Between Cosmos and Chaos: Gottfried Semper’s Theory of Architecture
Lecture History and Theory of Architecture IX (063-0803-02)
Organizer: Chair of Prof. Ursprung
Lecturers: Michael Gnehm
Time: Autumn 2021 | Fridays 11:45–12:30
Location: HIL E 8
Organizer: Chair of Prof. Ursprung
Lecturers: Michael Gnehm
Time: Autumn 2021 | Fridays 11:45–12:30
Location: HIL E 8
The lecture course discusses Gottfried Semper’s complex approach to architecture as the «small world» created by mankind within a global scope framing history and the present between a cosmological totality and chaotic fragmentation.
Course Catalogue
Livestreaming
Recordings
Slides
▬ 24 September 2021
| Outline
▬ . 1 October 2021
| Cosmology
▬ . 8 October 2021
| Politics
▬ 15 October 2021
| Darwinism
▬ 22 October 2021
| Ethnology
▬ . 5 November 2021
| Linguistics
▬ 12 November 2021
| Mathematics
▬ 19 November 2021
| Aesthetics
▬ 26 November 2021
| Psychology
▬ . 3 December 2021
| Retrospect and Outlook
▬ 10 December 2021 | Exam
Optional Readings ▭
▭ CONTAINING CONCISE INTRODUCTIONS
▬ Haag Bletter, Rosemarie
«Gottfried Semper», 1974.
▬ Kruft, Hanno-Walter
«The Leading German Architectural Theorist of the Mid-Nineteenth Century», 1994.
▬ Mallgrave, Harry Francis
«Tectonics and Style in Germany», 2006.
▭ ON SPECIAL TOPICS
▬ Cache, Bernard
«Gottfried Semper: Stereotomy, Biology, and Geometry», 2002.
▬ Davis II, Charles L.
«Beyond the Primitive Hut», 2019.
▬ Forty, Adrian
«Language Metaphors to Describe the Historical Origins of Architecture», 2000.
▬ Forty, Adrian
«Forget Material», 2020.
▬ Gaus, Joachim
«Die Urhütte», 1971.
▬ Gnehm, Michael
«Bekleidungstheorie / Stoffwechseltheorie», 2015.
▬ Rykwert, Joseph
On Adam’s House in Paradise : «Thinking and Doing / Necessity and Convention», 1972.
▭ OF GENERAL INTEREST
▬ D’Alleva, Anne
«Thinking about Theory», 2005.
▬ Grosz, Elizabeth
«What is ‹Origin›?», 2004.
▬ Grosz, Elizabeth
«Chaos. Cosmos, Territory, Architecture», 2008.
Michael Gnehm
Course Catalogue
Lectures
Livestreaming
Recordings
Slides
▬ 24 September 2021
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ . 1 October 2021
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ . 8 October 2021
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ 15 October 2021
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ 22 October 2021
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ . 5 November 2021
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ 12 November 2021
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ 19 November 2021
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ 26 November 2021
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ . 3 December 2021
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ 10 December 2021 | Exam
Optional Readings ▭
▭ CONTAINING CONCISE INTRODUCTIONS
▬ Haag Bletter, Rosemarie
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ Kruft, Hanno-Walter
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ Mallgrave, Harry Francis
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▭ ON SPECIAL TOPICS
▬ Cache, Bernard
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ Davis II, Charles L.
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ Forty, Adrian
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ Forty, Adrian
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ Gaus, Joachim
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ Gnehm, Michael
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ Rykwert, Joseph
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▭ OF GENERAL INTEREST
▬ D’Alleva, Anne
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ Grosz, Elizabeth
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
▬ Grosz, Elizabeth
![restricted](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/images_v4/schloss.gif)
Contact
Michael Gnehm
![Michael Gnehm | 2021](https://media.gta.arch.ethz.ch/public/data/imagesv4/big2/20221103-220327-z938.jpg)