The goal of the lecture is the development of a fundamental understanding of social structures, organisation of societies, behaviour in social context and social problems based on central terms, theories and methods of sociology. This should lead to a critical reflection on the role of architects in society and on the consequences of their work.
1. Introduction to the sociological imagination, the genesis and historical development of sociology based on the process of modernisation, the main concepts of sociology and theories of social inequality - always in close relation to the field of architecture and planning 2. critical reflection on the notion of space and introduction to social-space anaylsis as a tool, discussion of the social role of the architect and the relation between built and social space, introduction to urban sociology and its genesis / key concepts 3. emphasis on selected thematic fields that are relevant to the field of architecture such as public space, urban design, housing, economy 4. critical reflection on the tasks and institutions of spatial planning and urban development in the light of the complex relation between architecture and society.
