DETAIL PUBLISHERS. FORM FOLLOWS NEEDS

In her contribution ‘Form Follows Needs’ Tanja C. Vollmer takes a critical look at the DesignBuild method from the perspective of an architectural psychologist. The contribution is part of a sequence of academic analyses from the fields of architectural theory, philosophy, social pedagogy and art history, among others. It appears in the book publication of the exhibition of the same name ‘Experience in Action! DesignBuild in Architecture’ (Bader & Lepik, 2020). This is the name of the largest and most comprehensive exhibition on DesignBuild to date, which the Architecture Museum of the Technical University Munich will open in May 2020 at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue with all the exhibits and narratives of the international DesignBuild project participants, who describe their work in numerous architecture schools worldwide. The spectrum ranges from houses, theatres, schools and kindergartens to hospitals, primarily in developing countries, but also in under-served areas in Germany. DesignBuild has a long tradition, but only in recent years has it become an increasingly popular concept at many universities. The aim of the exhibition and publication is therefore to inform the general public about the social impact and long-term significance of this teaching method.