AR(int)/IA/SRP/AR EN Electivesem 2, GentARCHITECTURAL ANTHROPLOGY HISTORY & THEORY

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Material Culture, Cultural Anthropology, Hybridity, Intercultural, Multiplicity

The course on Architectural Anthropology explores the relationship between Archi-tecture and Sustainability from the perspective of Culture and Society. Whenever the potential dimension of architecture as medium of communication and (spatial) mediation is at stake, architecture should be approached as a ‘cultural practice’. The underlying hypothesis is that if culture-specific concepts of ordered space and built form can be studied as a force rather than as a stable entity, the cultural di-mension and meaning of architecture will be better understood. What significance architecture could possibly have, what role it could play and what form it could take are questions that can no longer be satisfactorily addressed within the limita-tions of the research field of architectural history and theory. Extensive reference will be made to the cross-cultural work of Architectural Anthropologists such as Jan Pieper (India), Niels Gutschow (India-Nepal), Günter Nitschke (Japan), James Holston (modernity-Brasilia), Marc Augé (super-modernity), and the tutor’s exten-sive doctoral research in Bhutan.

How can intercultural studies act as a mirror or frame of reference to critically reflect upon one’s own spatial and cultural patterns and values from the viewpoint of the designer? To address this question, the methodology of the “ design matrix” and “culture matrix” will be introduced as an ‘open’ work hypothesis. The final output for this course consists of a double A1-size ‘research poster’ representing the spatio-cultural dimension of an ongoing design studio project.

MARC DUJARDIN