Academics

Elaborate Course: Architectural Design Theory

精品课程：建筑设计理论

(Credits: 2; Credit Hours: 32; Laboratory Hours: 0)


1. The nature and objectives of the course

Architectural Design Theory is a mandatory and disciplinary fundamental course of the major of architectural design. The objectives of the course primarily include (a) establishing the knowledge-base and structure serving as the fundamentals of architectural design theory, (b) developing students’ critical thinking and analytical capabilities via revealing the origin, development of architectural concepts, and (c) laying the important foundation for subsequent theoretical courses and other research activities.


2. Training expectations of students’ capabilities

Upon completion of the course lectures, students are expected to achieve:

(1) Critical thinking: (a) deterministic knowledge of the fundamental concepts and methodologies typically employed in architecture, and (b) the elementary skills of abstracting rational and make interpretations of his own;

(2) Self-learning capability: (a) the capability of comprehending, analyzing and summarizing the knowledge system that have been offered and (b) the necessary skills to actively search and study references about a given subject matter;

(3) Communication capability: necessary capabilities of presenting homework and exam solutions in a comprehensive, neat and well-organized manner;

(4) Innovation capability: (a) a rewarding habit of independent thinking and thorough investigation focusing on a given topic, (b) the capability to come up with multiple solutions or methodologies, and (c) the ability to simplify, complicate or evolve a given problem.


3. Tentative allocation of teaching hours

Course Content

Hours (32)

Introduction

2

Fundamental Architectural Design Theory 1

2

Fundamental Architectural Design Theory 2

2

Architectural Topography 1

2

Architectural Topography 2

2

Architectural Topography 3

2

Architectural Topography 4 (Seminar)

2

Tectonics 1

2

Tectonics 2

2

Tectonics 3

2

Tectonics 4 (Seminar)

2

Space and Enclosure 1

2

Space and Enclosure 2

2

Space and Enclosure 3

2

Space and Enclosure 4 (Seminar)

2

Conclusion

2


4. Grading policy

Final Grade = Routine Performance (including attendance, homework evaluation, classroom discussion and quizzes) + Paper

Routine Performance: 40％

Paper: 60％

5. Textbook & references

(1) David Leatherbarrow, The Roots of Architectural Invention: Site , Enclosure, Material. Cambridge University Press, 1993.

(2) Kenneth Frampton, Studies in Tectonic Culture

(3) Jacques Lucan, Composition and Non-Composition: Architecture and Theory in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century