Architecture is a reflection of people's culture and identity. It is influenced by its environment as well as by the history, culture and needs of the people who design, implement and use it. One of the effects of globalization is that there has been a kind of uniformity in the built environment that has made people forget the past and socio-cultural embeddedness.
Transforming and reproducing historical roots in modern architecture have always been a source of inspiration for architects. To do this, a thorough examination of the existing built environment and the corresponding cultural setting and its history is essential.
The Cultural Spaces module offers students a wide range of opportunities to engage with research in architecture and the socio-cultural context.
In a seminar, students are given access to the study of objects and encouraged to compare them with others in order to understand the differences or parallels between approaches in different cultural spaces. (251.908 SE Comparative Research of Architecture: Cultural Space - Identity - Architecture). A practical course will provide an introduction to interdisciplinary work through hands-on fieldwork. To this end, whenever possible, a topic in a country with a cultural area unfamiliar to most students is offered in order to examine in detail the influence of sociocultural aspects on architecture. (251.907 VU Introduction to Interdisciplinary Research in Architecture).
The thematic courses are accompanied by lectures dealing with research in architecture. One focuses on the presentation of illustrative examples from completed and ongoing projects, while the other explains the methodological approaches to the topic of research. (251.906 VO Application-oriented Methods of Architectural Research) The introduction to scientific work is addressed, the development of ideas into concrete projects is illustrated, and representatives from the field provide an insight into the research funding landscape. (251.909 VO Analysis of Hypotheses and Processes of Applied Research in Architecture).
In 1972, UNESCO ratified the World Heritage Convention with 193 states to create an instrument for the protection of the cultural and natural heritage of the world. Currently, there are 1157 sites listed as of outstanding universal value in terms of cultural, natural or mixed aspects.
After the 50th year of the World Heritage Convention, the ongoing interest in the World Heritage List can be seen in the growing number of sites inscribed.
At the same time, the challenges for the conservation of the sites are increasing. All those concerned with the subject are confronted with the increasing threats caused by armed conflicts, climate change, the energy crisis and natural disasters. Ongoing settlement and economic pressures make matters even worse.
The hope that the World Heritage Convention will contribute to the sustainable protection of cultural heritage is fading. How difficult the implementation of the World Heritage Convention can be in some cases has just become clear with the example of the world heritage site Historical Centre of Vienna. In cases like these, we can see how important it is to have intensive cooperation between the authorities, stakeholders and scientists who deal with the subject. In these examples, we see how much science can contribute to generating a better understanding of the significance of cultural heritage and help develop new ways to protect it.
This semester the course will take up upon the unique chance to analyse the state of the Historic Center of Vienna (year of inscription 2001) and compare it to the World Heritage Site of the Borobudur Temple Compounds, Indonesia (year of inscription 1991). The introduction lectures will target the necessary interdisciplinary approach that has to be considered in planning, design and construction within existing structures.
Lecture series on research projects | research methodology | scientific work.
Practical exercises on research
Supervision in building survey, urban analysis, and preparation of papers and research outlines.
