Making Space: Feminism and Architecture

Catalog description

This undergraduate seminar will consider feminist frameworks, politics, and aesthetics in relation to architecture and the built environment. How have theories on the feminine, and gender more broadly, influenced architectural thought and design aesthetics? How can we imagine a more just environment for women in communities, workplaces, homes, public spaces, and institutions? Spanning from the 1970s to the present, the seminar will engage with texts, case studies, and experimental practices, with a focus on their implications for present and future work. The course will also consider the intersections of feminist thought with broader concerns of gender, class, race, and ability, and will explore the role of feminism in global and local solidarities. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to enroll. The course will be structured around weekly discussions of readings and case studies, peer feedback sessions, and student presentations. Students will undertake a guided research project of their choosing, which may take the form of a critical or experimental essay, performance, or a visual, spatial, or graphic project.