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052-0630-20L 2 Credits BSC D-ARCH

CAAD Practice: Maps & Models - Articulate City Perceptions (L.Hovestadt)

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. em. Dr. Ludger Hovestadt
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:42:24

Abstract

In 1931 Alfred Korzybski, introduced the notion “The map is not the territory” arguing that a map is a reduction of the actual thing, a process in which information is lost. According to Korzybski, an ideal map would contain the map of the map of the map of the map, etc., endlessly. In the relation between map and territory, we propose to add the notion of a model.

Objective

In this course, we will dig into the abundance of urban imagery data to create personal models of any city, by articulating questions around our interests. We will introduce you Machine Intelligence algorithms, to classify and cluster specific objects. In Maps & Models, what is at stake is your own question. Create your models by projecting what matters to you!

Content

In 1931 Alfred Korzybski, introduced the notion “The map is not the territory” arguing that a map is a reduction of the actual thing, a process in which information is lost. According to Korzybski, an ideal map would contain the map of the map of the map of the map, etc., endlessly. In the relation between map and territory, we propose to add the notion of a model. Models are specific renders of the already bias map of reality. Maps re-assemble facts of the territory (with any dimension) without rendering or representing its data; is one step before the projection. Therefore, the model (information) is a specific render of this map (data) that comes from the territory (reality).

Resources

Lecture Notes

http://www.caad.arch.ethz.ch

Literature

http://www.caad.arch.ethz.ch

Learning Materials (Links)

General Information

Language
English
Levels
BSC
Frequency
Semesterly recurring

Examination

Type
ungraded semester performance
Es wird in Englisch UND Deutsch unterrichtet.

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise CAAD Practice: Maps & Models - Articulate City Perceptions (L.Hovestadt)
Keine Lehrveranstaltung am 16.3. (Seminarwoche), am 13.4. (Osterferien) sowie an Feiertagen und vor den Schlussabgaben (s. Raumbelegungen!)
  • Mon 07:45-09:30 (HPV G 4)
  • 17.02 Date 08:00-09:35 (HIB E 15)
2 h weekly

Offered In