IA 515 - Theory and Criticism

Recently, we have seen an outburst of theories and manifestoes, which explore the possibilities of architecture and interior design, in terms of its language, evolution, impact, and social relevance. Through the careful consideration of key philosophical and theoretical texts, this course offers a forum for discussing contemporary and historical doctrine. This course is dedicated to exploring the ideas that lie behind the appearances of buildings and interior design, that is, architectural theory. In general, theory is the province of ideas that precedes action. In various examples we will be studying architects and interior designers that have combined ideas from different sources and for different purposes to create forms and spaces with complex and subtle meanings. In design, theory is not divorced from practice. On the contrary, theory and practice are inseparable. Architects and interior designers cannot physically construct the buildings they design without a set of ideas to guide them. These may be, for example, traditional conventions, environmental concerns, experimental structural concepts, or aesthetic judgments. Likewise, theory relies ultimately on practice to test its hypotheses and assumptions. Therefore, the course will primarily focus on the development of contemporary literary examples related to design and theory, through a semester long reading intensive course of far reaching ideas, and on analysis and critique of written doctrine relevant to interior design and architecture. Of interest is the articulation of philosophical and contemporary design issues.

Credits: 3