Architectural Theory 3

Code:

400403

Acronym:

400403

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
CNAEF	Architecture and Urbanism

Instance: 2019/2020 - A

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Arquitectura (A)
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master Degree in Architecture

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIARQ	166	MIARQ	4	-	6	-	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

1. To present Architectural Theory as the transmitting and sharing knowledge about the general organization of space, both in built forms and the processes of design, so contributing for the critical development and responsible innovation of methods and forms of Architecture. An articulated exposition of buildings and writings from masters of architecture, will show the historical, artistic and technical nature of architecture, the ever-open debate between universal and circumstantial values, and the endless search for expression into Spatial Forms, of human needs, aspirations and possibilities.


2. To capacitate the student for his own elaboration of theory, as a combination of bibliographic and experimental research that belongs to the architect’s activity, which needs (1) identifying an object of study (2) delimitation of field and adequate scales for its approach (3) pertinence of data collection and organization (4) critical reasoning (5) personal and quoted argumentation (6) use of disciplinary instruments, methods and criteria.


3. To deal, specifically and through case studies, the recognition of Public Spaces and Public Facilities, as architectonic forms that contribute functional and symbolically for the uniqueness of city character. Both conceptual constructs will be applied in the curricular units of Project 4 and Project 5. The theoretical elaboration on space experience must be comprehensive of context, conceptual, typological and construction definition, as well as the factors that originated them.

Learning outcomes and competences

1) Synthetic literature review and sustained self-argumentation (graphical and written).

2) Personal comprehension of existing and visited public spaces and public buildings by the disciplinary architectonic means (context, layout, scale, volume, distribution, proportion, building systems).

3) Objectivity, originality and economy in communication of personal and team research results on case studies (Architectonic drawing/Text/Image).

Working method

Presencial

Program

PUBLIC SPACES AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS – The STREET and the MUSEUM

1. The space of human institutions (Louis Kahn). Hierarchy of the architectonic forms (Mies VAN DER ROHE). Existence, Values and Forms (Norberg-SCHULZ). The social issue in Architecture – Art, science and technique (SIZA)
2. The history of Architectural Theory. Evolution and upgrade of the expression “principles” in Architecture (VITRUVIUS/C. PERRAULT, J. RUSKN, Le CORBUSIER, ZUMTHOR), “Changing ideals in modern architecture” (COLLINS), “Programs and manifestoes on 20th century architecture” (CONRADS), towards the hegemony of contemporary authorial criticism (FRAMPTON, MONEO).
3. The roles of built work, publication and event in the contemporary development of Architecture. Modes of writing and interviewing of reference authors. The architect’s written brief of his project: objectivity, simplicity and word economy.
4. The urban analysis of the architect as a critical and transformation process. Identifying natural and architectonic elements that constitute the urban form – from geography, morphology and typology towards the coexistence of rule and utopia in city construction. Public space as a three-dimensional product of intentions, structures and infra-structures – and as an architectonic category that obeys to geometry, proportion and construction.
5. Research methodology on urban and architectural facts. Practical and theoretical instruments for architectural criticism. Critical objectivity in architecture. Theory, strategy and project. Review and concept innovation. New thinking and identity – the author and his case. The own body as the first instrumental device for space comprehension.
6. From city and urban design history towards contemporary urban project concepts. Regeneration, refurbishing, concentration and expansion as technical and political concepts. Consistency of urban design – imagery, tectonics and maintenance - and its material architectonic expression. (FONSECA)
7. Significant architectural form (Norberg-SCHULZ): Integrity, uniqueness and historicity.
8. The state of the art for “monument”.
9. From planning to design of public facilities. Functional brief as progressive argument in the realm of architectural design (Louis Kahn). The client – identifying the architect’s interlocutor. Effects of inter-action in public promotion of architecture. Architectural expression of function - the narrative and abstraction debate.
10. Scale and layout, for the alliance of building and public space. Dependence between the development of a public building and its surrounding space. Figure and background theory in urbanism and public buildings.

11.The concepts of Proportion, Beauty and Character are still in practice, or stand still valid today?

12. Form consistency, coordination and economy of the expression means (MOURA), design and labour perfection towards the idea of resilience (FONSECA).

Mandatory literature

BROWNLEE, David B. / DE LONG, David G. ; Louis I. Kahn: In the realm of Architecture, M. O. C.A. Los Angeles: Rizzoli N.Y. , 1991
Kenneth Frampton; Le Corbusier. ISBN: 0-8109-3494-9
Rafael Moneo; Inquietud teórica y estrategia proyectual. ISBN: 84-95951-68-1
Álvaro Siza Vieira; 01 textos. ISBN: 978-972-26-2923-2
Robert Venturi; Iconography and electronics upon a generic architecture. ISBN: 0-262-22051-2
Bruno Zevi; Architectura in nuce
Bruno Zevi; Erich Mendelsohn. ISBN: 84-252-1201-4
Bruno Zevi; Frank Lloyd Wright. ISBN: 84-252-1211-1

Complementary Bibliography

Peter Collins; Los ideales de la arquitectura moderna. ISBN: 84-252-0342-2
Ulrich Conrads; Programs and manifestoes on 20th century architecture. ISBN: 0-262-53030-9
André Malraux; O museu imaginário. ISBN: 972-44-1034-X
Le Corbusier; Le modulor. ISBN: 2-904-833-01-3
Christian Norberg-Schulz; La signification dans lc2b4architecture occidentale. ISBN: 2-87009-077-3

Teaching methods and learning activities

Teaching methods serve the theoretical nature of the curricular unit. Seminar form in auditorium lectures offer content information, methodological approach to literature and case study exercise, motivation and coaching for team work and debate of on-going studies.

On the bases of written and graphic materials referred to literature and case studies (this year dedicated to “STREET” and “MUSEUM”), students are expected to exercise, clarify and structure architectural discourse about public spaces and public facilities freely chosen and visited, using multimedia resources.

After the pandemy COVID-19, for the experimental exercise of study cases, between the 17th and the 20th of April was launched a new proposal, named "My street - an imaginary museum of public space, to be developed on the street where the student is confined and in social isolation. This new exercise is individual and to be valued in the scale of 0-20.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	20,00
Teste	20,00
Trabalho de campo	30,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	40,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Trabalho de campo	20,00
Trabalho de investigação	20,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Register of attendance in 75% of classes is required.

Evaluation will be composed by the results of (1) two tests (2) a minimum of one paper of literature review – individual (3) one study case (individual and optional in group), (4) self-proposition for work presentation in class.

Papers must be submitted by e-mail. Study cases must be submitted by e-mail for individual or team work. In case of group work, submission must be made in one unique file containing each of the individual case and the entire team work. A separate submission by individual members of a team work will exclude the value of team work for that member.

Case Study - Individual case study classification in scale 0 to 16, plus 0 to 4 values whenever work is produced by a team whose data, arguments or results overpass those who respect to individual case.

Calculation formula of final grade

Frequência  (20%) + (Tests 40%) + (Papers 20%) + ( case study 20%)

Examinations or Special Assignments

Written papers of literature review must include two of the books of the program.

Observations

Besides portuguese, Papers will be accepted in the following idioms: spanish, french, english and italian, but in the case study (individual and of group) an abstract in portuguese is mandatory