Valar Morghulis— all men must die. The condition of mortality is not only restricted to humanity but also encompasses the power structure of our society, economics, physical boundaries and other characteristics inherent to civilization. What stays back are buildings and/or their ruins as a memory of the past. Even in the world of fiction or entertainment the craze and obsession die, but artifacts remain. We could look at these ruins, buildings or artifacts as events of the past, something that generates only admiration; or appropriate them in contemporary habits and practices by analyzing and understanding history and fiction in a way that adds meaning to the world. This course aims at appropriating such relevant meanings in today’s architecture by looking at a piece of history which is fictional yet realistic. Modeled closely round the Design-based Theory and Design-based Research Studio courses taught in North American universities, this course focuses on the history, theory, and design of architecture to develop philosophy and ideologies for professional practice approached through phenomenology, hermeneutics and sociological aspects of architecture.

Course Outcomes

  • Explore interdisciplinary connections with architecture

  • Learn the Contemporary approaches to architecture theory and design

  • Interpret architecture through fiction and vice-versa

  • Analyse history to generate meaning in today’s world

  • Utilize history and theory as research methods for design

  • Develop an open-mindedness about spatial and social justice

Who should take this course

  • Individuals intrigued by Game of thrones

  • Teachers who wish to explore open-minded pedagogy

  • Students of Architecture, Film Studies, Sociology, Philosophy, History and Comparative Literature

How do we make GOT a serious Architectural discussion?

Aims and Objectives for the course

The course aims at exploring architecture as a discipline of social sciences and trying to justify why it matters to humanity. Even though it covers a vast range of philosophy, sociology and even psychology, the goal is to generate architectural end products that can be understood by people from every discipline.   


Ideology of the course

The course is modelled on a strictly non-instrumental, non-Cartesian and anti-numerical/anti-statistical way of thought. However, it will showcase lots of conflicting ideologies— from phenomenology and hermeneutics to methodical research and contemporary sociological issues in architecture. The motto is— frame your own ideology of architecture from multiple references. In addition to that, the course tries to develop senses of argument from a very unbiased, non-personal perspective (even if they conflict with personal preferences). 

 

Methodology followed 

 Themes of every lecture relate to incidents from Game of Thrones to establish anecdotes as modes of interpretable architectural philosophy and ideas in profession. The lectures encourage a both-way participation to generate a discourse rather than being a one-sided way of thought. The assignments are designed in a way such that people having respective inclinations towards history, theory and design may all find a spectrum of commonality.  

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Instructions for this course

    • Welcome to ACEDGE

    • Using the ACEDGE Course Player

    • Instructions

    • General references

    • Course Overview
  • 2

    Week 1: ‘Imaginary’ History in constructing the world

    • ‘Imaginary’ History in constructing the world

    • Imaginary Histories_ Video

    • Imaginary Histories_ Pdf

    • Assignment A

    • Comments on assignments: Kingshuk, Rashika, Sonam

    • Assignment 1 Comments

    • Sample Fiction

  • 3

    Week 2: Understanding Military Architecture

    • Understanding Military Architecture

    • Military architecture

    • Military architecture ppt

    • Discussions
  • 4

    Week 3: Institutionalizing through Discipline and Punish

    • Institutionalizing through Discipline and Punish

    • Institutionalisation

    • Institutions_ppt
  • 5

    Week 4: Semiotics and ‘Magic’ in Architecture

    • Semiotics and ‘Magic’ in Architecture

    • Semiotics and Magic- Presentation and discussion

    • PDF: Semiotics and Magic presentation
  • 6

    Week 5: Politics of Architecture

    • Politics of Architecture

    • Live interaction

    • Interaction and Assignment discussion
  • 7

    Week 6: History and Theory as Research in Design

    • History and Theory as Research in Design

    • Live Interaction
  • 8

    Week 7: Variation and needs of Domesticity

    • Variation and needs of Domesticity

    • Live Interaction
  • 9

    Week 8: Gendered Spaces and Queer Spaces

    • Gendered Spaces and Queer Spaces

    • Live Interaction
  • 10

    Next Steps...

    • Quick Survey

Instructor

Kaustav Ghosh

Lead Instructor

Kaustav Ghosh is an architectural historian and theorist. Having obtained a B. Arch with honours from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, he pursued a post-professional M. Arch degree in Architectural History and Theory from McGill University, Canada. Currently based in Montréal, his academic interests are quite diverse that range from phenomenology and hermeneutics to spatial justice and gender-queer theory in architecture. Under the supervision of the noted historian and theorist Prof. Alberto Pérez-Gómez, he has authored fictions (Building Upon Love and The New Day) by exploring architectural themes in the works of Le Corbusier and film-makers Olivier Ducastel and Jacques Martineau. His thesis, Monuments to Science: Louis Kahn’s Laboratory Architecture, supervised by architectural and medical historian Prof. Annmarie Adams, explores the interdisciplinary connections between psychology, philosophy, architecture as profession and architecture as theory. His current academic works include an extensive research on Queer Spaces in Laboratory Work Environments. A recipient of the McGill University merit scholarship, his papers have been published in the Journal of the Indian Institute of Architects, and several others are undergoing review prior publication in the Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Journal of Architectural Education and Journal of Homosexuality. In the professional world of having been involved in almost 30 ongoing and finished projects, Kaustav Ghosh has collaborated with architects Ernesto Bedmar and Patti Shi while working for TKNRK Associates in Dhaka, Bangladesh. His latest professional works in India include collaborations with Article 25 headed by Norman Foster, while acting as an architect for Haven Consultants Pvt Ltd in Kolkata. A licentiate of the Council of Architecture and an associate of the Indian Institute of Architects, he aspires to add new dimensions of work philosophy in profession through pedagogy.

FAQ

  • Is this a course on history and theory?

    Yes and no. The course certainly takes a lot of references from history and theory, but it will always valorise the fact that architecture is ultimately about the art of making— design, and above all, construction.

  • Is it a studio-based course?

    The course follows the model of Design based research and Design based theory studios in North American architecture schools. It will not be following the Indian idea of architecture studios, i.e., discussing and critiquing individual designs. We shall focus on the fact that no design is ‘bad,’ rather focus on developing a personal philosophy or ideology in designing that adds more relevance to the humanitarian world. You are expected to write two 500-1000 word essay during these 8 Weeks to receive the course completion certificate.

  • Game of Thrones— are we talking about the series of books or TV series?

    We focus on the ‘world’ of Game of Thrones. There might be differences between the fiction and TV adaptation. We shall leave them open to interpretations and focus on relating them with the scheduled themes. The anecdotes of the lecture will try to follow the TV adaptation given the case of a visual reference.

  • I have no idea about Game of Thrones. Is the course, then, not for me?

    Game of Thrones is just an imaginary world we would refer to in order to understand the significance of architecture in shaping humanity. Even if you have no idea about this world of fantasy, you can definitely find similar patterns with the real world.

  • Can I choose to be an active listener and not participate through design?

    ACEDGE Studios are designed to incorporate the process of learning by doing. We do not anticipate our learners to take more than 16 hours to complete the course. In the event, learners have completed viewing the contents of the course 100%, they shall be offered a Course Audit certificate.

  • What is the course schedule?

    The course is scheduled to run through live sessions on Sundays, 11am through live Webinars. More details will be shared when you join the course.

  • Are all the live webinars mandatory?

    Since the Webinars are recorded not all webinars are mandatory. However, we insist that learners should attend the first and the concluding webinar. Participants also need to be available to present their designs and ideas on pre-decided webinars.

  • I forgot about the assignment which was due. What should I do?

    Since the timeframe is restricted, nothing can be done. Hope you can gather anything from the feedback session that might help you shape your work philosophy.

  • There is a lot of pressure at school/college/university. Can not find suitable time to think or work. What should I do?

    The aim of the course is to offer something beyond the curriculum of mainstream architecture education. Through this course we aim at being not only architects, but more importantly, architects with a deep sense of humanity. We hope we all can spare a little bit of time in the name of humanity.

Certificates:

Course completion certificate - Will be issued upon successful completion of the course and successful completion and review of all tasks suggested by the mentor.

Course Audit certificate- Will be issued to candidates who attend all sessions and complete viewing the course, however, does not submit the assignments. The course viewer on our website should read 100% course completed to avail this certificate.

Cancellation: 

We have a strict no cancellation policy. Once you commit to a learning path we would love you to stay with us till the end.

Refund:

Since we do not allow cancellation, a refund would not be initiated.

Activity and Engagement with the course is a responsibility of the learner and the course organizers or mentors are not accountable for the inactivity of the learner.