702-446 Political Economy of Design

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Enrolment in the BArch or BArch/BPC, or permission from the lecturer

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The objective of this class is to introduce the elements that influence the organisation of design in the building industry and that should be considered in reading its transformations. The subject is divided into four sections. The first considers the development of architecture as a modern profession, establishing a relationship between technological contact, work of the architect, and instruments of the work. The second examines the economic factors that affect the conditions to cultural and industrial barriers. The third section deals with the resulting specialisation trends, and their possible impacts over the nature of architectural work and the structure of architectural employment. The fourth section elaborates on the idea of globalisation and what the term really means for architectural practice.

Assessment

A class journal (25%), a research paper of not more than 5000 words (50%), and one take-home test of not more than 1500 words (25%).