Lecture Architectural Theory

Module 13654, 13677  | Lecture | WiSe 2025/26
Monday 13:45-17:00 | ZHG, SR 4
Start: 20 Oktober 2025
Prof. Dr. Albert Kirchengast

The Architectural Theory lecture provides students at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg a fundamental introduction to the subject. It lays the basis for participation in the chairs’s seminars or for a pertinent Bachelor’s or Master’s thesis, whilst also offering the opportunity to critically reflect on the design process.

Each course consists of the lecture itself and a reflection session, which, through shared reading and discussion, enables students to appropriate and deepen their understanding of the content covered in the preceding lecture. In doing so, students not only practise skills such as the analysis of complex theoretical texts, but also familiarise themselves with a canon of key theoretical writings from various eras.

In keeping with the nature of the subject, the lectures do not present a historical panorama, but rather address selected themes from the history of ideas – »work«, »idea« and »historical moment« are interwoven, and architectural theory reveals itself genuinely as a foundational and guiding form of reflection on architectural practice. The fact that it takes the »object« as its starting point and embeds it within an intellectual space thus distinguishes it from other theoretical disciplines such as philosophy. Ultimately, architectural theory is concerned with understanding the respective design context in order to draw conclusions for one’s own practice.

The presentation of ideas in architectural theory is facilitated by drawing on the historical development of the discipline, yet for the reasons mentioned, it is both historical and contemporary: cross-references are repeatedly necessary to highlight continuities and breaks. Ultimately, the lecture culminates in a collaborative and open debate on the question: What guides my actions as an architect today? Architecture reveals itself as a medium for ideas that give concrete shape to our lives: architecture is, on many levels, a process of meaning-making.

Architectural Culture

Modul 14146 | WiSe 2025/26
MI 9:30–12:30 Uhr | LG 2A, SR 0.03
Start: 22 Oktober 2025
Jonathan Metzner, Prof. Dr. Albert Kirchengast

As people who inhabit spaces, we make sense of our world through the act of dwelling. At the same time, architecture reveals itself to us on a daily basis by enabling us to draw conclusions about cultural ideals, our relationship with history, and the social significance of art. A thorough engagement with the built environment is therefore only possible if we examine it critically and also take into account the social context within which architecture emerges.

In the seminar »Architectural Culture«, participants acquire the methodological foundations of various disciplines concerned with the analysis, critique and interpretation of architecture. This interdisciplinary »extra« opens up a space for reflection which, at the same time, creates a theoretical basis for critically examining one’s own design practice and justifying it responsibly. Furthermore, the seminar offers initial insights into the working methods of related disciplines that explore the interconnections between building culture, politics, and the cultural and social sciences. The focus is always on the potential of architecture and a critical examination of the social conditions under which it is produced, as well as its contribution to addressing societal challenges.

The seminar is divided into thematic units, each of which is assigned to a discipline or a specific area of focus and is run in collaboration with the Honorary Professorship for Architectural Education and the chair of Art History. Perspectives from architectural ethnology, journalism and the cultural and art studies are introduced. Particular emphasis is placed, however, on dialogue: discussions with invited experts from various disciplines create a space for questions and debate. In addition, smaller assignments help to deepen understanding of the respective methodological approaches.

Building thoughts V: Detail and Space

Integration Module | 13776, 14163, 14167 | WiSe 2025/26
DI 09:30–13:00 Uhr | LG 2C, SR 212
Start: 21 Oktober 2025
Victoria Loyall, Prof. Dr. Albert Kirchengast

Does the built environment affect us in ways that go beyond the tangible? What is the atmosphere within a space, and what creates it? We aim to explore these questions – and perhaps even these phenomena – in depth during the seminar for the integration module »History and Theory«. Through readings and discussions, we will develop a theoretical understanding to serve as a foundation for our further work.

We will begin by examining the impulses from which designs arise. To this end, we will read texts on these impulses and influences, as well as on the act of designing itself. We will set out in search of the reference of the reference. We will then turn our attention to effect, perception and atmosphere. Various texts from architectural theory and philosophy will help us to understand these abstract concepts. To conclude the theoretical part of the seminar, we wish to focus on the detail. What do we mean by a »detail«, and how do architectural theorists position themselves in relation to this element, which at first glance appears to be purely structural?

A triad comprising a model, a model-photograph and text is intended to illustrate the conceptual nature of one’s own building process, whilst helping students to directly assess spatial effects and open them up for discussion.

The integration module is offered in conjunction with the course of the Chair of Architectural Design, Typology and Space led by Prof. Katharina von Stuckrad.