Date: January 19, 2014Department of Architecture, National University of SingaporeAR 5221: Contemporary Architectural Theoriesby Jeffrey Chan, A/P Bobby Wong & Tomohisa Miyauchi

ʻ...I shall call an apparatus literally anything that has in some way the capacity to capture, orient, determine, intercept, model, control, or secure the gestures, behaviors, opinions, or discourses of living beings.ʼ

# # # # # [Giorgio Agamben, What is an Apparatus? (2009), p.14]

Course Description:

What is ʻtheoryʼ in architecture? Using Banerjeeʼs distinction between the field, practice and pro-fession (Banerjee 2011), historically theory in the field of architecture, which is concerned with knowledge creation, critical reflection, history and criticism, is distinct from theory for the prac-tice and the profession of architecture, which is chiefly concerned with technical expertise, serv-ice delivery and the preservation of public safety/well-being.

But in the contemporary moment in architecture, the field, practice and profession are no longer so clearly distinguished. New practices such as SHoP Architects work between the boundaries of practice, profession and field (Hyde 2012)--delivering new services through the creation of new professional relations and consequentially, generating new knowledge. Similarly, architec-ture schools today are turning into centers of intensive research--producing new knowledge that is anticipating new professional practices. In the same way, sociotechnical codes and profes-sional institutions--the regulatory field (Imrie & Street 2011)--constrain but also create new ave-nues for knowledge production and design practices in architecture (Moore & Wilson 2014).

While these fluxes between the field, practice and profession exist within the contemporary moment for architecture, there are few venues in architecture to critically study, inspect and dis-cuss these fluxes. The design studio is well-suited for the development of design skills, while seminars on professional practices are well-suited to inform on the various dimensions of pro-fessional expertise. Neither however, is suited for the critical study of various interconnections and constraints created and mutually imposed by the field, practice and profession in architec-ture.

One anticipated venue, however, is this course in contemporary theory. In this course, theory is a way for describing these fluxes between field, practice and profession. Theory is therefore performative; and it can attain the status of an apparatus: an entity that can allow us to finally capture, orient, determine, intercept, model, control and (hopefully) secure the contemporary gestures, behaviors, opinions, or discourses of designers, architects and planners.

Course Format:

Weekly 45min-1hr lecture for the entire class to be followed by 1.5hr of in-depth discussions on weekly topical issues.

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Location:

LR422

Aims of the Course:

The threefold aim of this course is:

(i) to provide a survey to the contemporary landscape of issues and problems relevant to archi-tecture.

(ii) through this survey, to activate your initial theoretical response for future work in the disserta-tion and thesis phase of your education by way of critical questioning, explanation, clarification and formulation of new approaches or visions.

(iii) to encourage critical thinking, constructive debates and intellectual comfort with uncertainty and open questions in the discipline of architecture.

Course Grade Distribution and Evaluation

Deliverables Percentage

Group Presentation and Discussion 30%

Reading Response 10%

Final Research Paper 60%

TOTAL 100%

Assignments:

- Group In-class presentation and discussion (30%)

Students are to form groups of no more than 5 members. Each group will present once during the course.

Each group is to choose one of the weekly topics and perform a group research on this particu-lar topic. Each group must at least rely on one of the key readings used for that week. You are especially encouraged to seek further research on the topic and to organize, and to raise new questions and puzzles for this particular topic relevant to architecture for our common discus-sion.

Presentations are evaluated based on, (i) cogency and clarity of presentation (total of 10/30); (ii) comprehensive mastery of the topic, especially integrating new research beyond class materials (total of 10/30); (iii) capacity to raise original questions and/or new puzzles for our common dis-cussion, and ability to answer questions raised by the instructor and the audience (total of 10/30).

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A common grade will be given to the entire group for the presentation. You may use the white-board, or the projector, or any means you deem interesting or engaging for all of us. An excel-lent presentation will not only explicate what is important and core to the topic, but further go on to raise and develop new theoretical insights on the topic.

Each student in these individuals groups must however submit his or her own reading response based on at least one of the readings for that particular topic. This reading response must be submitted before your presentation that day. (Please see below)

- Reading Response (10%)

The reading response is a critical reflection--your own synthesized interpretation, position and insight--on the topic. Because of this, though the reading response can share some of your groupʼs insights on the topic, it should be primarily your own reading of the topic.

Reading responses are evaluated based on, (i) cogency and clarity of argumentations and writ-ing; (ii) clarity of oneʼs own position in relation to the critiqued position; (iii) ability to raise new questions and theoretical issues on the topic. A summary of the reading will be graded with the minimum passing grade (5/10).

Each reading response should be no more than 500 words, or the maximum of 2 pages.

- Final research paper (60%)

Each student is expected to submit a final research paper consisting of 15 pages (no more than 3500 words inclusive of bibliography) discussing a subject related to this course with special emphasis on definitiveness of subject, depth of analysis and the application of theoretical dis-cussions covered in class. Importantly, the student is expected to correctly cite key research materials used in this paper.

Recommended strategies for this final research paper include:

(1) Using your own studio project as the main vehicle to elicit and then explicate a set of theo-retical issues discussed in the course.

(2) Relying on several empirical cases as the main vehicle to elicit and then explicate a set of theoretical issues discussed in the course.

(3) Locate a concept or concepts that interest you in the course, and proceed by analyzing this concept in relation to empirical examples or case precedents in architecture and urban design.

These are only suggestions; you are free to decide on the direction of this final research paper. The critical points to bear in mind when writing this paper are: (a) clear research questions and topic; (b) coherent and critical arguments; (c) proper citations.

The final research paper is due, by 5pm, 28 April, 2014, Monday. Late papers will not be ac-cepted.

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- Class participation

Each student is expected to participate actively in the on-going discussions in the class. Perfect attendance is a necessary but not sufficient criterion for active participation; the student will have to think about the on-going dialogues in the class, and make his or her own voice heard in a clear and concise manner at all times. Furthermore, the student is expected to argue on be-half of his or her classmate by either building on the otherʼs ideas, or clarifying them, or arguing against them in a constructive manner for the purpose of fostering mutual learning.

- Other Factors for Evaluations

(1) Students must come to each class having read the readings assigned each week with intelli-gent questions that can help everyone to go deeper into thinking about the topics at hand. Un-prepared ignorance will not be tolerated in the class.

(2) There are sometimes optional readings for certain weeks. By ʻoptionalʼ, such readings have been offered to students who enjoy challenges and therefore demand a broader intellectual ho-rizon to the topics at hand.

(3) Late assignments will not be accepted except for reasons of (1) validated medical leave (2) valid emergencies.

(4) Unexplained and persistent absenteeism from class will not be tolerated.

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READINGS LIST AND SCHEDULE BY WEEK

Updated: 19 January, 2014

Week 1, Monday 13 January: Lecture Free Week for Year 4

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Week 2, Monday 20 January: Introduction

Introductory short lecture: ʻWhat is theory?ʼ and introduction to the course.

Lecture by Jeffrey Chan

No Group Presentations.

(1) Speaks, M. (2005). After Theory. Architectural Record, June 2005, pp.72-75.

(2) Hight, C. (2009). Meeting the New Boss: After the Death of Theory. Architectural Design, Vol.79, No.1, pp.40-45.

Optional:

(1) Baird, G. (2009). Thoughts on the Current State of Criticism in Architecture. Journal of Archi-tectural Education, Vol.62, No.3, pp.5.

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Week 3, Monday 27 January: Global Capital, Spaces of Neoliberalism and Iconic Architec-ture

Lecture by Jeffrey Chan

Discussion of Week 2 Readings

First Group presentations of Week 3 Readings

(1) Harvey, D. (2010). The Enigma of Capitalism and the Crises of Capitalism. UK: Profile Books. {Excerpts: Chapter 4: Capital Goes to Market, and Chapter 6: The Geography of It All}

(2) Jones, P. (2011). The Sociology of Architecture: Constructing Identities. UK: Liverpool Uni-versity Press. {Excerpts: Chapter 6: Iconic Architecture and Regeneration: The Form is the Function}

Optional:

(1) Lefebvre, H. (2009). Space: Social Product and Use Value. In N. Brenner & S. EIden (eds), State, Space, World: Selected Essays. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, pp.185-195.

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(2) Sklair, L. (2006). Iconic Architecture and Capitalist Globalization. City: analysis of urban trends, culture, theory, policy, action, vol.10, no.1, pp.21-47.

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Week 4, Monday 3 February: Urban Cinematics

Lecture by Tomohisa Miyauchi

Second Group presentations of Week 4 Readings

(1) Mennel, Barbara. Cities and Cinema, Ciritical Introductions to Urbanism and the City, Rout-ledge, 2008. 83-102

(2) Shiel, Mark. Screening the City, Verso, 2003. 262-297

(3) AlSayyad, Nezar. Cinematic Urbanism: A History of the Modern from Reel to Real, 2006. 71-96

Optional:

(1) Koeck, Richard. The City and the Moving Image: Urban Projections, 2010. 208-221

(2) Cairns, Graham. The Architecture of the Screen, 2013.

(3) Hallam, Julia. Locating the Moving Image: New Approaches to Film and Place (The Spatial Humanities), 2013.

(4) Penz, FranCois. Urban Cinematics: Understanding Urban Phenomena through the Moving Image, 2011.

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Week 5, Monday 10 February: Architecture and Late Capitalism

Lecture by Bobby Wong

Third Group presentations of Week 5 Readings

(1) Jameson, F. (1985). Architecture and the Critique of Ideology. In J. Ockman (ed.), Architec-ture, Criticism, Ideology. Princeton, NJ: Princeton Architectural Press, pp.51-87.

Optional:

(1) Jameson, F. (1991). Demographies of the Anonymous. Anyone, May 1991.

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Week 6, Monday 17 February: Readings on Deleuze

Lecture by Bobby Wong

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Fourth Group presentations of Week 6 Readings

(1) Rajchman, J. (2000). The Deleuze Connections. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press (Excerpt: Chap-ter 1).

Optional:

(1) Rajchman, J. (2000). The Deleuze Connections. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press (Excerpt: Chap-ter 2).

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RECESS:! ! ! 22 February 2014 - 2 March 2014

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Week 7, Monday 3 March: Entrepreneurship in Architecture

Moderation by Tomohisa Miyauchi

Guest speakers:

Chang Yong Terhttp://www.changarch.com/

Donovan Soonwww.fdat.co

Fifth Group presentations of Week 7 Readings

(1) Bauman Lyons Architects, How to be a Happy Architect, Black Dog Publishing. London; 1995. 76-95

(2) Herrmann RF, Menaker &amp, Herrmann LLP. Law for Architects: What You Need to Know. New York: W. W. Norton & Co; 2012. 151-178

(3) Wasserman BL, Sullivan P, Palermo G. Ethics and the Practice of Architecture. New York: Wiley; 2000. 186-187, 193-195, 199-202, 208-210, 220-221, 227-230

Optional:

(1) Cuff D. Architecture: The Story of Practice. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press; 1991. 17-56

(2) Gutman, Robert. Architecture From the Outside In: Selected Essays by Robert Gutman, 2010. 

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Week 8, Monday 10 March: Architectural Ethics and Spatial Justice

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Lecture by Jeffrey Chan

Sixth Group presentations of Week 8 Readings

(1) McNeill, D. (2009). The Global Architect: Firms, Fame and Urban Form. New York, NY: Rout-ledge. {Excerpts: Chapter 7: The Ethics of Architectural Practice}

(2) Till, J. (2009). Architecture Depends. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. {Excerpt: Chapter 10: Im-perfect Ethics}

Optional:

(1) Cuthbert, A.R. (2006). The Form of Cities: Political Economy and Urban Design. UK: Black-well. (Excerpt: Chapter 4: Politics)

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Week 9, Monday 17 March: Biopolitics and the Commons

Lecture by Bobby Wong

Seventh Group presentations of Week 9 Readings

Group Discussion Report 5 Due in Class

(1) (1) Negri, A. (2008). The Porcelain Workshop: for a new grammar of politics. Los Angeles, CA: Semiotext(e). {Excerpts: Chapter 1, p.13-28}

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Week 10, Monday 24 March: Curating Architecture

Lecture by Tomohisa Miyauchi

Eighth Group presentations of Week 10 Readings

(1) Chaplin S, Stara A. Curating Architecture and the City. New York: Taylor and Francis; 2009. 117-128

(2) Wade, Gavin. Curating in the 21st Century. Walsall: The New Art Gallerey Walsall; 2000. 44-60

(3) The Young Architects Program,The Museum of Modern Art and MoMA PS1. http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/yap/Archifest Singapore. http://archifest.sg/2013/

Optional:

(1) Smith T. Thinking Contemporary Curating. Vol no. 1. New York, NY: Independent Curators International; 2012. 28-55

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(2) Marincola P, Philadelphia Exhibitions Initiative. Curating now: imaginative practice/public re-sponsibility, Oct. 14-15, 2000. Philadelphia: Philadelphia Exhibitions Institute; 2001. 23-46

(3) Mosley J, Sara R. The Architecture of Transgression: Towards a Destabilising Architecture. Architectural Design. 2013;83:14-19

(4) Lange A, Lange JM. Writing about Architecture: Mastering the Language of Buildings and Cities. New York: Princeton Architectural Press; 2012.

(5) Davidson, Cynthia. Log 20, 2010.

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Week 11, Monday 31 March: Architecture of Fear and The Militarization of Everyday Spaces

Lecture by Jeffrey Chan

Ninth Group presentations of Week 11 Readings

(1) Bauman, Z. (2007). Liquid Times: Living in an Age of Uncertainty. UK: Polity. {Chapter 4: Out of Touch Together}

(2) Sorkin, M. (2008). Introduction: The Fear Factor. In M. Sorkin (ed), Indefensible Space: The Architecture of the National Insecurity State. NY: Routledge, pp.vii-xvii.

Optional:

(1) Coaffee, J. (2009). Terrorism, Risk and the Global City: Towards Urban Resilience. USA: Ashgate. {Chapter 1: Introduction: Terrorism, Risk and the Global City, pp.3-12}

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Week 12, Monday 7 April: Winning an Architectural Competition

Moderation by Tomohisa Miyauchi

Tenth (Final) Group presentations of Week 12 Readings

Guest Speaker: TBA

(1) BaumanLyons Architects. How to be a Happy Architect. Black Dog Publishing, 2008. 20-37

(2) Haan, Hilde De. Architects in Competition: International Architectural Competitions of the Last 200 Years, 1988. 180-207

Optional:

(1) Phase eins. The Architecture of Competitions. DOM publishers, 2009. 26-63

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(2) Andersson, Jonas E. Architectural Competitions - Histories and Practice, 2013.

(3) Rönn, Magnus. The Architectural Competition: Research Inquiries and Experiences, 2010.

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Week 13, Monday 14 April: Conclusion and Summary

Joint discussion and summary by Jeffrey Chan, A/P Bobby Wong and Tomohisa Miyauchi

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READING WEEK 19 APRIL 2014 - 25 APRIL 2014: NO CLASS____________________________________________________________________________

FINAL PAPER DUE 28 APRIL 2014, MONDAY, BY 5PM in the Departmentʼs Office. A box will be placed there for your papers.

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