86006 History and Theory 1

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

Subject level:

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.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

• Ability to take autonomous responsibility for actions and decisions (A.1)
• Ability to communicate ideas effectively, including oral, written, visual, analogue and digital presentations (2D and 3D) (C.2)
• Ability to apply experimentation in thinking and practice as a means toward developing an individual design approach (I.1)
• Ability to understand and generate design propositions across a diverse range of design scenarios and negotiate final propositions with multiple stakeholders (I.2)
• Ability to apply and utilise appropriate communication techniques, knowledge and understanding to enable practical applications in spatial design (P.1)
• Ability to independently select and apply appropriate research methodologies to carry out investigative study (R.1)
• Ability to analyse, formulate and synthesise complex ideas, arguments and rationales and use initiative to explore alternatives (R.2)
• Ability to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of interior and spatial design precedent and to contextualise one's work within the extended discipline (R.3)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

The term CAPRI is used for the five Design, Architecture and Building faculty graduate attribute categories where:

C = communication and groupwork

A = attitudes and values

P = practical and professional

R = research and critique

I = innovation and creativity.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs) are linked to these categories using codes (e.g. C-1, A-3, P-4, etc.).

Teaching and learning strategies

Weekly : 2 hr tutorial 1 hr Lecture
86006 is delivered through a combination of lectures, discussions, forums and tasks. Each week, you will prepare for the seminar by reviewing material provided by your tutor on CANVAS - this may include readings, lectures, videos and other online resources.
While attending tutorials, please be ready to interact, ask questions, address the discussion points, take notes and engage with the weekly tasks set by your tutor.

Collaborative Learning
UTS believes that collaborative peer learning enhances learning. You are encouraged to work in design clusters throughout the whole course. You will be encouraged to work in small teams for your initial investigation of tasks and as peer support throughout your study.

Resources
There are several online resources used to support the learning objectives of this subject. A detailed overview of the pedagogy and associated tasks and assessment items are included in the DAB Generic Information Handbook. There are also recommended readings and viewings on CANVAS and through the e-reading facilities of UTS Library.

Feedback
The subject provides a range of formative feedback strategies.
1. Assessments are graded in ReView.
2. The subject is designed around progressive development within the tutorial. Weekly tutorial sessions aim to help you develop your project tasks. Please complete the work outlined by your tutors every week to receive constructive and relevant feedback.

Content (topics)

Themes presented in the subject include:

• Memory,
• Narrative,
• Nature,
• Tradition,
• Climate,
• Representation,
• Model,
• Body,
• Technology,
• Vernacular,
• Activism,
• Utopia.
• Exhibition
• Sustanability

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Theory and History Assessment 1

Assessment task 2: Theory and History Assessment 2

Assessment task 3: Theory and History Assessment 3 and 3A

Minimum requirements

The DAB attendance policy requires students to attend at least 80% of formal teaching sessions (lectures and tutorials) for each class they are enrolled in to remain eligible for assessment.

To be clear, if you do not attend 10 out of the 12 lectures, we reserve the right not to grade any of your work, and you will fail the subject.

In the same way, if you do not attend 10 out of the 12 Tutorials, we reserve the right not to grade any of your work, and you will fail the subject.

Missing any classes seriously impacts on your learning and makes completing assignments very difficult.

If you find yourself in a position where you are in danger of breaching the attendance regulation (due to illness or other exceptional circumstances), please get in touch with the subject coordinator immediately.

80% attendance is required (and noted) at lectures/forums and tutorials. Students are expected to come to tutorials having read weekly reading material and viewing suggested online material. The readings, lectures and tutorials are an interconnected system that supports the subject's intended learning outcomes. If students are concerned about their literacy skills, they are encouraged to contact the UTS Higher Education Language and Presentation Support (HELPS) service as early as possible.

Required texts

Key Readings are available in CANVAS in your TUTORIAL GROUP folder

Recommended texts

A list of additional readings are available via CANVAS in your TUTORIAL GROUP folder

References

A list of references are available via CANVAS in your TUTORIAL GROUP folder