This seminar explores how architectural thinking can respond to today’s intertwined climate and social crises through theory, discussion, and political engagement. As part of Integrative Design with a focus on extremes, it introduces students to key contemporary texts and ideas from influential thinkers such as Dehlia Hannah, Bruno Latour, Timothy Morton, Arne Naess, Thomas Piketty, and others, helping them build both specialized and broad theoretical knowledge relevant to architectural practice.

A central theme of the semester is writing letters to political decision-makers. Drawing on the assigned readings and their own research, students develop positions on urgent issues and work in small groups to formulate messages that can serve as guiding ideas for the future of architecture. Structured like a book club, the seminar emphasizes reading, discussion, independent research, and the practice of speaking and arguing freely. These skills and insights culminate in the final symposium ZUKUNFT ARCHITEKTUR 4, where students present and debate the themes they have developed with and for one another.

Special event

Thursday, October 29, 2026, 7:00 p.m. – Lecture by Dehlia Hannah and Friday, October 30, 2026, 1:00–3:00 p.m. – Seminar with Dehlia Hannah on her writings (in English)

Literature

• Hannah, D. (ed.) (2018) A Year Without a Winter. New York: Columbia Books on Architecture and the City. und andere Texte
• Morton, T. (2021) Ökologisch sein. Berlin: Matthes & Seitz Berlin.
• Morton, T. (2016) Ökologie ohne Natur. Berlin: Matthes & Seitz Berlin.
• Naess, A. (1986) There is no point of no return. Pengiun Books. 1986
• Piketty, T. (2022) Eine kurze Geschichte der Gleichheit. München: C.H. Beck.
• Serres, M. and Latour, B. (1995) Conversations on Science, Culture, and Time. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

(Subject to change.)