This course aims to cultivate a critical understanding of architecture and urban culture, emphasizing the foundational theories and conceptual frameworks that inform architectural design. It explores the principles of architectural order across different periods and contexts, analyzing architecture’s role within broader social and cultural milieus. Students will critically evaluate architectural objects through these discussions, considering form, function, typology, and symbolism.  By examining diverse theoretical perspectives and contextual settings, the course extends the architectural knowledge base and encourages students to view the design process through various theoretical lenses:

  • Specific local and universal cultures of space

  • The broader field of contemporary arts

  • The influence of public mass media and information proliferation

  • Social and political visions

  • Philosophical perspectives on architectural order

The course particularly focuses on:

  • Context and Building

  • Function and Form

These frameworks serve as the primary lenses for understanding architectural theory throughout the course.