ng exercise, which
takes its cue from the study of a work of architecture in Copenhagen.
Based on theore cal texts and on studies of the work of architecture the
assignments needs to result in a comprehensive, informed and individual
posi oning of the work of architecture in a theore cal landscape. A
psychogeographic explora on of the work forms an integral part of the
cri cal case study assignment.
Both in-class and field study a endance and ac ve par cipa on is
required. For all types of ac vity students on a regular basis will be asked
to prepare ques on points for classes.
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4. DIS Architecture and Design Spring 2013
Contemporary European Architectural Theories
These should reflect on the readings carried out and provide the class as a
whole with a pla orm for engaged and informed discussion.
Late papers will not be accepted. To be eligible for a passing grade in this
class you must complete all of the assigned work.
Disability and resource statement: Any student who has a need for
accommoda on based on the impact of a disability should contact Sean
Green (sgr@dis.dk) to coordinate this. In order to receive accommoda ons,
students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommoda ons
within the first two weeks of classes.
Policies:
A endance: You are expected to a end all DIS classes when scheduled. If
you miss mul ple classes the Director of Teaching and Learning, and the
Director of Student Affairs will be no fied and they will follow-up with you
to make sure that all is well. Absences will jeopardize your grade and your
standing at DIS. Allowances will be made in cases of illness, but in the case
of mul ple absences you will need to provide a doctor’s note.
Academic Honesty: Plagiarism and Viola ng the Rules of an Assignment
DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual
honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their
own work and credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic
dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in
dismissal. The students’ home universi es will be no fied. DIS reserves
the right to request that wri en student assignments be turned in
electronic form for submission to plagiarism detec on so ware. See the
Academic Handbook for more informa on, or ask your instructor if you
have ques ons.
Electronic devices in the classroom: Feel free to use your laptop for relevant
note taking. The use of cell phones must take place outside of class hours.
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5. DIS Architecture and Design Spring 2013
Contemporary European Architectural Theories
Day Date Session Time Topic
Fr Jan 18 1 10:05-11:25 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS
This part aims to establish the necessary pla orm from which we can
begin to understand the field of contemporary European architectural
theory.
What is architectural theory?
Required Reading:
• Kate Nesbi (Course reader), Introduc on, pp. 16-28
• Hanno-Walter Kru : Introduc on - What is architectural theory? in A
History of Architectural Theory from Vitruvius to the Present, pp. 13-19
Tu Jan 22 2 10:05-11:25 What is cri cal reading? What is cri cal wri ng?
Introduc on to the Cri cal Case Study Assignment
Required Reading:
• Michael Clarke: Verbalizing the Visual - Transla ng Art and Design into
Words, Lausanne, 2007, pp. 12-37
• Merlin Coverly: Psychogeography, London, 2006, excerpts.
Fr Jan 25 3 10:05-11:25 What happened before today began? Part One
Required Reading:
• Tony Judt: The End of Old Europe, in Postwar - A History of Europe
since 1945, London, 2005, pp. 226-237
• Tony Judt: The World We have Lost, in Ill Fares the Land,
London 2010, pp. 41-80
• Roberto Rossellini: Germany Year Zero (film), 1948, excerpts in class
• Vi orio de Sica: The Bicycle Thief (film), 1948, excerpts in class
• Carol Reed: The Third Man (film), 1949, excerpts in class
• The Proud City - A Plan for London, 1945, excerpts in class
Tu Jan 29 4 10:05-11:25 What happened before today began? Part Two
Film viewing in class: Utopia London, by Tom Cordell, 2010
Fr Feb 01 5 10:05-11:25 What happened before today began? Part Three
Discussion of the film we saw in Session 4
Required Reading:
• Rod Hackney: Chapter 1 - The Making of a Modernist, in The Good, the
Bad & the Ugly - Ci es in Crisis, London, 1988, pp. 1-25
Feb 04 - 09 Core Course Week
Tu Feb 12 6 10:05-11:25 CHRONOLOGICAL OVERVIEW
This part aims to sketch out both a theore cal and a cultural overview of
the five decades from the 1960s un l today. Architectural theories,
architecture itself and other exemplary cultural products like film,
literature, pain ng, etc. will be included to help us understand recent
developments.
The Six es - ‘Under the Cobblestones, the Beach’
Required Reading:
• Henri Lefebvre: The Right to the City, 1968, in Architecture Culture
1943-1968, ed. Joan Ockman, New York, 1993, pp. 427-436
• Guy Debord: Society of the Spectacle, in French 1967, in English 1970,
pp. 1-34
• Reyner Banham: Func onalism and Technology, 1960, in Rethinking
Technology - A Reader in Architectural Theory, 2007, pp. 130-139
• Robert Venturi: Complexity and Contradic on in Architecture -
Selec ons from a Forthcoming Book, 1965, in Nesbi , pp. 72-76
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6. DIS Architecture and Design Spring 2013
Contemporary European Architectural Theories
Day Date Session Time Topic
Fr Feb 15 7 10:05-11:25 The Seven es - Pickin’ Up on Signs
Required Reading:
• Denise Sco Brown: Learning from Pop, 1971, in Architecture Theory
since 1968, ed. K. Michael Hays, New York, 1998, pp. 60-66
• Peter Eisenman: Post-Func onalism, 1976, in Nesbi pp. 78-83
• Bernard Tschumi: Spaces and Events, 1983, in Architecture and
Disjunc on, London, 1996, pp.
• Robert Venturi & Denise Sco Brown: A Significance for A&P Parking
Lots or Learning From Las Vegas, 1968, in Nesbi , pp. 308-321
Tu Feb 19 8 10:05-11:25 The Eigh es - Po-Mo Pandemonic
Required Reading:
• Charles Jencks: Post-Modern Architecture, 1977, in Architecture Theory
since 1968, ed. K. Michael Hays, New York, 1998, pp. 306-316
• Jürgen Habermas: Modern and Postmodern Architecture, 1981, in
Architecture Theory since 1968, ed. K. Michael Hays, New York, 1998, pp.
412-426
Fr Feb 22 9 10:05-11:25 The Nine es - Minimal Maximal Millennium
Required Reading:
• Tony Judt: Nineteen Eighty Nine - The End of Which European Era? in
Daedalus, Vol. 123, No. 3, Summer 1994, pp. 1-19
• Rem Koolhaas: Junkspace, 2002
• Alejandro Zaera: Interview with Jacques Herzog, Herzog & de Meuron,
1993
Tu Feb 26 10 10:05-11:25 The Naughts - Playful or Hollow - The End of Theory as We Know It?
Required Reading:
• Kristoffer Lindhardt Weiss: The Pragma c Turn, in Danish Architecture
of the 00’s, in The New Wave in Danish Architecture, Arkitektens Forlag,
2012, pp. 13-21
• Kristoffer Lindhardt Weiss: Pragma c Utopias - Interview with Bjarke
Ingels, in Danish Architecture of the 00’s, in The New Wave in Danish
Architecture, Arkitektens Forlag, 2012, pp. 39-55
• Boris Brorman Jensen: The Prelude to the Breakthrough, in The New
Wave in Danish Architecture, Arkitektens Forlag, 2012, pp. 127-133
• Tom Nielsen & Kristoffer Lindhardt Weiss: Welfare Urbanism, in The
New Wave in Danish Architecture, Arkitektens Forlag, 2012, pp. 276-275
Fr Mar 01 11 10:05-11:25 Mid Term Exam
Mar 02 - 10 Travel Break
Tu Mar 12 12 10:05-11:25 THEMATIC OVERVIEW
This part delves deeper into a series of recurring themes that have
shaped European architectural theories in the past five decades
Architectural Theory deals with ... Utopias
Required Reading:
• David Pinder: In Defence of Utopian Urbanism - Imagining Ci es a er
the ‘End of Utopia’, in Geografiska Annaler, 84B, 2002, pp. 229-241
• Nathaniel Coleman: Introduc on - Utopias and Architecture? in Utopias
and Architecture, Oxford, 2005, pp. 1-6
• Yona Friedman: from Mobile Architecture, 1959, in Architectural
Theory, Vol. II - An Anthology from 1871-2005, ed. by Harry Francis
Mallgrave and Chris na Contandripoulos, Oxford, 2008, pp. 351-353
• Yona Friedman: Program of Mobile Urbanism, 1958, in Architecture
Culture 1943-1968, ed. Joan Ockman, New York, 1993, pp. 273-275
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7. DIS Architecture and Design Spring 2013
Contemporary European Architectural Theories
Day Date Session Time Topic
Fr Mar 15 13 10:05-11:25 Architectural Theory deals with ... Utopias
Architectural Readings:
• Works by Yona Friedman, Archigram, Peter Cook, Norman Foster,
Richard Rogers, and others.
Tu Mar 19 14 10:05-11:25 Architectural Theory deals with ... History
Required Reading:
• Demetri Porphyrios: The Relevance of Classical Architecture, 1989, in
Nesbi , pp. 91-96
• Peter Eisenman: The End of the Classical: The End of the Beginning, the
End of the End, in Architecture Theory since 1968, ed. K. Michael Hays,
New York, 1998, pp. 522-538
Fr Mar 22 15 10:05-11:25 Architectural Theory deals with ... History
Architectural Readings:
• Works by Terry Farrell, James S rling, Ricardo Bofill, and others.
Mar 23 - Apr 01 Travel Break
Tu Apr 02 16 10:05-11:25 THEMATIC OVERVIEW cont’d
This part delves deeper into a series of recurring themes that have
shaped European architectural theories in the past five decades
Architectural Theory deals with ... Place
Required Reading:
• Chris an Norberg-Schulz: The Phenomenon of Place, 1976, Nesbi pp.
412-428
• Juhani Pallasmaa: The Geometry of Feeling - A look at the
Phenomenology of Architecture, 1986, Nesbi pp. 447453
• Kenneth Frampton: Towards a Cri cal Regionalism - Six Points for an
Architecture of Resistance, in The An -Aesthe c, ed. Hal Foster, 1983,
pp. 16-30
• Alexander Tzonis and Liane Lefaivre: Why Cri cal Regionalism Today?
1990, Nesbi pp. 483-492
• Michael Asgaard Andersen: Peter Zumthor and Juhani Pallasmaa in
Conversa on, in Human Experience and Place - Sustaining Iden ty, AD
Architectural Design, November, 2012
Fr Apr 05 17 10:05-11:25 Architectural Theory deals with ... Place
Architectural Readings:
• Works by Sverre Fehn, Peter Zumthor, Dimitris Pikionis, and others.
Tu Apr 09 18 10:05-11:25 Architectural Theory deals with ... Urbanism
Required Reading:
• Aldo Rossi: Chapter 1 - The Structure of Urban Ar facts, from The
Architecture of the City, in Italian 1966, in English 1982, pp. 28-61
• Maurice Culot and Leon Krier: The Only Path for Architecture, 1978, in
Architecture Theory since 1968, ed. K. Michael Hays, New York, 1998, pp.
348-355
• Rem Koolhaas: Postscript: Introduc on for New Research ‘the
Contemporary City’, 1988, in Nesbi , pp. 322-325
• Rem Koolhaas: Toward the Contemporary City, 1989, in Nesbi , pp.
326-330
• Rem Koolhaas: Beyond Delirious, 1993, in Nesbi , pp. 331-336
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8. DIS Architecture and Design Spring 2013
Fall 2012
Contemporary European Architectural Theories
Day Date Session Time Topic
Fr Apr 12 19 10:05-11:25 Architectural Theory deals with ... Urbanism
Architectural Readings:
• Works by Aldo Rossi, Rem Koolhaas, Oswald Mathias Ungers, Rob Krier,
Leon Krier, and others.
Apr 13 - 21 Travel Break
Tu Apr 23 20 10:05-11:25 THEMATIC OVERVIEW cont’d
This part delves deeper into a series of recurring themes that have
shaped European architectural theories in the past five decade
Architectural Theory deals with ... Meaning
Required Reading:
• Kenneth Frampton: Rappel á l’ordre, the Case for the Tectonic, 1990, in
Nesbi , pp. 516-528
• Kenneth Frampton: Seven Points for the Millennium - An Un mely
Manifesto, 1999, keynote address UIA Conference, Beijing.
• Simon Guy and Graham Farmer: Contested Construc ons - The
Compe ng Logics of Green Buildings and ethic, in Ethics and the Built
Environment, ed. by Warwick Fox, London, 2000, pp. 73-87
• Sylvia Lavin: Prac ce Makes Perfect, in Construc ng a New Agenda -
Architectural Theory 1993-2009, ed. by A. Krista Sykes, New York, 2010,
pp. 449-459
Tu Apr 30 21 10:05-11:25 Architectural Theory deals with ... Meaning
Architectural Readings:
• Tony Fre on, Jean Nouvel, Ken Yeang, Renzo Piano, Norman Foster, and
others.
Fri May 03 22 10:05-11:25 CODA
Theory a er the Contemporary
Required Reading:
• Reinhold Mar n: Cri cal of What? Toward a Utopian Realism, 2005, in
Construc ng a New Agenda - Architectural Theory 1993-2009, ed. by A.
Krista Sykes, New York, 2010, pp. 346-362
• Christopher Hight: Meet the New Boss - A er the Death of Theory, in
Theore cal Meltdown, AD Architectural Design, January 2009
• George Baird: “Cri cality” and Its Discontents, in Harvard Design
Magazine, Fall 2004/Winter 2005, number 21, pp. 1-6
Tue May 07 23 10:05-11:25 Theory a er the Contemporary - course conclusion
Fri May 17 Deadline for hand-in of Cri cal Case Study Assignment.
Send by email to byensojne@gmail.com no later than Friday 17 May
23:59.
Schedule subject to change with as much no ce as possible.
All future edits to the syllabus will be made on Blackboard only.
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