ARCH 399J ST: Bynd Srfce: Facades, Skins, & Envlp
Through a series of interrelated case studies, seminal texts, and discussions, this elective HTC seminar will explore the theoretical, aesthetic, and political implications of architectural surfaces; that is, the ways in which building facades, skins, and envelopes mediate processes of production (making) and projects of representation (meaning). Using a series of dialectical terms as a matrix for discussion, we will dig into the history of architecture and address the following fundamental questions: What makes a good facade? What makes a bad one? For that matter, are facades still relevant in the 21st century? On what basis are design decisions made? What are the (possible) relationships between skin and structure? What does it mean to enclose? How do surfaces perform? Our endgame will be a collaborative end-of-year exhibition of analytical drawings, models, and writings.