F 9:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Anderson Hall, Room 153
ARCH 350: Introductory Architecture Seminar
Small, focused, introductory-level course in discussion, workshop and/or design-based format on topics related to current research in architecture. Current offerings and enrollment eligibility are listed on the Rice Architecture website: arch.rice.edu. Space is limited and registration does not guarantee a space in this course. Repeatable for Credit.
Engaging communities in meaningful conversations is necessary for any
discipline that intends to shape a more resilient, beautiful, and inclusive
city—a task particularly pertinent to Houston, the fourth largest and
most diverse city in the country that is shaped by intersecting tapestry
of nature and culture. Disciplines that engage in such context overlap
with housing, healthcare, education, climate, transit, and a responsive
public realm —including architecture and other allied professions.
This course will examine Houston as a live case study to cultivate a
shared platform for conversations about cities and their communities—
including the lived and constructed social fabric of our cities that
engages the academics and citizens alike.
To inform and challenge the formats of public participation, students
will be in direct dialogue with community members and ongoing public
forums to understand the needs of the public and gain their contextual
perspective. Extending the concept of civitas as a social body of people
bound together by laws and shared values, rights, and responsibilities—
this course is meant to be a place of dialogue and civic engagement.
There is an abundant context only the community will know. Students
will act as objective observers, challenge preconceptions, and uphold
community interest to create continued conversations and
platforms for knowledge exchange.
The evolution of places and ideas of the past is a resource.
However, the past is not a predictor of the future or an indication of
lived experiences. This course will understand formats of inquiry,
the responsibility of reporting back, and how to interpret existing community
and city initiatives and outcomes.
Through community site visits, walk/pop-up engagement, discussions
with guest speakers from the city and community organizations,
conversations with experts in architecture, anthropology and social
science, as well as through readings and practical activities, we will
explore the dimensions of public dialogue and our shared responsibility
in advocating and imagining for thriving urban communities in Houston.