Research Methods in Architecture
Programme
Architecture
Level of Qualification|Semesters|ECTS
Doctorate | Semestral | 10
Year | Type of course unit | Language
1 |Mandatory |Português
Total of Working Hours | Duration of Contact (hours)
250 | 45
Code
ULP1972-15383
Recommended complementary curricular units
n/a
Mode of study
Face-to-face
Precedences
Não
Professional Internship
Não
Syllabus
The program covers various methods of research in architecture and urbanism: the scientific method and its implications in disciplinary, theoretical and philosophical issues, as well as the relationship of building-project with the theory and history of architecture and, also the social sciences with the area of urbanism. Furthermore bibliographic research, field work and laboratory scale studies in architecture and urbanism are also adressed, as well as the creation and development of theoretical and conceptual models, in the subject area.
This course seeks to develop, in an introductory way, a systematic approach to the methods of research in architecture which unfold the following teaching topics: documentary sources; methodology and tools; processes and products; rules and models; documental sources; treatment and systematization of information.
Objectives
This course aims to present a set of thematics and problematics of cientific research used in the field of architecture and urbanism design, with the aim of adapting the means available to achieve the objectives in terms of scientific research and the specificity of architecture and urbanism design research dealing with the following topics: interpretation of texts as documentary sources; methodology and tools; systematization and information consultation .
The ending result is to adapt the means available to achieve the objectives in terms of understandingof a method of research for a doctoral thesis.
Knowledge, abilities and skills to be acquired
The skills to be acquired are located in scientific research and the specific character of architectural design and urban planning, especially in the introduction to the notions of: scientific research and disciplinary specificity; interpretation of texts, thematic and research capabilities; formulating objectives and survey issues; identification of methods and types of investigation; theoretical framework and field work; treatment, systematization of information; results analysis; formulation of conclusions; understanding of a research plan.
Teaching methodologies and assessment
The lectures are presented in expository mode and in the form of discussion groups and make use of teaching aids available to suit the dynamic and structured sequential presentation the referenced thematics. The discussion groups are intended to relate, in a thoughtful manner, the subject content, the systematization of the proposed work and/or originality and relevance of the topics discussed in terms of the methodologies used.
The assessment is focus on the preparation of a work in order to provide a structured thinking about the (s) subject (s) developed (s) and supposed to develop the following aspects: laboratory or field work; problem solving; synthesis capacity; research capacity.
References
Borden, I. - Rüedi, K. (2000) The Dissertation. An architecture Student¿s Handbook. Londres: Architectural Press.
Gastón, Cristina; Rovira, Teresa: El proyecto moderno, pautas de investigación. Barcelona: Ed. UPC
Ghiglione, R. - Matalon, B. (1992) O Inquérito ¿ Teoria e Prática. Oeiras: Celta.
Hillier, B. - Hanson, J. (1989) The Social Logic of Space. Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press.
Krüger, M. J. T. (2001) ¿A Arte de Investigação em Arquitectura¿: ECDJ, n.º 5, pp. 22- 39.
Mattoso, J. (1988) A Escrita da História teoria e métodos. Lisboa: Edit. Estampa.
Mitchell, W. (1999) The Logic of Architecture. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.
Simon, H. A. (2007) The Sciences of the Artificial. Berlin; New York: Springer.
Stiny, G. (2008) Shape: Talking about Seeing and Doing. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press.