Fachgebiet
Architectural theory, as a tool for reflection, is an essential component of architectural practice. If we understand the discipline of architecture as the design of “being-in-the-world” (Vilem Flusser), then architectural theory is an indispensable part of the design process, for theory—as a conceptual design—formulates the foundation for architectural design.
The design of architectural “being-in-the-world” requires intensive observation of the world in which we live; only when I recognize the world in which I am can I consciously relate to it. In recent years, transdisciplinary and cultural studies approaches have increasingly influenced architectural theory in the pursuit of a contemporary understanding of the world.
The media of architectural theory—text and image—have been expanded to include additional experimental methods used in teaching and research. The task of theory is to question existing conceptual models and develop new ones in order to enrich architectural practice.