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74176-01 - Course: Architecture and the City (3 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2026 |
| Course frequency | Every fall sem. |
| Lecturers | Francesca Romana Dell'Aglio (francescaromana.dellaglio@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | The city is a complex organism that can hardly be reconciled into a single understanding. It is an architecture that is not only inhabited but also constructed by human beings: every built form in the city becomes a manifestation of a form of life. Yet, a latent friction has always existed between the morphology of the city - how it appears from above - and the forms of life that compose it - how it is experienced from below. Too often, social and economic discussions about the city avoid engaging with its physical form, even though the urban form is a direct and concrete reflection of the structure of its society. There is a common understanding that architecture is directly responsible for how our cities look, for the dynamics behind their development, and therefore for their inevitable saturation. But the reality is that today, architects are largely powerless; their agency in the city is long gone. This course intends to bring this agency back into discussion by tracing the history of the city alongside the history of architecture: from the early prehistoric dwelling to the infrastructural projects of the 20th century, and long before the rise of the discipline of urban studies, we will see how the city has always been an architectural problem. This course is an invitation to let go of some of the common prejudices surrounding architecture and instead reframe this ancient discipline through one of its founding principles: the relationship between human beings and the built environment. After all, our homes, schools, workplaces, and cities are extensions of our bodies; their spatial conditions are inherently human. Architecture offers a stage on which our habits and behaviours are formed. The way we move, the way we look at things, and the way we evaluate them are all influenced by the concrete form of the space around us. As such, architecture actively contributes to the existence of polities, societies, and entire cultures, which is why it should retain a degree of agency within urban studies. |
| Learning objectives | - The course invites students to observe the city from the micro scale of its architecture and the interactions we have with it, as a fundamental lens through which to look at the city. - The course aims to encourage an awareness of the highly complex, fragmented nature of the spaces in and around the city and their subjects, before assessing the complexity of its urban form. - The course aims to develop a methodology that starts from our personal observations and to trust in personal intuitions in order to develop a concrete and immediate relationship with the urban environment. - The course provides an opportunity to develop and assess observational skills, enabling students to learn from and subsequently apply these skills to their future research. - The course encourages students to listen to and learn from each other by engaging in course work. |
| Bibliography | |
| Comments | The course is open to Master students from other programs with a priority for MA Students in Critical Urbanisms and in Changing Societies on timely registration. Max. capacity 20. ***Please note that the seminar will not take place on 29 September or 13 October. Both sessions will be rescheduled for a later date*** |
| Admission requirements | Anmelden: Belegen ; Abmelden: nicht erforderlich |
| Course application | Anmelden: Belegen ; Abmelden: nicht erforderlich |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Tuesday | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 103 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 22.09.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 103 |
| Tuesday 29.09.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | - Siehe Bemerkung, -- |
| Tuesday 06.10.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 103 |
| Tuesday 13.10.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | - Siehe Bemerkung, -- |
| Tuesday 20.10.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 103 |
| Tuesday 27.10.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 103 |
| Tuesday 03.11.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 103 |
| Tuesday 10.11.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 103 |
| Tuesday 17.11.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 103 |
| Tuesday 24.11.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 103 |
| Tuesday 01.12.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 103 |
| Tuesday 08.12.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 103 |
| Tuesday 15.12.2026 | 14.15-16.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 103 |
| Modules |
Module: Ways of Knowing the City (Master's degree program: Critical Urbanisms) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | Pass/ Fail |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: not required |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, studadmin-philhist@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Fachbereich Urban Studies |