Course

Module 1

The Self and Ancestry in Architecture

• Introduction to the idea of personal identity in design.
• How ancestry, culture, and geography shape architectural thinking.
• Overview of regional architecture: influences of climate, materials, and history.
• Guide to researching family history and genealogy. Students trace their family roots and document significant ancestral places, homes, or buildings.
• Identification of regional architectural styles that align with students’ family history.
• Reflection on how personal history and ancestry have shaped one’s perception of design.
• Introduction to design narratives and the role of storytelling in architecture.
• Visit to ancestral homes or important regional buildings.
• Building a design vocabulary from regional architecture.

Module 2

The Cognitive Revolution and the Birth of Design Thinking

• Introduction to Human Evolution and its relevance to design thinking.
• Understanding the Cognitive Revolution and how early humans conceptualized tools and shelter.
• How imagination, communication, and abstraction led to the birth of design.
• Early human settlements and rudimentary design processes.

Module 3

The Agricultural Revolution – The First Major Shift in Design Thinking

• The Agricultural Revolution and its impact on human settlements and architecture.
• Changes in social structures, and how the built environment responded to permanent settlements.

Module 4

Relationship Between Man and Nature

• Evolving relationship between human beings and nature through architecture.
• Early sustainable design principles inspired by nature.
• Exploration of ancient buildings designed with natural elements (e.g., Egyptian pyramids, Stonehenge, Mayan temples).

Module 5

Understanding Humanities through Design

• Role of humanities (philosophy, art, literature) in shaping design thinking.
• Influence of cultural beliefs, rituals, and symbolism on ancient architecture.
• Exploration of temples, religious structures, and palaces as reflections of human thought.

Module 6

Cultural Development and Its Impact on Design in India

•  Cultural evolution and its influence on Indian aesthetic, functional, and technological aspects of design.
• The relationship between Indian cultural movements (e.g., Indian Renaissance, Enlightenment) and design thinking.
•  Design as an expression of identity and culture in different historical periods in India.

Module 7

Chronology of Indian Architecture

• Evolution of Indian architecture from the Indus Valley Civilization to contemporary times.
• Influence of religion, politics, and cultural synthesis on Indian architecture.
• Exploration of key architectural milestones (e.g., Buddhist stupas, Mughal architecture, colonial architecture).

Module 8

Evolution of Indian Contemporary Design Thinking and Future Trends

• Transition from historical design thinking to contemporary practices in India.
• The impact of technology, globalization, and environmental consciousness on modern design.
• Speculative design: future trends in architecture and design thinking.
• Lessons from Sapiens for future design philosophies.

1. To explore the evolution of human societies and their influence on design thinking, using insights from Human Evolution to understand the connection between cultural development and architectural innovations.

2. To analyze the relationship between human beings and nature throughout history and how it has shaped architectural practices and sustainable design principles.

3. To provide a comprehensive understanding of the key knowledge systems, cultural movements, and sociological changes that have influenced architectural styles across different civilizations.

4. To develop critical thinking and design skills by drawing connections between historical and contemporary design approaches and predicting future trends in architecture.

Outcomes:

1. Historical and Cultural Insight: Students will demonstrate an understanding of how human evolution, cultural development, and sociological changes have shaped architectural design across different eras and regions.

2. Sustainable Design Integration: Students will be able to apply historical knowledge of the relationship between man and nature to contemporary design projects in the design studio, promoting sustainability in their architectural solutions.

3. Critical Analysis and Comparative Skills: Students will critically analyze and compare architectural styles from different cultures and periods, identifying common principles and divergences in design thinking.

4. Innovative Design Thinking: Students will conceptualize and develop innovative design projects in the design studio that reflect a deep understanding of the past and respond to present and future architectural challenges.

References:

1. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

This book is central to the course as it provides a broad historical context for understanding human evolution, cultural development, and how these have influenced design thinking over time.

Topics Covered: Cognitive Revolution, Agricultural Revolution, the rise of civilizations, systems of knowledge.

2. A History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals by Spiro Kostof

This comprehensive text offers an in-depth exploration of how architecture has evolved in response to changing societal structures, rituals, and cultural beliefs across time and geography.

Topics Covered: World architectural history, sociocultural context of architecture, evolution of built forms.

3. Architecture: Form, Space, and Order by Francis D.K. Ching

Ching’s book introduces the foundational principles of architectural design, including the relationship between form, space, and structure, which align with the development of design thinking from early civilizations to modern times.

Topics Covered: Design fundamentals, spatial relationships, architectural forms.

4. The Story of Architecture by Patrick Nuttgens

This book offers a chronological narrative of world architecture, which aligns with the course’s focus on the historical development of architectural styles in different cultures.

Topics Covered: Architectural history, evolution of styles across civilizations, cultural influences.

5. The Architecture of the Indian Subcontinent by Takeo Kamiya

This book provides an in-depth examination of Indian architectural history, which is an important component of the syllabus covering the chronology of Indian architecture.

Topics Covered: Indian architecture, historical and cultural influences, religious structures.

6. Design Thinking: Integrating Innovation, Customer Experience, and Brand Value by Thomas Lockwood

This book explores the concept of design thinking in a modern context, providing insights into how design principles have evolved to meet contemporary challenges.

Topics Covered: Modern design thinking, innovation, and future trends.

7. The Timeless Way of Building by Christopher Alexander

Alexander explores design patterns that have been consistent across different cultures and time periods, connecting traditional design thinking to modern architectural practices.

Topics Covered: Traditional design principles, patterns in architecture, human-nature relationships in design.

8. Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) by Percy Brown

This classic work provides a detailed history of Buddhist and Hindu architecture in India, which is critical for understanding the evolution of design thinking in the Indian subcontinent.

Topics Covered: Indian architecture, religious and cultural influences, historical periods.

9. A Global History of Architecture by Francis D.K. Ching, Mark Jarzombek, and Vikramaditya Prakash

This book offers a broad, global perspective on the development of architecture, highlighting key milestones in design thinking across various civilizations and epochs.

Topics Covered: Global architectural history, cross-cultural architectural developments.

10. The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

This book focuses on human-centered design, which is crucial for understanding how human needs and experiences shape the evolution of design thinking in both architecture and product design.

Topics Covered: Human-centered design, interaction between design and human behavior.

11. Concepts of Space in Traditional Indian Architecture by Yatin Pandya & Vastu Shilpa Foundation

12. Vistara by Charles Correa

13. Elements of Space making by Yatin Pandya

14. Architecture in India since 1990 by Rahul Mehrotra