Architectural documentation as field of research is far more than the survey of building and drawing of plans. In a modern scientific approach buildings should be interpreted as the product of many influences: historical, social, cultural, economical and ecological factors are all having effect on design,structure and function of architecture. A multidisciplinary research approach ensures the possibility of analysing a building in far more depth than its mere technical structure. For such an approach it is customary to use methods and sources applied or provided by other academic disciplines such as social anthropology, ethnography, sociology, history or ecology. In case of larger projects experts from different academic fields are asked to cooperate, which of course would be too time-consuming an effort in case of a University course. Nevertheless this course lays an emphasis on working with sources and methods, which are not originating from the field of classical architectural research and documentation as such. Detailed examples how such work can be done will be presented during lectures. The aim of the course is to motivate students to do research independently and summarize their findings in an article which would be fit for presentation at an international scientific conference.  

The subject of research is the traditional architecture of the World Heritage Sites Berat and Gjirokastra, Albania, which were built during the 19th century. In both sites significant stone buildings are the core of the vernacular architecture. So far just parts of the built environment in the two towns are documented and analysed in detail.

The research task of the course is to get a better understanding of this particular part of the built cultural heritage:
How were these houses generally built? (method: e.g. interviews, anthropological approach),
What kind of building materials were used? (method: e.g. building materials technical analysis, ecology of the surrounding area), Which climate influences had to be respected? (method: e.g. plan studies, utilization studies).

Particular attention is also turned to the situation of the buildings in connection with the World Heritage List and related topics.

INTRODUCTION: Wednesday, 02.03.2016 09:00 Seminarroom 251

Courses: Wednesdays 09:00-11:00 and 14:00-18:00

Excursion to Albania: 25.04.2016-08.05.2016

There are 2 options: Focus on 1) Building Analysis or 2) City Analysis

for 1)
- Compilation of the results of the field study
- Scientific paper, which could be handed in at an international scientific conference
- presentation of the paper in PechaKucha format

and for Course 251.748 Comparative research in architecture - Cultural Spaces and Identity in Architecture:
- Compilation of the results of the field study 

for 2)
- Compilation of the results of the field study

and for Course 251.748 Comparative research in architecture - Cultural Spaces and Identity in Architecture:
- Compilation of the results of the field study
- Scientific paper, which could be handed in at an international scientific conference
- presentation of the paper in PechaKucha format