In the design studio “A Room without a Roof“, we will pay particular attention to the urban courtyard as a type of open public room formed within the boundary of the building. What are the specific architectural elements? How did these types and their use evolve over time? How are they conditioned and, in turn, influence the surrounding space? And how does this type of space mediate between open and enclosed space and illustrate social and political conditions?
Through reading relevant literature and by a close reading of historical as well as contemporary examples as case studies, the students will have the task of studying and examining courtyard buildings as types of in-between spaces. We will look at aspects such as urban context and block morphology, historical transformation and social use, and programmatic layering and use our findings as a base for redrawing, expanding, and redefining those case-studies.
Within the scope of our design and research studio, we will also explore different methods of drawing. As a reference for the drawings, we would like to draw on the illustrations by Friedl Dicker/Franz Singer, in which different drawing contents were superimposed and depicted layer by layer.
Teaching Methods:
Reading, analysis of typological references, and experiments with different drawings and illustration methods. Design proposal within a specific form of drawing in layers.
Lecturers:
Wilfried Kuehn
Basma Abu-Naim
Tutor:
Maria Breinstampf
Further Information:
Kick-off: Thu, 5th of March 2026, 10:00am.
Meetings will take place every Thursday 9:00–12:00am.