05 HISTORY and THEORY

In architectural history and theory education at New York Tech, the program pursues these four objectives.

A comprehensive geographical and anthropological approach

Students should develop more balanced views on the architecture and urbanism of the world. Students are expected to learn architecture and urbanism of Asia, Arab, Africa, Latin America, and Oceania as well as Europe and North America. Students are expected to learn the built environments and cultures of previously underappreciated regions and peoples.

Towards relationships rather than islands

Students learn how to appreciate human settlements and structures in their historical and cultural complexity. A city or building is viewed as part of the network of diverse influences. These can be social, cultural, economic, and/or religious factors. Interactions between different empires, regions, and nations are carefully examined in the appreciation of a site or building. Students learn to observe a historic site or building through the relationships that define it.

Equity and inclusion

Civil rights and spatial rights are inseparably connected. As such, our curriculum considers issues of race, gender, disability, and political and social disparity in power in relation to architectural historiography and urban space. Theoretical issues surrounding the body and its relationship to technology and public space are explored as well.

Open-minded inquiry and criticality

Students learn to formulate questions about architectural and urban issues with open-mindedness. Rather than following established doctrines, students approach the issues at hand through open questions. It is the reason we aim at keeping an interactive learning environment. With classroom instruction and discussion, we aim to help students recognize historical and theoretical issues, unbiasedly and critically.

FACULTY coordinator *

Hyun-Tae Jung *

Nader Vossoughian *

William Palmore

Sean Khorsandi