Class Theory of Architecture 1.1

Teoria 1.1 (Theory of Architecture) is the first theory unit of the degree and its object is the construction of the disciplinary vocabulary. It belongs to the field of architectural theory and criticism and starts from an elementary and non-trivial question: what is architecture. It is a course unit on the analysis of concepts and cases. It addresses the reading of founding texts accessible to a first year and works centrally on three matters - the relation between the natural and the built, the concepts that describe the city, and the ground as design material. It closes with the house and memory, the first experience of space any student possesses before entering the course.

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Topic 1 - This is Architecture.   Topic 2 - Natural and built Topic 3 - Urban concepts.   Topic 4 - Topography.   Topic 5 - Memory and private space.   Topic 6 - The exhibition and the film as forms of discourse.  

All contact hours for this course unit are allocated to theoretical teaching (T). The methodologies described are implemented through lectures, guided discussion, and seminar sessions. Exercises are carried out as independent student work within the hours allocated for this purpose. a) Lecture sessions conclude with a synthesis that translates the content into an operative question directed towards the work being developed in the Design Studio course unit. b) Three levels of work, with distinct functions: short worksheets, individual exercises, and a group exercise. c) Cross-course visits constitute lecture sessions conducted in diverse contexts, with commentary guided by the instructor. d) Collective construction of a semester glossary. e) Critical literacy in the use of generative AI (GenAI). f) Moodle platform for the distribution of texts, reading guides, assignments, and feedback on assessments - inverted classroom.

Bachelard, G. (1957). La poétique de l'espace. Paris: PUF. [Ed. portuguesa: A poética do espaço.] Ching, F. D. K. (2015). Architecture: Form, space, and order (4th ed.). Hoboken: Wiley. Cullen, G. (1961). Townscape. London: Architectural Press. [Ed. portuguesa: Paisagem urbana. Lisboa: Edições 70.] Lynch, K. (1960). The image of the city. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. [Ed. portuguesa: A imagem da cidade. Lisboa: Edições 70.] Rasmussen, S. E. (1959). Experiencing architecture. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. Távora, F. (1962). Da organização do espaço. Porto: FAUP Publicações. Unwin, S. (1997). Analysing architecture. London: Routledge. Zumthor, P. (2006). Thinking architecture (2nd ed.). Basel: Birkhäuser. [Ed. portuguesa: Pensar a arquitectura. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili.] Siza, Á. (2009). 01 Textos. Porto: Civilização Editora.