ISMAT 7997

Theory of Architecture I

• ApresentaçãoPresentation

  In etymological terms, theory, from the Greek the¿ria or the¿ros, means to look at, see, contemplate, but also, consider, speculate. It is a point of view, a perspective on things, their description and, of course, an attempt to understand them, to give them meaning. In general terms, theory can be defined as a way of seeing, understanding, explaining and clarifying events or objects. Theory is also a way of questioning assumptions, present realities and the way in which discourse is formed and maintained. Its task is to make sense of the world and form intelligible narratives, orienting from the particular to the universal through abstraction. It is through the articulation between the abstract and the concrete that theory has the capacity to act, in contrast, for example, with philosophy. This is the capacity that allows theory to be an instrument of intervention, and of change, in a rapidly changing world. Theory is a way of thinking and acting.
• ProgramaProgramme

  The CU is divided into different questions that seek to characterize and interrogate the definition and the limits of the discipline. What is architectural theory, architecture, architect, discipline, originality, history, oeuvre, criticism, investigation, profession, canon and teaching will be some of the guiding questions. Simultaneously, for each interrogation, a dissecting instrument: theory, treaty, drawing, speech, essay, photography, manifesto, diagram, project, narrative and archive. Necessarily, as a support to the disassembly exercise, there is a set of contents and authors that are addressed. However, its use, privileging different geographies, genres and cultures, will not be so much as programmatic content, but as examples that prove or disprove certain positions, approaches or possible interpretations. Obviously, given the infinity of possible answers, a definitive solution, or even a consensus, is not sought for each question.
• ObjectivosObjectives

  For architectural theory to maintain its relevance, it must maintain its historical significance as observation (the¿ria) and theater (theã). While the former grants the observer a certain agency over the object seen, the latter transfers that agency to the means (or medium) of framing, performance, and/or visualization. It is in this sense that the aim is for students to become familiar with the range of tools available to architects. They should be able to read, understand, analyze, and interpret texts and images and, in turn, be able to translate their own reflections on a given subject through texts and images. It is also intended that they be able to discuss, debate, and defend their positions through articulate, well-argued and justified discourse, demonstrated through consistent, clear, and objective examples, with a rigorous, coherent and logical structure of reasoning.
• BibliografiaBibliography

  ANDERSON, Chris, “The End of Theory: The Data Deluge Makes the Scientific Method Obsolete”, Wired June, 2008. AURELI, Pier Vittorio, “How We Became Architects”, The City as a Project, August 7, 2017. CARPO, Mario, Architecture in the Age of Printing: Orality, Writing, Typography and Printed Images in the History of Architectural Theory. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2001. COLOMINA, Beatriz, Manifesto Architecture: The Gost of Mies. Berlin: Sternberg Press, 2014. KOOLHAAS, Rem, MAU, Bruce, S,M,L,XL. New York: The Monacelli Press, 1995. LEACH, Neil, A Anestética da Arquitectura. Lisboa: Antígona , 2005 (1999). OCKMAN, Joan, “Slashed,” History/Theory. e-flux Architecture, October 27, 2017. RATTENBURY, Kester (ed.), This is Not Architecture: Media Constructions. London: Routledge, 2002. STEYERL, Hito, “In Defense of the Poor Image,” e-flux Journal 10. November, 2009. WIGLEY, Mark, “Story-Time”, Assemblage 27 (August 1995): 80-94.
• MetodologiaMethodology

  In accordance with the reflective and exploratory nature of the Curricular Unit, students are invited to participate in all classes either through more direct answers to specific questions or through reflections that emerge from the ongoing discussion - hence attendance at classes is mandatory. Speech, writing and photography will be used, in order to equip the student with instruments capable of enhancing critical judgment and reflective capacity in relation to the issues/themes discussed throughout the semester. The monitoring of exercises may be individual or collective.
• LínguaLanguage

  Português
• TipoType

  Semestral
• ECTS

  4
• NaturezaNature

  Mandatory
• EstágioInternship

  Não