Architectural Theory for Urban Space

Academic unit or major

Graduate major in Architecture and Building Engineering

Instructor(s)

Yoshiharu Tsukamoto

Class Format

Lecture

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

Intensive

Class

-

Course Code

ARC.D447

Number of credits

200

Course offered

2022

Offered quarter

3Q

Syllabus updated

Jul 10, 2025

Language

English

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

A different topic is established every year at the intersection of cities and architecture, and the relevant topic is analyzed from multiple perspectives such as field work, literature surveys, case studies, statistics, and interviews, such that the content can be examined as a spatial problem. Each student follows his/her own interest, presents the survey results that delve into the topic, then receives diverse feedback from the instructor and students. This is repeated several times, and finally as a whole class the results are collected into a booklet. Each class is like an editorial conference for a book, where the whole class becomes an urban think tank.
The goal is that through the above process, students become involved with urban spaces from the architecture side of things, create improvement strategies, express these with visuals that use architectural techniques and critical architectural language.

Course description and aims

By the end of this course, students will learn:
1) The historical perspective to place architectural design in the broader context of urban spaces, etc.
2) Logic structure for creating societal discussions
3) The structure and use of critical architectural language to bridge the gap between cities and architecture

Keywords

Architectural design, Urban space, Contemporary society, Critical language

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Each student follows his/her own interests, presents the survey results that delve into the topic, then receives diverse feedback from the instructor and students. This is repeated several times, and finally as a whole class the results are collected into a booklet.

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

None required

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Yoshiharu Tsukamoot et al. Made in Tokyo : Kajima Publishing, ISBN-13 : 978-4306044210
Yoshiharu Tsukamoto et al. Comonalities : LIXIL Publishing, ISBN-13 : 978-4864800099
Atelier Bow-Wow. Graphic Anatomy : TOTO Publishing, ISBN-13 : 978-4-88706-278-8
Atelier Bow-Wow. Graphic Anatomy2 : TOTO Publishing, ISBN-13 : 978-4-88706-340-2
Tokyo Institute of Technology Tsukamoto-Lab. Pet Architecture Guidebook, ISBN-13 : 978-4846523275
Tokyo Institute of Technology Tsukamoto-Lab. Windowscape -Window Behaviorology- : Filmart, ISBN-13 : 978-4845910588
Tokyo Institute of Technology Tsukamoto-Lab. Windowscape2 -Window Genealogy- : Filmart,　ISBN-13: 978-4306070899　

Evaluation methods and criteria

Students will be assessed on contribution in each class and a final result.

Related courses

• ARC.D424 ： Theory of Architectural Space and Planning

Prerequisites

Students must have successfully completed Architectural Space and Planning(ARC.D424).