This photo may not represent the actual event
This photo may not represent the actual event
What Is (or Was) Architectural Theory?
Admission
0–12€
Date & Time
Thu, Nov 12 – Fri, Nov 13
Calendars
Type
Tags
Opening Hours
Organiser
Deutsches Architekturmuseum
About this event
The symposium revisits the 1967 conference on architectural theory convened by Oswald Mathias Ungers at the Technical University of Berlin – originally intended to pave the way for the first chair in architectural theory. Almost sixty years later, the event asks again what architectural theory was, how it has developed, and which voices and geographies were left out in 1967. The two-day programme is organised into thematic blocks. Day one examines the historical clusters of the 1967 meeting – from scepticism and participation to technology, environment and theory as history – before moving on to overlooked figures (Monica Pidgeon, Jane Jacobs, Sybil Moholy-Nagy), eyewitness accounts from 1967, and an evening panel on US and Italian influences. Day two broadens the view beyond the Berlin Wall with papers on architectural theory in the GDR, USSR, China, Japan, Australia, South Africa and Mexico, followed by closing sessions on ecology, Christopher Alexander, and Alexander Mitscherlich. All talks and discussions are held in English; audience questions may be asked in German and will be translated. The symposium has been accredited with 16 continuing education credits by the Chamber of Architects of Hesse. It is aimed at architects, students, and anyone with an interest in the theoretical foundations of building and the city.
Schedule
Thu, Nov 12
08:00 AM
Opening Remarks for the CCSA
Frederike Lausch and Oliver Elser introduce the symposium on behalf of the Center for Critical Studies in Architecture.
DAM Auditorium
08:15 AM
Keynote: Vorsicht Architekturtheorie! (in English)
Daniela Fabricius from UPenn reflects on the caution needed when dealing with architectural theory, setting the frame for the conference's historical re-evaluation.
DAM Auditorium
09:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Clustering ’67
Four thematic clusters revisit the key figures and debates of the 1967 conference: scepticism/participation, technology/environment, science, and theory as history.
DAM Auditorium
12:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Missing Voices (I)
Papers on overlooked figures Monica Pidgeon, Jane Jacobs, and Sybil Moholy-Nagy, discussing their publications, networks, and impact on German architecture.
DAM Auditorium
03:00 PM - 04:30 PM
Eyewitnesses of 1967
Jörg Pampe and other eyewitnesses share personal recollections of the original 1967 Berlin conference.
DAM Auditorium
05:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Influences from the US and Italy
Joseph Bedford on architectural theory in the US before 1967, and Carsten Ruhl on Ungers’ connections to Italy, followed by a general discussion.
DAM Auditorium
Fri, Nov 13
09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Missing Geographies (I) – Just Behind the Berlin Wall
Papers on architectural theory in the GDR, USSR, and China during the 1960s, examining how these contexts engaged with Western European debates.
DAM Auditorium
12:00 PM - 02:30 PM
Missing Geographies (II) – Searching for New Directions in Theory
Explorations of architectural theory in Japan, Australia, South Africa, and Mexico, followed by discussion.
DAM Auditorium
03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Missing Voices (II) – Missing Perspectives
Final session on ecology (Sascha Roesler), Christopher Alexander (Theodora Vardouli via Zoom), and Alexander Mitscherlich (Tobias Freimüller), closing with a general discussion.
DAM Auditorium
Thu, Nov 12
08:00 AM
Opening Remarks for the CCSA
Frederike Lausch and Oliver Elser introduce the symposium on behalf of the Center for Critical Studies in Architecture.
DAM Auditorium
08:15 AM
Keynote: Vorsicht Architekturtheorie! (in English)
Daniela Fabricius from UPenn reflects on the caution needed when dealing with architectural theory, setting the frame for the conference's historical re-evaluation.
DAM Auditorium
09:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Clustering ’67
Four thematic clusters revisit the key figures and debates of the 1967 conference: scepticism/participation, technology/environment, science, and theory as history.
DAM Auditorium
12:30 PM - 02:30 PM
Missing Voices (I)
Papers on overlooked figures Monica Pidgeon, Jane Jacobs, and Sybil Moholy-Nagy, discussing their publications, networks, and impact on German architecture.
DAM Auditorium
03:00 PM - 04:30 PM
Eyewitnesses of 1967
Jörg Pampe and other eyewitnesses share personal recollections of the original 1967 Berlin conference.
DAM Auditorium
05:00 PM - 07:00 PM
Influences from the US and Italy
Joseph Bedford on architectural theory in the US before 1967, and Carsten Ruhl on Ungers’ connections to Italy, followed by a general discussion.
DAM Auditorium
Fri, Nov 13
09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Missing Geographies (I) – Just Behind the Berlin Wall
Papers on architectural theory in the GDR, USSR, and China during the 1960s, examining how these contexts engaged with Western European debates.
DAM Auditorium
12:00 PM - 02:30 PM
Missing Geographies (II) – Searching for New Directions in Theory
Explorations of architectural theory in Japan, Australia, South Africa, and Mexico, followed by discussion.
DAM Auditorium
03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Missing Voices (II) – Missing Perspectives
Final session on ecology (Sascha Roesler), Christopher Alexander (Theodora Vardouli via Zoom), and Alexander Mitscherlich (Tobias Freimüller), closing with a general discussion.
DAM Auditorium
Location
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