After successful completion of the course, students are able to write an academic paper and possess basic knowledge of scholarly research. Students will be able to work with literature and gain an understanding of how to formulate a scientific argument. The course topics incudes academic reserach, literature research, interdiszciplinary approaches, and correct use of citation methods.
Sacral building in urban context
Sacred architecture, which has always fascinated architects, is now in competition with modern secular architecture and is therefore in a state of flux.
In particular, the three great monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) have subjected their sacred buildings (mosques, churches, synagogues) to a critical transformation, questioning their traditional characteristics. Today, churches are threatened with demolition and, at best, are closed or converted to other uses. Mosques in the diaspora are currently experiencing a strong growth, they are supposed to leave the backyards, their presence in society is increasing, while the new projects in the Islamic world are struggling with new forms for their acceptance by the dogmatists. Synagogues, which are often located in city centres, are characterised by experimental architecture.
Keynote lectures will introduce students to the topic and give them an insight into the diversity of contemporary sacred buildings. The question of how sacred buildings today position themselves in the cityscape and in relation to other buildings, and how visible they appear, will be analysed. The focus will be on their relationship to the urban context.
The LVA is designed as a "research in teaching" project. In their presentations and seminar papers, students will discuss selected sacred buildings in comparison and in the context of the results obtained.
