Utopias and realities of dwelling

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information below is subject to change, in particular that concerning the teaching mode (presential, distance or in a comodal or hybrid format).

3 credits

30.0 h

Teacher(s)

Ledent Gérald;

Language

French

Main themes

Definition of key concepts such as dystopia, utopia, eutopia, syntopia and pantopia
Analysis of utopian thinking, through the socio-cultural context in which they have emerged
Analysis of utopian thinking, through the biographies of authors who have put such ideas forward
Statement and application of methodology for field analysis, revealing dissatisfaction which creates utopias
Comparison of contemporary issues with utopian thinking
Examination of utopia as a motor for transformation in contemporary society

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

Specific learning outcomes:
By the end of this course, students will be able to

question themselves on the context of the appearance of a utopia, by discovering the dissatisfaction which has led to the emergence of alternative thinking.
look hard at a housing reality and apply methods of approach in the context, linked to the chosen current topic.
develop ways of dystopian, utopian and eutopian thinking, formulated in a relevant way.
apply a eutopian proposal to a given social reality.
understand the gap between production and appropriation needs (practice and representation) of inhabited environments.

Contribution to the learning outcomes reference network:
Build knowledge of architecture

Be familiar with and analyse the discipline's basic references

Place the action

Recognise, observe and produce critical assessments of the targeted environments and contexts
Formulate questions relating to the development of the context being studied to make working hypotheses

Make use of other subjects

Interpret and synthesise the knowledge of other subjects

Express an architectural procedure

Test and use relevant means of communication in relation to the intended audience and the target objectives

Make committed choices

Activate and develop an ethical sense through approaches to architecture
Develop awareness of the political meaning of the work of an architect and his/her responsibility towards society

Content

This course outlines the double nature of dwelling, made out of physical structures (house) and uses (home). Architecture cannot be separated from this dual character.
Over the course of humanity, the reality of dwelling is disrupted by a series of historical breaks. During these times of uncertainty, imagination addresses the shortcomings of the real world by producing utopias.
The concept of utopia is used for two different purposes.
On the one hand, it is used as a knowledge tool. The double nature of dwelling is analysed in various historical breaks through the critical lens of utopia.
On the other hand, it is used as a prospective tool. In this latter case, students are asked to depict our contemporary reality and to produce an utopian counterpart.

Teaching methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

This course is partly lecture based and partly a collective discussion on the intermediate works of the students.

Evaluation methods

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the information in this section is particularly likely to change.

The course will be assessed in a group work combining a written essay and drawn material. Students will be asked to display their understanding of the theoretical concepts developed in the course as well as their ability to produce a critical and consolidated work based on those concepts.
Intermediate critics will be organized. They will not be assessed.

Faculty or entity

LOCI

Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)

Title of the programme

Sigle

Credits

Prerequisites

Aims

Master [120] in Architecture (Bruxelles)

ARCB2M