Spaces of the Landscape

Theorie der Architektur | Modul-Nr. 25405 | LV-Nr. 623109
DI 13:45–17 | LG 2A, Raum 0.25.1
Beginn: 21 April 2026 | Achtung: Block sessions, cycling tours
Prof. Dr. Albert Kirchengast

The fact that landscapes form spaces is not something we take for granted. In Architecture, we usually understand »spaces« as man-made, built structures, be it a street in the city or one’s own room. Yet we steer clear of abstract concepts, usually referring to places of experience that were not only deliberately constructed to protect us, in accordance with a brief, but also designed – that is, to exude a certain charm and atmosphere, bear traces of the past, and undergo change … In this way, they always reflect the social, economic, personal and cultural circumstances of their creation and use. Should they endure as time capsules, they will one day become historical artefacts – one need only think of the periodic fashions for revival, such as, most recently, the design culture of the 1970s.

But even »nature« – such as a fully-grown tree, a »primeval forest« or a canyon in a national park – forms spaces. This is, of course, linked to our perception: when we stand in an open meadow under the open sky, we experience a spatial situation; the winding dirt track, the sheltering, gnarled tree – all of these are spaces. When we speak of landscapes, we mean the result of a long-term interaction between »humankind« and »nature«. Behind their cultivation lie – as in the case of building – a multitude of cultural aspects; yet the natural and living elements, the geological eras, the large-scale nature of topographies, climate zones, drainage systems and, of course, the question of providing people with food and resources play a significant role – indeed, one that precedes the development of villages and towns. When this cultivated nature became our »landscape«, its spatial and atmospheric qualities became part of our aesthetic appreciation, which is closely linked to our general sense of space.

In this seminar, we will focus on the unique landscape diversity around Cottbus. Drawing on our direct experience of three landscape areas – their sensory »phenotype« – we aim to infer their »genotype«: the reasons and background as to why these places are as they are, how they came to be, and how they are changing – how humans and nature interact. Through extended stays and on-site exercises, we aim first to experience them through our senses, to learn to ‘read’ and appreciate them in a playful way – to understand the constituent elements of these landscape areas and, in doing so, to learn something about our own perception of space. Through texts, sketches, … we explore; through research we discover; and finally, through films, we represent and convey these places. Central to this is the cultivation of our own sensitivity to the living forces that also shape these landscape spaces – awakening our awareness of the beauty of a fragile harmony.

Methodologically, the focus is on a multifaceted, collaborative »exploration« inspired by the vividness of landscape spaces. This course is aimed at students who wish to learn more about landscapes and their aesthetic qualities, who wish to understand the political, geographical and cultural contexts of our environment, and who wish to work with commitment and creativity on a joint exhibition.

Material Culture

Integration Module: Theory | 13776 | Course No. 623111
Wed 09:30–12:30 | LG 2A, Room 0.25.1
Start: 22 April 2026
Jonathan Metzner, Prof. Dr Albert Kirchengast

In light of the »limits to growth« that have now effectively been reached, the focus of our cultural production is shifting. Alongside the social and economic paradigm of »green growth« – technological innovations that do not further burden the carbon footprint – a changed social consciousness is gaining in importance, one that aims at the transformation and reuse of existing structures. This is evident in debates on sustainability, in the practical approach to Architecture and urban planning, but in particular in the shift towards the existing built environment – keyword: ‘Bauwende’.

Behind this re-evaluation of the built environment lies an open yet latent revaluation of the »material«. Since the 1990s, cultural studies have spoken of a »material turn«, which Material Culture Studies reflect upon theoretically. At the heart of this lies the question of the significance and effectiveness of objects, materials and built structures within social and cultural contexts. In History of Art, too, greater emphasis is now placed on the material presence and processual nature of artworks. For Architecture, this results not only in an understanding of design as a material and process-oriented engagement with what already exists; more critical voices are questioning the hidden political dimension of the built environment, the socio-economic processes of transformation inherent in objects, and even proclaim the necessity of a new materiality in architecture.

Against this backdrop, the question arises as to how this perspective has (or is) changing the design process. How do new material languages and aesthetic paradigms emerge? And what social ideas are expressed through them? Is the material of Architecture perhaps the underestimated constant in the History of Architecture? How, then, does this continue today?

The seminar serves as an integrative module accompanying the design studio »Design and Building Construction«, led by Professor Jan Musikowski. Students select everyday spaces that show signs of ageing and translate these into models, in order to translate the approaches previously explored theoretically into artistic practice. Through targeted exercises and interventions, they explore and reflect on a new approach to materiality in Architecture. The insights gained in this process, together with collective discussion, form the basis for the development of a design concept within the design process. Textual stimuli from the cultural, humanities and social sciences, as well as from Architectural Theory, deepen the engagement with the subject matter.