Architectural Ethnography

This course aims to encourage students to investigate the relationship between environmental design and human behavior from a cross-cultural perspective, while recognizing their own perspectives. It adopts a transdisciplinary approach, incorporating architectural anthropology and utilizing various research methods such as visual ethnography, spatial analysis, and participant observation to explore the interactions among humans, non-humans, and the environment.

In the initial phase of the course, participants will embark on an auto-ethnographic exercise to kickstart their learning journey. Following this exercise, they will conduct fieldwork, review relevant bibliographic references, collect and analyze data to develop a preliminary research output. In the subsequent phase, students will collaborate in groups to synthesize the collected data, utilizing architectural drawings as a primary means of facilitating meaningful communication across diverse audiences.

Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to maintain a personal logbook to record their activities and reflections. This logbook should document each student's individual perspective on the challenges, opportunities, and relevance of employing ethnographic methods in architectural research.

The evaluation methods in this course comprise a combination of formative and summative assessments. The work handed in at the end of each instructional unit will be the object for the summative assessment and will be based on qualitative aspects.

The tutorial sessions, the progress review sessions and the in-class peer-to-peer learning activities are the main formal methods of formative assessment.

The summative assessment will be based on the following component, and respective weight:

a) Analytical Assignment (20%):

Data Collection and Research Report (Group Work) 

Related Outcome: Deliverable 1.2

Related Learning Objectives: LO 1, LO 2, LO 3

b) Practical Exercise (40%):

Data Processing and Research Narrative (Group Work)

Related Outcome: Deliverable 2.1

Related Learning Objectives: LO 4, LO 5

c) Writing Assignment (40%):

Logbook / Critical Reflection (Individual Work)

Related Outcomes: Deliverables 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2

Related Learning Objectives: LO 6

For each student, the final grade is determined by a weighed calculation of the results achieved in group work a) + b) and individual work c).

Retake and repair regulations

In accordance with Article 1.23 of the Teaching and Examination Regulations Bachelor, and Article 1.24 of the Teaching and Examination Regulations Masters, students are entitled to at least two opportunities to take a written examination, in the period of one academic year.

Examinations refer to all variants of examinations used in our faculty, except for very special circumstances such as practicals or excursions.

Repair: 

The student has achieved a sufficient result on scale 1 to 10 with 6, has the possibility to take a repair with a mark of 5 or 5,5 and failed with 4,9 or minor. Repair has to be completed within 2 weeks after completion of the course.