FALL 2013
Course Syllabus
Instructor:
Contact:
Dak Kopec, Ph.D., MS.Arch. MCHES
Ph. 808.339.2691 Email: [email protected]
Course:
Course Title:
Description:
ART 547
Environmental Theory
Survey of alternative solutions to the problem of design of the physical
environment.
By the end of this course students will be able to:
1. Discern the difference between an opinion and theory.
2. Identify select elements within a claim or assertion that can be
questioned.
3. Demonstrate the application of a given theory to a design idea.
4. Discuss the observation, theory, hypothesis, and testing relationship
within the practice of design.
5. Analyze movements within design in relation to design theory.
Course Objectives:
Readings:
Colquhoun, A. (2002). Modern Architecture. Oxford, England: Oxford
University Press.
McLennan, J.F. (2004). Philosophy of Sustainability. Bainbridge Island,
WA: Ecotone Publishing Company LLC.
Hours:
Units:
Condition:
Six
Three
ART 247 or 347
Class Time:
Class Location:
Thursdays 4pm - 6:40pm PST
Course Calendar:
August 29, 2013
September 5, 2013
September 12, 2013
September 19, 2013
Course, Instructor, and Student Introductions
Discussion of Theories: Origins, Applications, and Affirmations
Prof. Nakamura Theories of Sustainability I
Survey of Assorted Theories and Their Uses.
HW One: Identify five different theories along with their origins,
applications, and uses for provability (affirmations).
September 26, 2013 Read Chapter One in Modern Architecture
Watch BBC Series:
The Allure of Art Nouveau: Vienna
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R_nx_5OaO0)
The Allure of Art Nouveau: Paris
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeuZ4EUhpfo
The Allure of Art Nouveau: British Cities
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouwRa59Qawg
October 3, 2013
Discussions: Art Nouveau
HW Two: What theories can be derived from the Art Nouveau
movement? Please discuss and relate back to your design specialty.
October 10, 2013
Prof. Nakamura: Theories of Sustainability II
October 17, 2013
Read chapters 2-5 in Modern Architecture
Discussions of “l'Esprit Nouveau” and Palladianism
Golden Ratio in Art & Architecture
http://prezi.com/mqulbbripmo_/the-engineers-aesthetic-architecture/
October 24, 2013
Discussions of Organicism, Classicism, Culture and Industry in Terms of
Theory.
October 31, 2013
The Urn and the Chamberpot: Adolf Loos 1900-1930
Expressionism and Futurism
HW Three: Historical art movements and their ability to be recast as
theories.
November 7, 2013 Read Chapters 6-10 in Modern Architecture
Elements of The City; Pruitt-Igoe, St. Louis MO; Queensbridge Houses,
Queens NY; Robert Taylor Homes, Chicago IL; Jordan Downs, Watts CA;
Magnolia Projects, New Orleans LA; Marcy Projects, Brooklyn NY; Cabrini
Green, Chicago, IL
HW Four: watch video at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDo6bXrz5J8 Be
prepared to discuss this video in class.
November 14, 2013 Prof. Nakamura Theories of Sustainability III
November 21, 2013 Thanksgiving Holiday
November 28, 2013 Student Presentations
HW Five: Power Point Presentation that encapsulates theories derived
from the sustainability movement.
December 5, 2013
Pattern Language and Adhocism; Kaplan and Kaplan Preference Model,
Maharabian and Russel’s Pleasure, Dominance and Arousal Theory;
Brunswick’s Probablistic Lens Model.
December 12, 2013
December 19, 2013
Grading:
Discussion Class: Comparisons, Contrast, Uses and Misuses of Theory.
Discuss differences in theoretical frameworks derived from multiple
disciplines.
Final Project Due
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
59 and Below
A
B
C
D
F
Assignments:
In Class Discussions
5x20
100 points
Determination of points will be based on contributions to the discussions. Contributions
should be related to the topic at hand, include critical thoughts, and logical conclusions.
Homework Assignments
5x50
250 points
HW_One
Comparison and Contrast Chart
From the Internet identify five different theories from five different
disciplines. Identify the name of the theory, what discipline the theory
comes from, how the theory came about, how the theory has been used,
and the most popular methods used to prove or disprove the theory.
Theory Name
HW_Two
Discipline of
Theory
Origin of Theory Application of
Theory
Affirmations of
Theory
Paper that deduces theoretical constructs that could be developed in
response to the Art Nouveau movement. Please note that some theories
are intimated without actually stating that they are a theory. Your job is
to find those theories and develop an argument as to how you derived at
your conclusions. This paper should be two pages, double-spaced, 12point times new roman font, and one-inch margins all around. Grading
will be based on adherence to the formatting, guidelines, ability to
develop and defend your position, and adherence to U.S. language and
grammatical guidelines.
HW_Three
Movement
Comparison and Contrast chart of an identified theory from the
movements discussed in the chapters 2-10 in the Colquhoun book. The
chart will be graded on the quality of the rationale for the theory along
with a proposed modern application. You are working in a chart so
choose your words carefully and be succinct. At the same time you
should know that I grade only on the words present, not assumptions of
meaning.
Theory
Rationale for Theory
Modern Application of Theory
HW_Four
Informal and detailed notes taken from the video. Watch the video, take
notes on the content of the video, and identify key questions that you
might come up with in response to the content in the video. Grading for
this assignment will be two-fold. The first will be the notes taken. The
second will be the use of those notes during the discussion.
HW_Five
Fifteen-minute persuasion power point presentation detailing and
critically evaluating the sustainability movement and the theories that
have arisen from this movement. You may take a pro or con stance on
particular theories that have guided the sustainability movement, but you
must use theoretical constructs to form and defend your argument.
Grading on this presentation will be determined from peer evaluation
along with instructor assessment of the veracity and feasibility of the
argumentation used.
Final Project
1x150
150 Points
Examine a particular architectural, furniture, fashion style, or city
planning initiative. Make sure that you have lots of images that help the
reader to understand the situation at hand. Then, identify the different
theoretical constructs that influenced that movement. From this point
you will need to critically evaluate the different elements of the
constructs to speculate how the out-come could have turned out
differently based on a change within one or more of the elements of the
theoretical construct. From this point hold an intellectual discussion on
the outcome that happened and discuss whether the intended
theoretical position held up, or became confounded by a factor not
previously conceived. This paper should contain five pages of content,
and be roughly 7-11 pages in length (length is determined by number of
images—not continent). The paper format should be: double spaced with
12-point times new roman font, with one-inch margins all around.
Grading will be based on adherence to the formatting guidelines, ability
to develop and defend your position, and use of U.S. language and
grammatical guidelines.
Total Points for Class 500 Points
NOTE: I do not round up or down.