Subject
Theory and Methodology of Practice-oriented Research in Architecture
Course description
The course gives a perspective on theoretical and methodological trajectories of practice-oriented research in architecture. It provides an overview of how theory and methods are addressed concerning forms of knowledge in architecture, with a focus on explorative, reflexive, and critical research methods rooted in the humanities, social sciences, and STS. Notions of different scientific traditions, paradigmatic shifts, and inter- and transdisciplinary research are presented and discussed in ways that are particularly useful for enrolled and emergent doctoral researchers pursuing practice-oriented research. Course participants are provided with an understanding of selected key concepts and topics; the relationship between epistemology, ontology, and methodology, and the linkage between research questions, objectives, methods and outcomes, through lectures, literature seminars, workshops, collaborative and specific tasks. In emphasizing social complexity and experimentation, the course offers doctoral candidates insights into recent architectural thinking, innovative methods, and performative research practices. On completion of the course, participants will acquire tools to critically reflect on the epistemological and ethical challenges, inherent to their own research practices.
How to apply
Participants of Module 1 International workshop, please send a statement of interest to: research.edu@ar.tum.de
Newcomers, add a short bio and an abstract describing your research project. The deadline for application is 15th of November 2021.
Syllabus
The course is organized in 6 intense modules of 2 days plus a short writing moment on the following Friday morning and requires 1-2 days of preparatory reading. Course activities include lectures, literature and writing seminars, workshops, presentations of own work, peer review, and group work. For detailed module informations, please see course description as PDF.
Timeline 2021-2022
| 13-14 October | Module 1: WORKSHOP APPROACHING RESEARCH PRACTICES IN ARCHITECTURE FIVE QUESTIONS |
| 01-02 December | Module 2 REINVENTING METHODOLOGY |
| 26-27 January | Module 3 ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN HISTORIES |
| 09-10 March | Module 4 THEORETICAL POSITIONING |
| 27-28 April | Module 5 SPECULATIVE ETHICS |
| 01-02 Juni | Module 6 REFLECTIONS ON PRACTICE-ORIENTED RESEARCH |
| 31 July | Deadline for articles |
| 1 August – 30 September | Peer review |
| 31 October | Deadline for revisions |
| November - December | Journal number goes into production with launch spring 2023 |
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of the course, participants are equipped with tools to
- describe and discuss concepts of knowledge in relation to research practice
- describe and discuss central theories and methods of practice-oriented research in architecture and assess them in relation to foci, topics, and aims
- describe and discuss inter- and transdisciplinary research practice, and have a historical view of disciplinary divisions and modern divides
- critically reflect on how environmental, political and social complexity at the intersection of aspects of gender, class, racialization and other factors of (dis)empowerment affect the preconditions for research, in general, and given specific studies
- critically reflect over their own research practices in view of epistemological and ethical challenges
Participants
Participants are expected to read and discuss literature at theoretical and philosophical level, to present and discuss their readings at literature seminars, to partake in workshops and to conduct independent critical and reflective thinking in the writing of a paper and / or the making of an exhibit. To be eligible for the course, participants must have completed a masters’ degree or have an equivalent level of education in architecture or affiliated subjects within the humanities, social sciences and technology. The course requires a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 30 students to be held.
Structure
The course is based on six modules and is run on Zoom. Each module approaches a broader debate through specific examples. It will offer a number of tasks and online supervision meetings with tutors and curated participants’ working groups.
Contributions from the course will be submitted to peer-review and published in a special Journal issue, tentatively in Dimensions of Architectural Knowledge, BauHow5’s accredited printed and online Journal.
Examination happens on the basis of the fulfilment of tasks that are handed in continuously during the duration of the course, participation in supervision moments a published article and / or an exhibition.
Working time for all six modules equals 7,5 credits (of the Swedish academic system) or 200 hours which includes own work efforts such as reading, preparations for seminars, and writing an academic article and / or creating an exhibit. It is possible to sign up for individual modules. Participants are expected to have read the indicated literature and have handed in their material in due time before online meetings. Participants will also read and respond to each other’s works.
Coordinators
- Dr. Meike Schalk, associate prof. in Urban Design and Urban Theory, KTH School of Architecture, Royal Inst. of Technology, Stockholm / Anna Boyksen Fellow, TUM-IAS
- Dr. Torsten Lange, lecturer, Inst. of Architecture IAR, Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture / visiting prof. in Theory and History of Architecture, Art and Design, Department of Architecture, TUM
- Elena Markus, doctoral research fellow and lecturer in Theory and History of Architecture, Art and Design, Department of Architecture, TUM
- Dr. Andreas Putz, prof. in Recent Building Heritage Conservation, Department of Architecture, TUM
- Dr. Karin Reisinger, FWF Hertha Firnberg Research Fellow and lecturer, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
Advisory board
Ute Besenecker, KTH School of Architecture; Monica Billger, Chalmers University of Technology; Ben Boucsein, TU München; Irina Davidovici, ETHZ; Isabelle Doucet, Chalmers University of Technology; Dietrich Erben, TU München; Catharina Gabrielsson, KTH School of Architecture; Uta Graff, TU München; Katja Grillner, KTH School of Architecture; Janina Gosseye, TU Delft; Carola Hein, TU Delft; Tanja Herdt, TU Delft; Frank van der Heuven, TU Delft; Jonathan Hill, The Bartlett, UCL; Ulrika Karlsson, KTH School of Architecture; Daniel Koch, KTH School of Architecture; Ferdinand Ludwig, TU München; Jennifer Mack, KTH School of Architecture; Helena Mattsson, KTH School of Architecture; Emma Nilsson, LTH Lund University; Christina Pech, KTH School of Architecture;
Barbara Penner, The Bartlett, UCL; Sophia Psarra, The Bartlett School, UCL; Hilde Remoy, TU Delft; Jane Rendell, The Bartlett, UCL; Gunnar Sandin, LTH Lund University; Gerhard Schubert, TU München; Sören Schöbel-Rutschmann, TU München; Alain Thierstein, TU München; Amy Thomas, TU Delft; Fredrik Torisson, LTH Lund University; Philip Ursprung, ETHZ; Udo Weilacher, TU München