BDES3011: Semester 1, 2025

Overview

The objective of the Architectural Theory unit is to equip students with a critical understanding of key Western architectural theories and philosophy from the Enlightenment to the present. Emphasis is placed on the specific historical situations and cultural and philosophical contexts in which those theories arose, and ultimately how they were represented within the domain of architectural embodiment. It is organized to clearly identify particular trains of thought. Students will become generally conversant in the principles of central theories, and will understand their terms and references. Through readings, lectures, and tutorial sessions, students will acquire the literacy required to perceive and articulate contemporary theoretical standpoints, and will refine their research and writing skills through independent research into a particular aspect of recent architectural theory and philosophy related to their concurrent studio design project. Close attention will be paid to the exchange between practice and theory and the relevance of the discussed theories to the formation of current circumstances, and to the place of architecture within contemporary culture as a whole.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Architecture
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	BDES2027 or BDES2021 or DESA2111 or BDES2616
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	DAAP3001 or BDES3611
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Andrew Leach, andrew.leach@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Andrew Leach, andrew.leach@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Zeng Wu, zeng.wu@sydney.edu.au
	Sean Akahane-Bryen, sean.akahane-bryen@sydney.edu.au
	Maren Koehler, maren.koehler@sydney.edu.au
	Chunrong Hao, chunrong.hao@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	It's All in There Course notebook, with both weekly and end-of-semester submissions	20%	STUVAC Due date: 06 Jun 2025 at 23:00	No set format, scanned or photographed.
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Architectural Criticism (and Theory) The historical contextualisation of a contemporary professional issue.	30%	Week 05 Due date: 28 Mar 2025 at 23:00	1500 words, illustrated
Outcomes assessed:
Attendance	Attendance Minimum 90% of all classes, to week 12.	0%	Week 12	Minimum 90% of all classes, to week 12.
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Historical Criticism (with Theory) Essay	50%	Week 12 Due date: 23 May 2025 at 23:00	3500 words, incl all references
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = AI allowed ?

Assessment summary

Assessment of this course is in three elements. In the first assignment (30%), due in week 5, students will write a short piece of architectural criticism (1500 words) locating an issue in contemporary professional practice in its historical contexts. That is: reading the present against the past. The second assignment (50%) is an essay that will assume one of four specified approaches, allowing students to work at a greater or less proximity to their current studio work, as they prefer. The mode will be history/theory. The third assessment (20%) is a record of the semester’s exploration of the course themes, in the form of a physical notebook, represented in electronic form for assessment. It will offer a window on to each individual’s engagement with content, cases and themes across the semester. It will demonstrate an experience of history. All three assessment items will have a full brief published at the start of semester on Canvas. Attendance of tutorials is likewise assessable (0%) as a hurdle task.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.
Distinction	75 - 84	Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.
Credit	65 - 74	Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.
Pass	50 - 64	Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.
Fail	0 - 49	Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Applied according to School policy.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Week 1—Lectures: (a) Course Introduction; (b) Books of the Twentieth Century. Tutorial: contemporary issues and historical depth—finding a starting point.	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Week 2—Lectures: (a) War Footing (the 1940s, part I); (b) Reconfiguring Architecture's Geography (the 1940s, part II). Tutorial: building your library.	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Week 3—Lectures: (a) Social Reconstruction, New Towns (the 1950s, part I); (b) the Modern House (the 1950s, part II). Tutorials: reading buildings in the round.	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Week 4—Lectures: (a) Ubiquitous Modernism (the 1960s, part I); (b) Postcolonial Conflict (the 1960s, part II). Tutorial: the anatomy of a paragraph.	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Week 5—Lecture/film: The Modernist Mainstream and its Countercurrents (presented by Maren Koelher)—Modernism, Inc. Tutorial: editing for sense and style.	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Week 6—Lectures: (a) Postmodern Adventures (the 1970s, part I); (b) Architecture and Utopia. Tutorial: re-packing your library.	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Week 7—Lectures: (a) Architecture and Intellectual Politics (the 1970s, part II); (b) the End of Housing (1970s, part III). Tutorials: architecture as evidence of ideas.	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Week 8—Lectures (a) Peak Postmodernism (the 1980s, part I); (b) Canonising Architecture's Theory Moment. Tutorial: the structure of an argument.	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Week 9—Lectures (a) The Regionalist Revolt (and its Problems) (the 1980s, part II); (b) Paper Architecture. Tutorial: background sources, quoting and paraphrasing (and when to reference).	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Week 10—Lectures: (a) Late Postmodernism, Supermodernism and Deconstructivism (the 1990s); (b) the Historiographical Turn. Tutorial: quick fire argument presentations (part 1).	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Week 11—Lectures: (a) Postcriticality and Historical Acuity (the 2000s); (b) Books of the Twenty-First Century. Tutorial: quick fire argument presentations (part 2).	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Week 12—Lectures: (a) After the Party (the 2010s); (b) Making Lists (guest: Guillermo Fernández-Abascal). Tutorial: quick fire argument presentations (part 3).	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	Week 13—Lecture: Course Summary. Tutorial: assessment clinic, incl. one-on-one support.	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School: http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/architecture/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit will be made available for the start of semester via Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. inform action thorough knowledge of architectural history and architectural theory with particular emphasis on the specific cultural and philosophical contexts in which ideas have gained traction in architecture, and how they have been represented there.
LO2. develop and apply a literacy with architectural debates and works that allows for the articulation of contemporary positions and demonstrate the ability to refine skills in research, analysis, writing, and synthesis through independent work.
LO3. think abstractly, conceptually and critically about architecture and through different ideas about and within architecture at a range of scales, and demonstrate the principles of theories central to the last few decades' development with an understanding of relevant terms and references.
LO4. consider, challenge, elucidate and communicate complex ideas in a clear and concise manner, using scholarly argument, consistent referencing and the requisite technical and representational skills.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Reduction in the number of required readings. More prescribed outline of weekly discussion topics, tasks and activities. More diversity in gender and geography in the content covered. This course is offered for the second time in 2024 under its new management.

Additional information

Additional costs

This unit may involve additional costs for reprographics, materials and equipment required for preparing assignment submissions, eg. document scanning, specialist paper stock, printing, binding.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

This unit of study outline was last modified on 24 Feb 2025.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

BDES3011: Architectural History/Theory 3

Semester 1, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect