University of Technology Sydney

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 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: Architecture
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject is an introduction to 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 a wide range of relevant precedents located across Australia, Japan, China, India, SE Asia, Iran, The Middle East, Europe, North and South America. History and Theory 1 (86006) introduces theory and its application to contemporary interior architecture practice in the first semester of interior architecture. After an initial two weeks spent on questions of what is a theory, what is history, and their application to the discipline, including discussions and exercises on academic writing, referencing, description and analysis, the subject continues around two week modules delivered by six tutors that students rotate through.

Students aided by their tutors examine historical and contemporary precedents in material, compositional and theoretical terms. Current theoretical lenses and themes include; Memory, Narrative, Nature, Tradition, Climate, Representation, Model, Body, Technology, Vernacular, Activism, Utopia and Ornament. 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 as the subject of 300 to 800 word essays that range from the descriptive to the analytical.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Articulate key chronologies of architectural and landscape history particularly from the Western tradition.
2. Be more effective verbal and visual communicators, both technically and conceptually
3. Display a basic repertoire of the language and themes underpinning architecture and landscape architecture
4. Demonstrate basic competency in using drawn analysis of buildings and landscapes, formal written arguments, interpretation of texts for meaning, academic referencing, and the use of academic prose.

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 : 3 hr tutorial
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.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Theory and History Assessment 1 and 1A

Intent:

In the first two weeks we are analysing an object and a space through a specific theretical framework (Barnett – provided) and producing two written texts. (Assessment 1 and 1A)
Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1 and 2

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

A.1 and I.1

Type: Portfolio
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 15%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Clear comprehension of the material covered in the Forum 60 1 A.1
Engagement across material presented 25 2 I.1
Clear written explanations supported by drawings 15 2 I.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Theory and History Assessment 2 and 2A

Intent:

The Subject is run as a series of two-week modules at the end of each module your tutor will change and you will start a new theme and a new module with a corresponding assessment task.

Each Tutor has developed a two-week module that may include in-class discussions, drawing, model-making, experiments and presentations.

These modules are developed around themes such as Memory, Narrative, Nature, Tradition, Culture, Representation, Model, Body, Technology, Vernacular, Activism, Utopia, Materials, Sustainability, Perspective and Diagramming.

The themes are chosen by the tutors (from a pool of themes) and reflect the tutor's key competence and interests. Over the course of the semester you will do five different modules (refer to CANVAS)

Key Readings and all other material for your weekly class are in your TUTORIAL GROUP folder in CANVAS.
Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2, 3 and 4

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

A.1, I.1, P.1 and R.1

Type: Portfolio
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 34%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
Grasp of geometry and proportion of the human body 25 3 P.1
The ability to investigate suitable source material for university study 25 1 A.1
Clear written explanations supporting drawings and models 25 2 R.1
Communication of an approach to analysis that displays its reliance on appropriate textual and empirical research 25 4 I.1
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

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

Intent:

The Subject is run as a series of two-week modules at the end of each module your tutor will change and you will start a new theme and a new module with a corresponding assessment task.

Each Tutor has developed a two-week module that may include in-class discussions, drawing, model-making, experiments and presentations.

These modules are developed around themes such as Memory, Narrative, Nature, Tradition, Culture, Representation, Model, Body, Technology, Vernacular, Activism, Utopia, Materials, Sustainability, Perspective and Diagramming.

The themes are chosen by the tutors (from a pool of themes) and reflect the tutor's key competence and interests. Over the course of the semester you will do five different modules (refer to CANVAS)

Key Readings and all other material for your weekly class are in your TUTORIAL GROUP folder in CANVAS.
Objective(s):

This task addresses the following subject learning objectives:

1, 2, 3 and 4

This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.):

C.2, I.2, R.2 and R.3

Type: Portfolio
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 51%
Criteria linkages:
Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs
an understanding of scale in drawing using clear graphic representation, clear and precise line work, and a use of colour that supports your message 25 2 C.2
A maturing grasp of geometry and proportion underlying architectural design approaches 25 4 I.2
Clear and concise written explanation of ideas 25 1 R.3
Communication of process of analysis that relies on appropriate textual and empirical research 25 3 R.2
SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

The DAB attendance policy requires students to attend no less than 80% of formal teaching sessions (lectures and tutorials) for each class they are enrolled in to remain eligible for assessment. (this includes online)

80% attendance is required (and noted) at lectures/forums and tutorials. Students are expected to come to tutorials having read weekly reading material and viewed suggested online material. The readings, lectures and tutorials are an interconnected system that supports the subject 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