Theory of Architecture

What is theory? What are different types of theories and their relationship to art and architecture? Relationship between Traditional, Avant-Garde, and Kitsch in art and architecture. Age of revolutions and emancipation of classes, and its impact on art and architecture. Understanding how the socio-cultural context influences art and architecture. Overview of the timeline of architecture, with contemporary socio-cultural situations.

Age of reason and industrial revolution, and its impact on art and architecture. Affects of socio-cultural and technological changes, and public aspirations, during in the late 19th century which lead to various architectural movements and thought processes. Arguments supporting and opposing the Industrial revolution's impact on art and architecture. Compare and contrast various contemporaneous art and architecture movements. Impact of global events like WWII in the development of new art and architectural aesthetic. Theories and philosophies to be considered - Arts and Crafts movement; Art Nouveau; Vienna Secession; City Beautiful movement; Art Deco; De Stijl; Chicago Style; Russian Constructivism; Expressionism Important architects - Antonio Gaudi; Charles Rennie Mackintosh; Adolf Loos; Auguste Perret; Peter Behrens; Bruno Taut; Gerrit Reitveld; Tatlin; Louis Sullivan; Daniel Burnham; Erich Mendelson; Henry Labrouste; Hans Scharoun

Le Corbusier's theories and manifesto. Positivism-Progress-Utopia. Art and Architecture of the machine age. Birth of modernism through movements like Deutcher Werkbund and Bauhaus. Contemporaneous architecture movements like Organic Architecture; Modern Urbanism; CIAM, and Athens Charter; Broad Acre city; Important Architects - Gropius; Mies Van der Rohe; Frank Lloyd Wright; Le Corbusier; Alvar Aalto; Louis Kahn;

Philosophical underpinning of post modern architecture as a critique of the modern movement. Post modern urbanism. Variations in approach - Historicism, Classicism, Revivalism, Deconstructionism, Critical Regionalism, High-tech architecture. Key thinkers/architects - Archigram, Superstudio, Jane Jacobs, Kevin Lynch, Robert Venturi, Michael Graves, Eero Sarrinen, Peter Eisenman, Charles Moore, Zaha Hadid, Bernard Tschumi, Richard Rogers, Tadao Ando, Daniel Libeskind, James Sterling, Peter Zumthor, Charles Correa, Luis Barragan, B.V. Doshi, Joseph A. Stein, etc

Computational architecture, Parametricism, Algorithmic Architecture. Neo-modern architecture, Eclecticism. APPROACH Through the presentation of the work of the architects from Pre Modern, Modern and Post Modern, the students have to trace their ideology, their philosophical attitudes and the theories that may have contributed to their evolution. The architect may be associated with a theoretical movement or group, which needs to be highlighted through models, sketches and design assignments emphasizing the philosophy or style.