© Margherita Spiluttini
The Wittgenstein Method
In addition to his philosophical work, Ludwig Wittgenstein left behind an artifact: the Wittgenstein House in Vienna’s 3rd district. The house, which Wittgenstein designed together with architect and Loos student Paul Engelmann for his sister Margarethe Stoneborough, can be read in an architectural context as a built manifesto: a prototypical building, a model of construction and space, and at the same time the physical manifestation of his philosophical model of thought and language.
The starting point for the design work on the thesis is a morphological and typological examination of the architectural exhibit and the exploration and documentation of the underlying design methodology. A particular focus is placed on the spatial structure of the house—the staging of the sequence of rooms, the proportions of the rooms, the spatial effect, the lighting, and the materiality of the surfaces that encompass the rooms. These structural-spatial analyses form the basis for the design concept for the diploma project at a location of the student’s choice with a program of their own choosing. The aim is to translate and apply Ludwig Wittgenstein’s design methodology, which is evident in the house he built for his sister, in a contemporary way.
Architectural analysis of the spatial concept in the Wittgenstein House based on spatial models and programmatic drawings.
Investigation and documentation of the underlying design practice. Creation of a thesis on Wittgenstein’s underlying design methodology. Transfer and contemporary updating of the methodology found to a self-selected diploma project. Reflection and contextualization of the approach in the context of the method of analog architecture.
Lecturers:
Wilfried Kuehn
Heike Oevermann
Ulrich Huhs
Further information:
Applications upload in TISS until 04.03.2026, 18:00h:
Portfolio with selected projects
Letter of motivation one A4 page
Outlining of the diploma theme one page A4
Dates:
13.03.2026 10:00 – 13:00 kick-off
20.03.2026 09:00 – 13:00
24.04.2026 09:00 – 13:00
22.05.2026 09:00 – 13:00
26.06.2026 09:00 – 13:00
two individual dates in summer 2026
April 2027 Examination
Theory and design work form the basis of the thesis.
Participation in all seminar dates and individual meetings.
Interim presentations (analysis method and spatial concept Wittgenstein, choice and analysis of construction site, design concept).
Submission of analysis and design documentation on RG-Share.
Final presentation of the seminar results (analysis method and spatial concept for Wittgenstein, construction site analysis, design concept, detailed design).
Written documentation in accordance with the agreed layout specifications.