THEORIES OF TECTONICS

ARC 327R / ARC 386M Seminar
Tues/Thurs 12:30 – 2:00pm, SUT 2.110
Open to all SOA and non-SOA students
Dora Epstein-Jones: Dora.Epstein@austin.utexas.edu

Tectonics are EXPRESSIVE. Tectonics tell us about buildings in a narrative of details, and in doing so, tectonics provide us with architectural understanding. Some of it is true to the   construction and materials, some of it is a bit exaggerated; tectonics can be coherent and conscious, tectonics can also be incoherent and subconscious. Part survey, part workshop, this course studies a range of tectonic expressions in Ancient, Traditional, Classicist, Modern and Contemporary architectures worldwide; and seeks to create a taxonomy of tectonics from this range. Using visual evidence, the class will assemble various tectonic timelines and territories, or many little tectonic hegemonies. Special attention will be paid to novel tectonic effects, such as squishing, smooshing, kisses, winks, wiggles, morphs, floofs, smol, and chonk.

12 photos of Frank Lloyd Wright Using His Hands to Describe All Conventional Forms of Architecture

Image: Frank Lloyd Wright Using His Hands to Describe All Conventional Forms of Architecture

PROGRAM(S)

Architecture
Architectural History
Community and Regional Planning
Historic Preservation
Interior Design
Landscape Architecture
Sustainable Design
Urban Design

SEMESTER(S)

Spring 2025