Course syllabus

Course-PM

Resistant Architecture: 1968 and beyond

ARK595 History, theory and method 2 lp3 VT23 (3 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Contact details

Isabelle Doucet

Isabelle.doucet@chalmers.se

Course purpose

May 1968 was a pivotal moment in the critical self-reflection of the profession and discipline of architecture. Spurred by countercultures, women’s liberation, the civil rights movement and various grassroots uprisings, the 1960s and 1970s saw young architects and students questioning longstanding conventions and privileges of architecture and encouraging architects to adopt roles that were socially responsible, politically active and environmentally aware. Architects would also set out to advocate for vulnerable communities, support urban activists in their struggle against the destruction of the historic urban fabric, and explore forms of ecological, cooperative and collective living. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, resistant architectures took various shapes including, for example, ecological houses, ephemeral and nomadic architectures, inflatable structures, manifestos, collective living experiments, and grassroots action.

This course will use 1968 as a starting point to study architecture as an agent for change/resistance and to discuss architecture in an expanded view highlighting ways of doing architecture beyond the designing and realising of buildings. The course will introduce students to instances of resistant architecture, which it takes as an invitation to ask how architecture can develop radical imaginations towards a more socially and ecologically sustainable world, also today.

Schedule

See General Course Information in "Modules" and on course "Homepage"

TimeEditLinks to an external site.

Course design

The course will combine lectures with discussions and reading seminars. 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. Guidance will be provided for the selection of topics for the essay. This year, specific attention will be placed on (overlooked) role models in the profession, discipline, and education of architecture.

The course is based on lectures, reading seminars, individual study, coursework tutorials, and writing. Each student will write and submit a short paper.

The course examination is based on active participation in lectures and seminars, and the submission of a written paper based on individual readings and analysis.

Learning objectives and syllabus

Learning objectives:

Knowledge and understanding
Demonstrate an understanding of a particular theoretical trajectory in architecture and urban design.

Understand and analyse arguments laid out in theoretical texts.
Use theoretical texts as basis for formulating a position or query.
Appropriately use citation, references and bibliography.

Ability of assessment and attitude
Promote the value (and joy!) of history, theory, and method in architecture.
Critically relate their own writing and arguments in the course to larger issues or questions in architecture and urban design, as outlined in the brief.

Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.

Study planLinks to an external site.

Examination form

The course examination is based on active participation in lectures and seminars, and the submission of a written paper (max 2500 words) based on individual readings and analysis.

Active participation in lectures and seminars

Students are expected to take active part in discussions in class (in small groups and in the class as a whole) based on prepared readings.

Students are required to participate actively in a minimum of 80% of the seminars and lectures. 

Course work: essay

Students are invited to study examples of projects, initiatives, and individuals or groups who have pushed for critical agendas in the profession, discipline or education; and they will thus engage with readings and topics from the course. Students will be encouraged to study architects (and other contributors to shaping of the built environment) and/or their projects with particular relevance to expanded / critical / resistant practices; or to study overlooked role models (e.g. by focusing on women in the profession). Relevant topics for the essay will be suggested by or discussed with (and approved by) the examiner.  

Each student must hand in an individual text of 2000-2200 words, complete with references and a bibliography at the end of the course. 

Grading depends on the level of ability to apply theoretical, historical and/or critical knowledge: Failed, 3, 4, 5.

• 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.

Course literature

Course literature will be provided for each of the sessions (see Modules)

Communication, Organisation, Deadlines

Canvas will be used as the main platform for the course communications. Students are encouraged to contact the course leader via Canvas or direct email.

Students will be expected to consult library collections (including E-books ad E-journals) for accessing readings for the course and use both library collections and online sources for the course work.

Prepared readings: Students will be expected to prepare readings for the sessions where such preparation is requested. When missing such as session, students will be asked to complete a replacement assignment.

Tutorial / discussion of course work: Students will be expected to attend scheduled sessions dedicated to the discussion of course work progress. Tutorials will not be facilitated outside these scheduled sessions unless suggested or approved by the examiner. 

The deadline for the coursework (essay) is 29 May 2023, which is a fixed deadline for all students.

No submissions or resubmissions are allowed at a later date (unless justified by special circumstances and only upon approval by the examiner before the deadline) 

Changes made since the last occasion

Updated literature list.

Broadening of the subject matter suggested for the individual essay.