Course detail

Junk Space

FaVU-JSAcad. year: 2017/2018

It was Rem Koolhaas who introduced the notion of junk space into architectonic discourse at the beginning of this century. The word has been successfully adopted not only in the jargon of architects but also of wider public as it metaphorically denotes places which have lost thier meaning, characteristics, and conceptualization in environments created by people. Koolhaas' notion of junk space is similar to the thinking of Marc Augén who calls this homogenized, ungraspable environment "non-places". He understands non-places as opposite to the tradinional notion of a place; non-place takes up all ills of supermodernity. Airports, supermarkets, highways, or multinational hotel chains are exemplary non-places. They are places of circulation, communication, and consumerism which need no history or identity. They mediate their users the illusion of being a part ofthe big global project.
The popularity of Koolhaas's term is also determined by its pivotal role in the critique of architects' apathy who have renounced the possibility of being active creators of new ideas - on the conctrary - they willingly cooperate on the completion of the big global project. Architecture is being made responsible for not being able to take a stance about the complexity of the world, it is not functional even in solving the practical minutiate of the global projects in the form of airport halls or highway junctions. Hence the question is whether the remedy of the spatial pollution can really arrive from a critical stance on the part of architects. Is not the artistic expression, which can provide non-space with autonomy and the possiblity of tranformation, a more viable means for the renewal ofspatial identity?

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

The practical part of the seminar takes the form of a workshop the outcome of which is a concrete intervention in public space.

Prerequisites

Good knowledge of postwar art and architecture history.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in the article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations..

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

credit

Course curriculum

The seminar is divided into two parts. The first part consists of lectures, discussions, and projections. The workshop outcomes have been discussed above.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

Students will learn about the theoretical backgrounds of the notion of junk space and particular commissions in public space within a workshop.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Attendance is mandatory.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Not applicable.

Recommended reading

Rem Koolhaas, The Generic City, in: S,M,L,XL. New York 1995.
Marc Augé, Antropologie současných světů. Paříž 1994.
Marc Augé: Non-Places: An Introduction to Supermodernity. Londýn 1995.
Ballard, James G., Království tvé. Praha 2012.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme Bachelor's

    branch AGD2 , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch AGD1 , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch APD , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch AM3 , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch AS2 , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch AM2 , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch AKG , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch AS1 , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch AM1 , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch AIN , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch ATD , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch APE , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch AMU , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch AEN , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective
    branch AVI , 3. year of study, summer semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Seminar

13 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer