COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: CASE STUDIES IN ARCHITECTURAL CRITICISM

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
ARCH 418	B	8	4	0	0	4	6

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	NA
Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Edmond Manahasa
Second Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Ernest Shtepani
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Classroom and Meeting Time:	128
Course Description:	Mapping cultural / positional differences between and across different forms of architectural criticism. A critical survey of significant architectural critics, magazines and representations. A critical survey of selected themes, concepts, buildings and architects concerning contemporary architecture. Students are encouraged to take an active role and engage in architectural criticism/activities.
Course Objectives:	From Critical Philosophy to Architectural Criticism Critical Philosophy focuses on problems of objectivity in the context of complex dynamical systems. The course will focus on a blend of readings focusing on the critical thinking and advancement of continental and analytical philosophy from Bertrand Russell, Hanna Arendt, Karl Popper, Michel Foucalt, Gilles Deleuze, Slavoj Zizek and Manuel de Landa and more, thus creating a collage of the landscape of philosophy in the 20 and start of 21 Century and trying to bridge between critical thinking in contemporary philosophy and architecture. The course will show some key concepts of modernism, postmodern, late modern and contemporary architecture through analyzing different case studies and authors.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Week 1 –MODERNISM Part 1 From Modernism to Postmodern, the Frankfurt School and critical theory Theodor W.Adorno Georges Bataille Walter Benjamin Ernst Bloch Siegfried Kracauer Georg Simmel Seminar: Selecting the groups. By the end of the week, the students should have selected their own groups.
2	Week 2 –: MODERNISM Part 2 Seminar: Group presentation on the research target based on the specific topics
3	Week 3 : Phenomenology Gaston Bachelard Hans-Georg Gadamer Henri Lefebvre Gianni Vattimo Karsten Harries, Juhani Pallasmaa
4	Week 4–: POSTMODERN PART 1
5	Week 5 –POSTMODERN PART 2 Jane Jacobs, Robert Venturi& Denise Scot Brown, Reiner Banham
6	Week 6 –Structuralism and Postmodern Philosophy Roland Barthes, Umberto Eco, Francois Loytard
7	Week 7 – Midterm presentations (individual essay, group presentation)
8	Week 8 – Post Modern Ecology Willima MCDonough- Ian Mc Harg-Hasan Fathy
9	Late Modern
10	(POSTSTRUCTURALISM Gilles Deleuze Jacques Derrida Michel Foucault Paul Virilio
11	Rem Koolhas, Whatever Happended to urbanism, Bigness, Transition from OMA-AMO, Zaha Hadid
12	Dialogue between Neil Leach and Patrik Schumacher, “On Parametricism,” Time and Arcitecture;
13	Screening: Slavoj Zizek, “Why Less is more in Architecture”
14	Student presentations

Prerequisite(s):	Midterm: The midterm submission is based on the chosen topic. Midterm submission will be presented in groups and it aims to foster dialogue and disscussion. Presentations: Students are responsible to make interpretive presentations of chosen works of architecture based on the theoretical approaches covered in class. The presetnations are held before and after the midterm (group presentation) Essay: Students will write a paper on a relevant topic of their choice (1000 words) with proper referencing. ( individual task) Exam The final exam will be based on the lectures.
Textbook:	Leach, Neil, Rethinking architecture: a reader in cultural theory, London 1997
Other References:	Each group of students selects a specific author from the shared library.
Laboratory Work:
Computer Usage:	yes
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Cultural and historical study of important milestones in the theory of architecture.
2	Critical thinking, comparison and analysis.
3	A thorough understanding of important social and economical conditions linked to architecture and urban planning
4	Comunication and dialogue.
5	Seminar disscusion and students empowerment.
6	Writing and presentations skills.

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Integrated second cycle study program in Architecture (5 years) Program
1	Speaking and Writing Skills Ability to read, write, listen, and speak effectively	5
2	Critical Thinking Skills Ability to raise clear and precise questions, use abstract ideas to interpret information, consider diverse points of view, reach well-reasoned conclusions, and test them against relevant criteria and standards	5
3	Graphics Skills Ability to use appropriate representational media, including freehand drawing and computer technology, to convey essential formal elements at each stage of the programming and design process	2
4	Research Skills Ability to gather, assess, record, and apply relevant information in architectural course work	5
5	Formal Ordering Systems Understanding of the fundamentals of visual perception and the principles and systems of order that inform two- and three-dimensional design, architectural composition, and urban design	3
6	Fundamental Design Skills Ability to use basic architectural principles in the design of buildings, interior spaces, and sites	2
7	Collaborative Skills Ability to recognize the varied talent found in interdisciplinary design project teams in professional practice and work in collaboration with other students as members of a design team	5
8	International Traditions Understanding of the International architectural canons and traditions in architecture, landscape and urban design, as well as the climatic, technological, culture-economic, and other cultural factors that have shaped and sustained them	5
9	National and Regional Traditions Understanding of national traditions and the local regional heritage in architecture, landscape design and urban design, including the vernacular tradition	5
10	Use of Precedents Ability to incorporate relevant precedents into architecture and urban design projects	4
11	Conservation and Restoration of Historical Districts Knowledge on historical districts and the gain of conservation consciousness documentation of historical buildings and the understanding the techniques which are needed to prepare restoration projects.	1
12	Human Behavior Understanding of the theories and methods of inquiry that seek to clarify the relationship between human behavior and the physical environment	4
13	Human Diversity Understanding of the diverse needs, values, behavioral norms, physical ability, and social and spatial patterns that characterize different cultures and individuals and the implication of this diversity for the societal roles and responsibilities of architects	5

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)	1	20
Presentation	2	10
Term Paper	1	25
Final Exam	1	25
Attendance		10
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	4	64
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	12	3	36
Mid-terms	1	6	6
Assignments	4	10	40
Final examination	1	4	4
Other			0
Total Work Load:			150
Total Work Load/25(h):			6
ECTS Credit of the Course:			6