86006 History and Theory 1
6cp; 1hpw (lecture), 2hpw (tutorial)There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Core - History and Theory First Year
Undergraduate
Description
This subject introduces History and Theory and its relationship to contemporary interior architecture practice.
In articulating this relationship over the year, the two history and theory subjects (86006 and 86007) look at relevant precedents across Australia, Japan, China, India, SE Asia, Iran, The Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Americas. History and Theory 1 (86006) introduces the theory, the theoretical lens, and framing in relation to contemporary interior architecture practice in the first semester of interior architecture. Initial lectures focus on what a theory is, what history is, and their relevance to the discipline, including discussions on academic writing, referencing, description and analysis before embarking on a global tour looking at exemplary historical precedents, spaces, technologies and modes of inhabitation, including; concepts of inhabitation, Katsura Imperial Villa, T?dai-ji Temple complex, Borobudur Temple, Angkor Wat, Tulou Houses, Yungang Grottoes, Samarkand, the Shalimar Gardens, the underground churches in Lalibela, Wadi Hadramaut, Persian wind towers and associated water technologies etc.
In parallel to the lectures, three x four-week tutorial modules examine historical and contemporary themes through specific theoretical lenses. Current theoretical lenses and themes include memory, narrative, nature, tradition, climate, representation, model, body, technology, exhibition, activism, utopia, and ornamentation. This strategy exposes first-year students to a range of themes, teaching styles and approaches. The overall emphasis of the subject is to instil an understanding of the relevance of historical precedent and theoretical frames in the development of their interior design language and to establish a common, understandable discipline-specific language to serve students in communicating, developing, and rationalising design decisions both within the course of the study and in students' professional career. The modules are a mix of in-class exercises, lectures, readings, discussions and academic writing. Drawing, Model Making, and Photography operate in parallel and are the subject of 300- to 800-word essays that range from descriptive to analytical.
Typical availability
Autumn session, City campus
Detailed subject description.