Teaching

Chair of History of Architecture and Curatorial Practice

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Chair of History of Architecture and Curatorial Practice

The Chair of History of Architecture and Curatorial Practice offers a range of practical and theoretical courses on exhibition design and the history and theory of architecture, including a yearly lecture course on the history of architectural exhibitions. We offer an insight into curating architectural exhibitions, oftentimes working with students on the topics we exhibit at the museum in the Pinakothek der Moderne. We hold classes on exhibition mediums such as practical photography workshops, seminars based on the holdings of our archive, and historical seminars on architectural models, among others.

The Chair supervises Master’s Theses and PhDs.

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Topic identification and submission
Master's theses at the Chair of History of Architecture and Curatorial Practice are agreed upon personally by the student with the chair holder in the preceding semester on the basis of a thematic proposal. The choice of topic is already part of the independent examination of a historical or a current issue in architecture and it is expected that the applicant has already developed her/his own ideas for processing in advance. The submission of a Master's thesis consists of a written paper, the length of which depends entirely on the chosen topic, but is generally not less than 50 pages of text (standard pages of 1800 characters each, plus illustrations, notes, bibliography, etc., if applicable). Pure design tasks are not accepted, but if a design proposal develops from a scientific question, the proportion must not exceed 20%. The preparation of explanatory models or similar is possible, but not mandatory.

 

Procedure
Time frame: In the semester preceding the thesis, the choice of topic and the methodology for processing will be determined in discussion. For this purpose, the module AR30210-29: " Development of Research Issues" must be taken and successfully completed at the department. After official registration at the Studiendekanat, the processing period of 6 months begins. During this time, interim meetings with the supervisor must be arranged, which can take place at different intervals depending on the task and the processing status. Depending on the number of Master's theses accepted at the department, an internal Master's thesis colloquium may also be offered. After the timely submission of the written thesis, a presentation has to be prepared (PPT / PDF, max. 15 minutes, approx. 15-20 slides) and presented at the end during the general Master's thesis presentation in the presence of the other professors of the Faculty of Architecture/TUM (Tech) Core Facility Architecture. The evaluation results from the performance of the written work and the final presentation, basic elements for the evaluation are the mastery of scientific methodology, the development of own approaches and questions, as well as a critical judgment.

Theory of Architecture and Design

This module focuses on methodical thinking about the general problems of architecture, building, exhibitions, and the discourses around them. Key aspects of architectural theories, the analyses of buildings, and aspects of the theories and discourses of the time period and/or designer will be brought to the fore in order to unfold theoretical and cultural aspects of the projects. The lecture series will analyze these and other aspects and discuss them in the context of architectural history as well as society. Furthermore, architectural theory and design theory will be compared in order to understand differences but also overlaps between them in order to understand better design and building processes.

Architecture and its Representations

This module is an introduction to the history, theory and challenges of representation in architecture with a focus on architectural exhibitions. Increasingly common in contemporary architectural culture, but yet not completely theorized, the collection, exhibition and representation of architecture in the public sphere demands deeper research. Through a series of thematically grouped readings, discussions and individual projects, this course will analyze and synthesize issues of curatorial and representational practices in architecture from historical and contemporary perspectives. The aim is to develop a comprehensive and foundational body of knowledge about and around architectural representation, which the class understands as a unique and critical aspect of architectural practice and discourse.

Collecting, documenting and presenting architecture

The module focuses on selected projects that are relevant to the history of architecture from the collection of the Architekturmuseum. These projects will be explored starting from their original plans and photographic material and classified in relation to their architectural and temporal context. Stylistic and functional aspects are examined and discussed. The proceedings form this class will be published in the homepage of the Architecture Museum.

Architecture Communication

Through critical and analytical in-depth reading, this module identifies different types of writings on architecture that include architectural criticism, architectural essays and architectural monographs. Moreover, we will look at examples of differences between writers focusing in similar topics and look at a range of contents in order to detect the key aspects of several texts, the type of language that is used and differences in formal characteristics. During the seminar students will write texts that will be discussed and evaluated collectively.

Architectural Analysis

This module focuses on the analysis of several key projects from contemporary architecture. We will look at these projects in detail and unfold their historical, constructive, artistic and urban features. The historical context and the architectural “inventions” present in these leading examples, and comparisons between them, will develop student’s analytical and critical skills.

Project Workshop Curatorial Studies

Under this module we teach "project workshops" that are closely linked to ongoing preparations for the TUM Architecture Museum's exhibitions in the Pinakothek der Moderne. With this format, the chair aims to provide students with insights into curatorial practice and to involve them in the production of exhibition content. In addition to sessions dedicated to the theoretical foundations of exhibiting architecture, the focus of the classes of this module is on the practical components, investigation, discussion and preparation of content for the exhibition. The aim of the project workshop is to provide insights into curatorial practice and at the same time to deepen students’ understanding through content-oriented work.

Project Workshop Exhibition Design

This module aims at developing curatorial competencies, content, and graphic design for exhibitions. The project work and the research should support the design theses.