Communicating Heritage through Intertwining Theory and Studio Based Course in Architectural Education

Abstract

This paper has emerged from a belief in the importance of architectural history for modern architectural practice and the education of young architects today. It proposes an alternative teaching approach in which theory-based and studio-based methodology are interconnected and mutually challenged to communicate heritage in the most beneficial way. The approach attempts to avoid communicating basic descriptive facts, but is rather based on the interpretation of theoretical knowledge through individual designs, and provokes discussions questioning universal messages of architecture through individual spatial solutions. It was introduced at the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade, through the elective course New Reading of Architecture for the third-year students, in the school year of 2014/15 and 2015/16. Results show that critical thinking through designing, as opposed to the usual factual approach, met a favourable response from student. Both in architectural history and in designing for protected historical sites, having been made more historically aware and place-sensitive, they were actively encouraged to conduct research, and to define and shape their own design approach accordingly. It can be noted that experiencing the theory of architecture through critical reading of well-known treatises and exploring it through a design lens made the history of architecture an equal partner in the construction of the present.