ARCH609 - PARADIGMS ON ARCHITECTURE

Course Description

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PARADIGMS ON ARCHITECTURE

Evaluation Tools (Active Term)

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Course outcomes

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Course Syllabus

Week	Topic
Week 1	10.2.2026 Introduction to the course.
Week 2	17.2.2026 Concept of Paradigm- definitions, definition of culture, comparison of different paradigms
Week 3	24.2.2026 Tradition and Modernity/Post modernity as Different Paradigms; Ancient science, Scientific Development (separation of areas, disciplines) and Significance of Change; Matriarchy and Patriarchy as Different Paradigms- reflections on architecture.
Week 4	03.3.2026 Changes in Philosophy (separation of arts and crafts; politics, ethics and economics), Philosophies on Transformation and Change- Tradition, rejection of history. What are the turns in philosophy? Definitions of culture. Are hese definitions related to the concept of paradigm?
Week 5	10.3.2026 Midterm take-home exam and presentations
Week 6	17.3.2026 Ancient science and modern science comparison. Development and fragmentation of sciences. What are the turns in science? On science in architecture and design research. Will AI’s cause a new paradigm? Previous utopias, dystopias, heterotopias and their relation to architecture.
Week 7	23.3.2026 - 10.4.2026 Midterm exams and jury week
Week 8	10.4.2026 Ancient art- ideal frozen form, Changes towards Modern art (originality, individualism)- moving forms, deformed forms- reflections on architecture. What are the turns in art? On form and meaning in architecture.
Week 9	21.4.2026 Evolution of the general concept of paradigm. How many different definitions exist? How can this transformation be explained? Which concepts can be useful to differentiate paradigms related to architecture?
Week 10	28.4.2026 Classic architecture- Firmitas/Utilitas/Venustas, proportions (including Vitrivius, Leon Battista Alberti) Rationalist and modernist architecture (including Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe) Critical architecture (including Manfredo Tafuri, Henri Lefevbre) Digital architecture (including Patrick Schumacher and Zaha Hadid Architects) Are they different paradigms?
Week 11	05.5.2026 Tectonic architecture (articulation of material, structure, detail; tectonic meaning + the concept of montage versus unity, ontological approach to time) Gottfried Semper, Kenneth Frampton, Gevork Hartoonian; Post-modern architecture (semiotics, contextual symbolism, canonic/iconic… classicism, sensational image making) Neil Leach, Robert Venturi, Charles Jencks; Phenomenological approach to architecture (place, corner, sensory experience, existential experience) C. Norberg Schulz, Juhani Pallasmaa; Ecological approach to architecture (sustainability, ecology, bioclimatic approach) Are they different paradigms? Are they different paradigms with respect to the approaches studied in week 8?
Week 12	12.5.2026 Transformation of concepts of paradigm and transformation of the concept in architecture. In which terms the differences can be explained?
Week 13	16.5.2026 Final take-home exam and presentations
Week 14	18.5.2026 - 12.6.2026 Final exams and Juries
Week 15	-

Reference Books & Course Materials

01 Thomas Kuhn (2012[1962]) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. The University of Chicago.
02 Kenneth Frampton (2020) Modern Architecture: A Critical History. Thames and Hudson.
03 Duafang Lu (Ed.) (2021) The Routledge Companion to Contemporary Architectural History. Routledge.
04 Erics von Dietze (2001) Paradigms explained, Rethinking Thomas Kuhn`s Philosophy of Science. Bloomsburg Academy.

Learning Outcomes

No learning outcomes have been defined.

Program Outcomes

P01 Solving the architectural problems by making use of the research methods (skill).
P02 The ability to carry out a specialistic study related to architecture independently. (Competence to work independently and take responsibility).
P03 Developing new strategic approaches to solve the unforeseen and complex problems arising in the practical processes of architecture and coming up with solutions while taking responsibility (Competence to work independently and take responsibility).
P04 Fulfilling the leader role in the environments where solutions are sought for the problems of architecture (Competence to work independently and take responsibility).
P05 Assessing the specialistic knowledge and skill gained through the study with a critical view and directing one’s own learning process (Learning Competence).
P06 Systematically transferring the current developments of architecture and one’s own work to other groups in and out of the area; in written, oral and visual forms (Communication and Social Competency).
P07 Ability to see and develop social relationships and the norms directing these relationships with a critical look and the ability to take action to change these when necessary (Communication and Social Competency).
P08 Proficiency in inglish- and establishing written and oral communication with english (Communication and Social Competency).
P09 Using the computer software together with the information and communication technologies efficiently and according to the needs of architecture (Communication and Social Competency).
P10 Paying regard to social, scientific, cultural and ethical values during the collecting, interpreting, practicing and announcing processes of the architectural data and the ability to teach these values to others (Area Specific Competency).
P11 Developing strategy, policy and application plans concerning the architectural issues area and the ability to evaluate the end results of these plans within the frame of quality processes (Area Specific Competency).
P12 Using the knowledge and the skills for problem solving and/or application (which are processed within the architecture) in inter-disciplinary studies (Area Specific Competency).
P13 In the programs with thesis, the ability to present one’s own work within the international environments orally, visually and in written forms (Area Specific Competency).

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