Summary

This course approaches the architectural humanities through the lens of materials, beyond extraction and construction. Key readings and case studies, contemporary positions and current initiatives will be discussed from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Content

Keywords

environmental history / humanities, material cultures, architectural imaginaries

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Negotiate building beyond extraction and construction, based on the acquired material literacy, and in an environmental perspective, in view of the prevailing challenges for humankind in general and for architects in particular • to build up different ways of knowing and thinking, to reflect on building
• Develop skills and evaluate capabilities of how to make use this of complex material knowledge critically in architectural practice as a decisive part of architectural education in the Anthropocene
• Test and establish different ways of knowing and thinking, to reflect on building material from a historiographical / humanistic point of view, beyond its availability as a commodity

Teaching methods

lectures, readings, sketching / diagramming, discussion

Expected student activities

Students are expected to attend each of the eleven course lectures, to read and prepare to discuss all texts provided for each lecture by formulating questions in advance and being able to visualize key concepts upfront, to engage in in-class discussion.

Assessment methods

The course is continuously assessed in a twofold way (weighing 50/50), next to regular participation in the lectures and discussion:

1. a written response to each of the readings (in lieu of a reading diary), in the form of min 3, max 5 short evaluating comments of a sentence each made towards and/or thought provoking questions stemming from the text, anticipating whether its argument(s), example(s); the point(s) of view offered from an inter-, multi- if not transdisciplinary perspective; and/or the relevance for the personal architectural education and architectural practice in general, to be uploaded on moodle in advance (by 6 pm on Thursdays at the latest);
2. the sketch of a key concept, as argument diagram or analytical drawing, assigned individually and taken from the readings in the first 5 min at the beginning of each lecture, to be uploaded on Miro upfront, as a basis to be taken up again and discussed at the end of the session.

For a minimum pass (4) at least 50% or more (6 out of 11) of both statements/questions and sketches must be handed in on time and, moreover, potentially explained and discussed in person during the lecture course. Grades 4 (minimum) to 6 (excellent) are step marked regarding content (knowledge and understanding) and argument (organization and communication) according to the EPFL assessment handbook and EPFL teaching guide.

Resources

Moodle Link

• https://go.epfl.ch/AR-330