ARCH613 CRITICAL THEORIES ON URBAN ARCHITECTURE
| Course Code: | 1200613 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 8.0 |
| Department: | Architecture |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Masters |
| Course Coordinator: | Assoc.Prof.Dr. AYŞEM BERRİN ÇAKMAKLI |
| Offered Semester: | Fall or Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
Despite repeated attempts to understand the nature of recent urbanisms, there remains a wide spectrum of positions, particularly in contemporary critical urban theories. In this context, in order to question the post-industrial era’s ever-changing spatial qualities, man-made and natural respectively, this course focuses on some of the faculties of critical urban theories and explores their motives. The course will also question:
- Changing characters of mode of production and their spatial implications, geographical to urban, in terms of Marxist economy-politics,
- Attitudes in modes of distribution, re-distribution, and consumption; and roles of urban spaces as political settings of such spatial re-configurations,
- Future of urban spaces in relation to such themes as resistance, anti-capitalist urbanisms, etc.
Viewed from the perspective of critical urban theories, this course is specifically designed to problematize urban existence in relation to Marxist economy-politics. It is important to note that critical urban theories also call for a mode of inquiry, neither reductionist nor negative in nature, and primarily locate the issue of power in spatial analyses. Structured parallel to Arch 526 Politics and Space, in this respect, the principal objective of this course is to develop a framework directly related to cities and examine how and to what extent urban operations, understood as both the objects and the instruments of power, are liable and effective in contemporary structures, both social and spatial.
Course Content
Critical theories on urban space in terms of Marxist political economy. The changing characters of mode of production and their spatial implications, geographies to urban environments; the attitudes in modes of distribution, re-distribution, and consumption; the roles of urban spaces as political setting of spatial re-configurations; the future of urban spaces in relation to such themes as authority, discipline, and/or resistance.
Course Learning Outcomes
This course aims to create an architectural milieu of urban studies, particularly among the Ph.D. candidates and provide them with a theoretical knowledge and instruments necessary for understanding urban spaces in its social and political complexities
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | To be able to integrate the knowledge and understanding gained in the undergraduate program of architecture in a way to include developments in the fields of design, theory and criticism, urban and landscape research, digital design, and sustainability in architecture, and to acquire and comprehend advanced knowledge. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | To know the relations of social, cultural, political, economic, technological, artistic and philosophical theories, discourses, methods and tools with the discipline of architecture. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | To know the theoretical frameworks and research methods that provide the necessary basis for research in the field of architecture, and to internalize research ethics. | ✔ | |||
| 4 | To be able to construct and conduct research processes using research methods in the field of architecture and evaluate the results. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | To be able to access knowledge from different fields and to use it with an analytical, critical, innovative and creative approach in the context of architectural research. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | To have independent learning and scientific research skills. | ✔ | |||
| 7 | To be able to convey knowledge and research results in a consistent and comprehensible manner with oral, written and visual expression. | ✔ | |||
| 8 | To have the ability to research and practice in interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary environments. | ✔ | |||
| 9 | To be able to apply the knowledge, understanding, problematic definition and solution development skills gained about architecture in different professional and academic contexts. | ✔ | |||
| 10 | To be able to develop a critical approach based on knowledge and competence. | ✔ | |||
| 11 | To be able to manage complex and unpredictable situations related to the field of expertise with the awareness of social, environmental and ethical responsibilities and to develop new strategic approaches. | ✔ | |||
| 12 | To be able to conduct independent scientific research in the field of expertise and to be aware of the importance of lifelong learning. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution