ABN513 Contemporary Architectural Theory
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | ABN513 |
|---|---|
| Equivalent(s): | DAN125, DAN108 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,164 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,612 |
| International unit fee | $5,196 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | ABN513 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Equivalent: | DAN108, DAN125 |
| Coordinator: | Mark Hiley | m.hiley@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit explores the rise of contemporary architectural theory since the late 1960s until today through architecture’s interdisciplinary excursions into discourses from philosophy, psychoanalysis and Marxism. Architectural theory will be taught not as an abstraction or severance from concrete architectural production, but as an active agent through which the discipline of architecture responds to radical politics and a broader cross-disciplinary dialogue in order to transform the reality of design practice and the architecture studio alike. The unit serves as a platform for theorising your own design praxis in the studio, and importantly developing a position as an architect. It enhances your previous learning in the design studios by providing you the intellectual skills to participate in global architectural debate, and moreover the ability to make your own design projects theoretically rigorous. This is the foundation of architecture that makes an impact in the real world.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Produce written and oral exposition of concepts, arguments, and theories through close reading and comprehension of architecture texts and their influence on architectural production.
- Produce your own analysis, interpretation and arguments around seminal theoretical texts.
- Theorise and contextualise architectural works or projects, especially your own work, within the wider international architectural debate.
Content
The major topics covered in this unit will include:
- Post-modernism
- Post-functionalism
- Criticality
- Deconstruction
- Simulation
- Surface architecture
- Iconicity
- Capitalism
- Violent urbanism.
Texts and theorists to be covered are disciplinary as well as interdisciplinary, as the contemporary architectural discussion has historically drawn from three key external paradigms: philosophy, psychoanalysis and Marxism.
Learning Approaches
Your learning in this unit will be organised through close-readings of texts and lectures that will deepen your appreciation of the readings. You will form small groups within the tutorials to encourage deep intellectual engagement with the texts and lecture material, and where you will have the opportunity to lead the tutorial discussion as active learners. These discussions will in turn help you develop your theoretical position in relation to the texts, so that you can confidently undertake the written assessments through self-directed study. By deep engagement with the major intellectual paradigms that influenced global contemporary architecture with its interdisciplinary sources, you will build on your undergraduate studies and knowledge as reflective practitioners with broad perspectives.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:
- In-class formative exercises (desk-crits)
- In-class review of weekly activities
- Criteria-referenced assessment rubrics
- Verbal feedback from tutorial staff at the completion of projects.
Feedback on Assessment 1 will be swift to enable a more focused approach to Assessment 2.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment will take the form of two projects. While each project will be assessed for grading at the completion of the project, there will also be ongoing formative feedback throughout the semester, to guide your progress. Assessment expectations will be provided through criteria referenced assessment rubrics, and also discussed during relevant lectures and presentations.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Literature Review
The literature review is a critical analysis of published sources, or literature, within a particular area or debate, organised around a central argument or theme, culminating in an essay topic for further exploration in Project 2, the Essay.
Assessment: Essay
The scholarly architectural essay seeks to contribute to architectural discussion by responding to built work and architectural ideas and theories, and by ordering its insights and arguments in such a way that others within the discipline (architects, students, theorists and critics) can receive them, and respond in turn. This dynamic circulation of ideas is at the heart of the scholarly essay, and makes possible the long conversation we call 'architecture theory'. Based on your literature review developed in Project 1, you are required to develop and submit an essay with citations.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Requirements to Study
Requirements
All students and staff are required to complete the Tier 1 CIF General Health and Safety Induction for access to campus buildings and facilities. This must be completed online.
Resources
Specific resources and materials will be shared through the unit Canvas site.
Risk Assessment Statement
This unit is based in QUT teaching spaces, and as such there are no out of the ordinary risks or hazards.
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.DE83 Master of Architecture
- Identifying, explaining and working with appropriate knowledge of architecture, its history and precedents and with knowledge of people, environments, culture, technology, history and ideas pertinent to architectural propositions.
Relates to: ULO3, Literature Review, Essay - Independently researching and evaluating emergent knowledge as it becomes necessary to fulfil the profession's role in society.
Relates to: ULO1, Literature Review, Essay - Supporting their decision-making using evidence-based, reasoned argument and judgement pertaining to architectural propositions.
Relates to: ULO2, Literature Review, Essay - Communicating with a variety of audiences in appropriate ways.
Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, Literature Review, Essay