The first module asks about the use and the possibility of a theory for architecture, with a specific application to and perspective on CAAD. We will be concerned with the relation between architectonics as a methodological, philosophical frame of reference and its application in architectural practice, both from a historical as well as from a structural point of view. We will especially look at the role technology plays in that relation.

Different from mechanical technology which operates on the substrate of physical forces, information technology takes as its substrate information. From an architectonic point of view, how can we orientate ourselves when constructing within the symbolic and its potentiality?

The rising importance of concepts like network, field, stratum and plateau a.o. point out that we are learning to maintain a different relation with geometry and quantification, and the respective socio-political forms of organization in space and time (territorialization/ deterritorialization). On a methodological level, the possibility of synthesizing series and constructing sequences as genuinely analytical elements point to the possibility of an abstraction from the geometrical elements and the mechanical methods of aligning them.

The students will be introduced to the larger problematics behind the profound changes that are characteristic for our time, as well as to some key concepts and methods for approaching and dealing with them. The introduction into these backgrounds will help the students to develop an own position and attitude as a future architect. These embedding concepts are key for learning how to design and construct within the space of abundant potentials that the symbolic is.

A great emphasis of the course will lie on training the students in a kind of architectonic close reading of demanding texts. Furthermore they will re-visit conceptual elements of their daily practice such as a plan, a line, a surface from a fresh perspective. In a final exercise the students will work on presenting their re-considerations of one or several elementary architectonic concepts in short videoclips to share and distribute online. The results will be presented to the CAAD group at ETH, as well as to a final guest critic.

MAS10_1M_flyer

Structure of the Module

The module consists of a series of lectures, reading assignments & group discussions, individual tasks & presentation/discussion of the results

Reading assignments:

Michel Serres: The Origin of Geometry pdf + bibliographic info

Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari: Rhizome pdf + bibliographic info

Gilles Deleuze, Félix Guattari: Geology of Morals pdf+ bibliographic info

Help and guideline for how to approach the text_pdf

LECTURES:

Three introductory lecture to the module:

1 Ludger Hovestadt on ABUNDANT POTENTIALS IN METHOD AND APPLICATION OF CAAD: beyond the Grid – Scripting what can’t be drawn. www.mas.caad.arch.ethz.ch/mas1011/?p=1646

2 Vera Bühlmann ON ABUNDANCE AS A PROBLEM, FROM A THEORETICAL STANCE: Applying Virtuality: At the limits of our geometrically trained imagination and reasoning www.mas.caad.arch.ethz.ch/mas1011/?p=1653

3 Ludger Hovestadt and Vera Bühlmann ON REAL ABUNDANCE: energy in the metalithic era www.mas.caad.arch.ethz.ch/mas1011/?p=1655

Vera Bühlmann: mediality & architectonics www.mas.caad.arch.ethz.ch/mas1011/?p=1657

Edward Willat: Gilles Deleuzes Architectonics of Growth www.mas.caad.arch.ethz.ch/mas1011/?p=134

Klaus Wassermann: Evolution. About Owls flying from Athens to Manhattan www.mas.caad.arch.ethz.ch/mas1011/?p=1662

Ludger Hovestadt: On the Point www.mas.caad.arch.ethz.ch/mas1011/?p=1664

Vera Bühlmann: On Coding www.mas.caad.arch.ethz.ch/mas1011/?p=1666

Klaus Wassermann: Sequences. Concepts and simple Methods www.mas.caad.arch.ethz.ch/mas1011/?p=1668

Kate Marshall: Narrative Infrastructures: Architecture, Narrative, Fiction www.mas.caad.arch.ethz.ch/mas1011/?p=136

Student Task: FROM SYSTEMS THEORY TO THEORY OF STRATIFICATION

Each student works out the rhizomatic rooting of one of the central concepts in a text by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari: The Geology of Morals.

Aata Muszynska: Abstract Machine

Hideaki Takenaga:Assemblage

Jesper Thøger Christensen: Plane of Consistency

Jorge Orozco: Stratification

Magda Osinska: Deterritoialization

Mihye An: Matrix

Nikola Marincic: Rhizome

Mohammad Kadivar: Architectural Concept in Islamic Architecture(Mosque Architecture Past and Present)