ARCH 702 & ARCH 503
Theories & Philosophy of Aesthetics
Post Graduate Studies in Architecture
Department of Architecture
College of Engineering
Cairo University
The Behavioral Study of Aesthetics in Architecture
UNIT: Prof. Hisham Gabr, Ph.D.
The behavioral study of aesthetics focuses upon the scientific investigation of matters related to aesthetics and human visual perception. The interaction between people and their physical environment is the focus of this approach. Knowledge from the behavioral sciences have contributed to understanding and sometimes explaining the mechanism of aesthetic experience.
Other units are taught by different instructors. During 2004-2005, Prof. Ali Bassiouni, Prof. Zakia Shafie, & Assistant Prof. Heba Farouk taught the other 3 units.
TOPICS
1. Introduction & Problem of Aesthetics
- The problem of aesthetics in architecture
2. The Study of Aesthetics
- Who studies aesthetics?
- What is aesthetics?
- Why study aesthetics?
3. Origins of the Behavioral Study of Aesthetics (Environmental Aesthetics)
- Criticism of modern architecture
- New directions in architectural aesthetics
- Science of environmental aesthetics
4. Theoretical Innovations in Aesthetics
5. Innovative Applications of Aesthetics
- Purpose of aesthetic application
- Product of aesthetic application
- Process of application
- Factors affecting aesthetic judgments
- Measurements of aesthetic response
6. Gestalt Aesthetics
- Introduction & origins
- Ideology & characteristics
- Contributions
- Criticism
References
