[E] Lecture Mandatory Module D: Building Planning :The Use of Typology: Reassessing the Legacy of an Architectural Idea

The Use of Typology: Reassessing the Legacy of an Architectural Idea This course explores the notion of typology, whose revival has recently influenced contemporary architectural practice and debate. Typology has a long and layered history, evolving from the shared practical knowledge of builders to a theoretical framework for design thinking. Its origins can be traced back to classical antiquity, but it was not until the late 18th century that typology acquired explicit theoretical status. Quatremère de Quincy redefined type as an abstract, generative principle: a conceptual structure that could vary in form while retaining an underlying logic. Jean-Nicolas-Louis Durand further advanced the idea by rationalizing design through the classification and recombination of classical elements—an approach that anticipated modern architectural logic. In the 20th century, typology was largely eclipsed by modernist functionalism, where the prototype supplanted the plural, contextual logic of type. The 1960s brought renewed interest through the work of Aldo Rossi, Giulio Carlo Argan, Rafael Moneo, and Alan Colquhoun. Rather than offering a single definition, these architects provided a set of conceptual tools that can be reinterpreted and reactivated in contemporary practice. Building on this historical foundation, the course specifically examines how typological thinking can inform current architectural and urban design and become a fruitful design tool. The format combines a series of lectures (including guest lectures) with a practical assignment. First class: Thu. 16 October 2025, 9:50 AM, ZKS–kleiner Hörsaal (L301/A91)