Course syllabus for Resistant architecture

Course syllabus adopted 2024-02-02 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameMotståndets arkitektur
  • CodeACE385
  • Credits5 Credits
  • OwnerMPDSD
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyArchitecture
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 17115
  • Maximum participants28 (at least 10% of the seats are reserved for exchange students)
  • Minimum participants8
  • Open for exchange studentsYes
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0123 Written and oral assignments 5 c
Grading: TH		0 c0 c5 c0 c0 c0 c

In programmes

Examiner

Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites


Aim

The course furthers the students' knowledge in the history, theory and critical studies of architecture and urban design. It explores specific theoretical, historical, or design trajectories that shape current issues in the field and trains the students' ability to use source texts and/or projects as a basis for formulating a position, argument and/or research question. This course focusing on alternative ways of doing architecture by focusing on critical approaches vis-a-vis the discipline and profession including contributions beyond the designing and realising of buildings. The course introduces students to various (historical) instances of resistant architecture, which it takes as an invitation to ask how architecture can develop different imaginations towards a more socially and ecologically sustainable world, also today.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Knowledge and understanding

  • demonstrate a critical understanding of theoretical, historical, or design perspectives on resistant architecture and urban design.
  • critically evaluate, summarize, and comment on theoretical and historical academic texts

Competence and skills

  • use texts, historical cases, and design precedents as a basis for formulating a critical position or query on resistant architecture, and for formulating alternatives for a more sustainable world
  • apply good practices of citation and referencing when working with sources and precedents (whether theories, histories, or projects).

Judgement and approach

  • critically relate their own writing and arguments as developed in the course to larger issues and debates within architecture and urban design.

Content

This course will promote the value (and joy!) of history, theory, and critical analysis in architecture and urban design. The course consists of a series of lectures and seminars that contextualize and discuss course readings. With the aid of these seminars, and in dialogue with the instructor, students formulate a topic for their final paper. The final paper should be a written text, report, or design exercise, complete with references and a bibliography.

Organisation

The course description and its context are introduced in an introductory lecture. Learning is structured around reading assignments and seminars or lectures. Deliverables are defined at the outset of the course through readings, assignments and presentations as well as through a final paper. The course combines lectures with reading seminars and tutorials.

Literature

A list of compulsory and reference literature/study material will be presented at the start of the course.

Examination including compulsory elements

For their course work, students will be invited to study examples of projects, initiatives, and individuals or groups who have pushed for critical agendas in the profession, discipline or education.

Each student must hand in an individual text of 2000-2200 words, complete with references and a bibliography at the end of the course. Students are required to participate actively in a minimum of 80% of the seminars and lectures. Grading depends on the level of ability to apply theoretical, historical and/or critical knowledge. Mainly descriptive texts are graded 3; text that show a more analytical ability are graded 4; text that demonstrate a deeper analytical and argumentative ability are graded 5. Texts that are not meeting the word requirement, not handed in in time, not referring to any of the course literature, show poor citation practices, or do not demonstrate that the student has met the learning objectives to a satisfying level will be failed.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.