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Unmasking Space: A Collaborative Platform for and by Students
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 16:38:59
Abstract
A reflection on the structures and norms behind architectural projects and architectural education, Unmasking Space actively questions the content and methodologies of the official curriculum. It aims to recognize students’ voices from below, to disturb and challenge the established values, to value non-hierarchical learning.
Objective
- Students should be able to understand and develop critical positions in relation to other spatial epistemologies introduced and explored in the course. - Students should develop a position on the agency of the architect in relation to the themes explored in the modules of the course. - Students should develop modes of articulating knowledge transfer within a group, in response to the curriculum informed by the contributions of external guests.
Content
This semester, Unmasking Space will engage in a critical exploration of architecture and architectural education beyond its façade of neutrality. Architecture is not merely a backdrop to human activity but an actor that shapes our environment and behaviours. It often operates as an instrument of control and a delineator of freedom - from the stark functionality of checkpoints and border controls to the subtle biases in everyday living spaces. Through a series of workshops selected through an open call, the semester will provide an alternation of moments of input, reflection, research and discussion. Intended as a collective, non-hierarchical learning experience, we will explore a variety of case studies, set in Zurich, Neuchâtel, Dakar, Palestine, New York and more. When discussing all of these, from a floating prison to a colonial trade mission, to a wall, we will be guided by a variety of spatial practitioners. We will be shifting the learning spaces - to the city, to our homes, to an informal gathering, aiming to gain a better understanding of how we perform learning in multiple and collective ways. An overview of the previous semester is available on instagram at @unmaskingspace and at the website https://unmasking.space/
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- BSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Registration & Places
- Signup End
- 04.03.2024
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar |
Unmasking Space: A Collaborative Platform for and by Students
No course on 21.3.2024 (seminar week) and the last two weeks of the semester.
|
|
2 h weekly |