Course syllabus
Course-PM
ACE386 ACE386 Critical lab: The value in architecture lp3 VT26 (5 hp)
Course is offered by the department of Architecture and Civil Engineering
Image: Mierle Laderman Ukeles' Maintenance Art Manifesto, 1969
Contact details
Naima Callenberg
Course leader, examiner
naima@chalmers.se
Course purpose
What is value and how does it relate to architecture? The course aims to form a laboratory of critical thinking around the topic of value in relation to architecture. It is said that architecture can be viewed as a mirror of the collective values of the society in which it is built. Architecture is (re)produced and assessed in relation to multiple set of value systems, ranging from monetary ones to ethical-social ones, where politics, norms, aesthetics and so forth all play a role. Believing that the construction sector and design disciplines must pivot and wholeheartedly engage in current crisis, this course aims to see how we as a field can be rewired to face and repair the state that we are in, using the perspective of value as a vehicle to do so. The course aims to make visible and critically examine the network of values which we as architects operate within and investigate the effect of the same. It aims to do so from three different, but very much connected perspectives, Work, Economy and Culture. These perspectives will give us points of departure for a journey of self-examination, where we will recognize and scrutinize unstated assumptions and deconstruct the embedded value systems of our field and speculate on what this can mean for the future. Lastly, the course aims to train and encourage the students to use source texts as a basis for formulating their individual research projects, standpoints and lines of argument, formatted as a written paper and as a visual representation in the form of a mapping/diagram.
Schedule
See canvas calendar and PDF under module General course information
All changes to the schedule will be updated in the canvas calendar and communicated via canvas announcement.
Course literature
See course pm.
Course design
The course explores value systems from different themed perspectives and consists of a series of lectures and seminars that contextualize and discuss course readings on these topics. With the aid of these seminars, and in dialogue with the instructor, students formulate a topic for their final paper. The course description and its context are introduced in an introductory lecture. Learning is structured around reading assignments, seminars and lectures. The main part of the course consists of a number of literature seminars based on a selection of text relating to specific themed perspectives on the general topic. Discussions are carried out both in class and in smaller groups. The course also contains meetings for individual tutoring. The literature list provides suggestions for further readings, to enhance each student’s choice of a theme for the individual assignment.
See further information in the course pm.
Changes made since the last occasion
This is the first time the course is taking place.
Learning objectives and syllabus
Learning objectives:
Knowledge and understanding
- demonstrate a critical understanding of how architecture relates to different concepts of value, using theoretical texts as basis for this understanding.
Competence and skills
- The student can formulate an independent standpoint based on arguments laid out in the course literature and other texts, develop this standpoint in an academic text, and appropriately use citation, references, and a bibliography.
Judgement and approach
- critically relate their own writing and arguments as developed in the course to larger issues and debates within architecture and urban design.
- demonstrate an ability to relate knowledge gained within the course to the development of a future professional role.
Link to the syllabus on Studieportalen.
Examination form
Examination takes place through:
- Compulsory shorter assignments in connection with each literature seminar.
- Compulsory final individual writing task which must be between 2000 and 2200 words and be based on the course literature.
- Submission of a visual representation which accompanies the writing task.
- Active and mandatory participation in literature seminars, presentations and discussions.
Grading depends on the level of ability to apply theoretical knowledge. 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, or do not demonstrate that the student has met the learning objectives to a satisfying level will be failed. It is not allowed to use AI generated text
The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.
See further information in the course pm.
Course summary:
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