Call for Applications – 5th Summer School on Architecture & Philosophy „The Project of Theory“

Venue: Moise Palace, Cres   

Dates: Tuesday, May 3rd – Saturday, May 7th  

Organizers: Center for Advanced Studies – South East Europe, DeltaLab (University of Rijeka), Technical University Berlin, Politecnico Torino, PerspectLab, Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory (University of Belgrade). 

The 2022 Cres – Summer School workshop raises the question of the projective character of theory. Genuine innovation in architecture, we argue, is always a project of theory. By making visible the immanent deficits, the social conditions and paradoxes of architecture, critical theory opens up architecture to the new.   

This is all the more important today, when under pressure of debates about sustainability, energy balances and certifications, architecture practice is increasingly dominated by instrumental, technical reason. There is even a belief that theory can be dispensed with altogether. This, however, must be countered with the assertion that there is no institution of architecture without theory. Echoing the philosopher Christine Blättler, it can be said that theory directs the “gaze from metaphysical sense to material intrinsic meaning.” This also means that theory makes architecture possible in the first place: there is no true innovation without theory.   

The Summer School The Project of Theory aims to pose questions of relation between theory and architecture practice. Suggested topics will include, but are not limited to: 

• The role of theory for the practice of architecture  
• The relationship between architecture and other disciplines, such as philosophy, sociology, theory of art, science, etc. 
• The social conditions of architecture work and the relationship of architecture practice to social and critical theory 
• The reconceptualization of theory in the age of the Anthropocene 
• The theoretical models that underlie the concepts of current architecture practice  

• Theory as a medium of innovation: How can theory become the medium through which the new finds its way into the conception and practice of architecture? 
• The ontology of architecture objects 

This summer school is open to graduate students at all stages of their studies. Students will be asked to read texts in advance, present on topics agreed upon with the course directors and actively participate in the meetings. 

ECTS points are available for MA and PhD students. The requirements for ECTS credits are (i) participation in at least 80% of all lectures, (ii) presentation of a previously prepared original paper on the topic of the course or discussion papers on the papers provided by lecturers. The organizers will prepare the official certificate, which will include a detailed overview of the students’ obligations (sufficient for 3 ECTS). Whether ECTS will be recognized as parts of their academic programs or as additional achievements in diploma supplements depends solely on the institutions that the students come from. 

Further information can be found here:  

https://ifdt.bg.ac.rs/index.php/2022/03/21/the-project-of-theory/?lang=en