Architectural Theory: From Vitruvius until Today

The course offers a broad overview of the main contributions to architectural theory. It covers two thousand years of thinking and writing, but concentrates in particular on the last three centuries. Within this timespan it traces changes and continuities concerning topics, ideas, notions and parameters, conceiving architectural theory as an ongoing conversation about architecture. In doing so, theoretical models are considered within wider cultural contexts.The thematic lectures focus on basic issues of architecture: architecture as a discipline, origins of architecture, conceptions of beauty, ornament and colour in architecture, construction and architectural form, space and place, anthropology of architecture, semiotics, politics, ethics and gender in architecture.