S | Architectural Miniatures

Small models of large buildings are commonly referred to as miniatures of architecture. In contrast, architectural miniatures are independent buildings that, with artful reduction of size and masterful treatment of the material, can nevertheless fulfill all typical functions in a minimal way. Whether "Little Houses" for eccentrics, "Follies" for snobs, "devotional chapels" in holy places, or "memorial buildings" for posterity, all of these small architectures are and were orientation spaces for spiritual initiations into novel parallel worlds in contrast to the usual normality. In architecture as in painting, miniatures encourage contemplation of large-scale interrelationships in a spatially controllable reality.

For architects, the investigation of the smallest scales is appealing, raising the question of the limited possibilities and even the simplest typologies of "Small Buildings".

The seminar looks at the historical models: In groups of two, the theoretical foundations will be worked out and presented on the basis of concrete buildings. However, the opportunity will also be offered to independently design one's own miniature on the smallest scale, using models as well as floor plans, sections and elevations.