History and Theory in Architecture IX: 1990s Theories that Inspired Architecture

Tutors: Dr. Cathelijne Nuijsink, Dr. María Novas

Course Description

This course invites students on an intellectual journey back to the 1990s – a decade marked by the early expansion of the Internet, the spread of neoliberalism, the rise of identity politics, and the cultural pulse of rap, grunge, and MTV shaping Western youth culture. In this climate of social and intellectual transformation, architecture – like many disciplines – was compelled to question its foundations and future. One key initiative to reinvigorate theoretical discourse was the founding of the Anyone Corporation by architects Peter Eisenman, Arata Isozaki, Ignasi de Solà-Morales, and editor Cynthia Davidson in 1990. The goal of this New York-based think tank was to stimulate new theoretical debate in the post-modernist and post-structuralist era and set a new agenda for architecture at the turn of the millennium. To do so, it invited not only architects but also gender theorists, literary critics, political scientists, philosophers, and other intellectuals to enliven architectural debate and expand its boundaries.

The course takes as its starting point ANY: Architecture New York, the experimental tabloid magazine produced by the Anyone Corporation from 1993 to 2000. As a platform for exploring theoretical frameworks such as critical race theory, feminist theories, theories of cyberspace, and cultures of fear, ANY pushed architectural discourse beyond its traditional disciplinary boundaries. In this course, these themes serve not only as historical artifacts but also as lenses through which we will examine contemporary architectural thought.

Each week, we will focus on one of four core theoretical frameworks – race, feminism, cyberspace, and public fear – and analyse how they entered architectural discourse in the 1990s and continue to shape the field today. Students will engage with foundational texts from architecture and other disciplines, study their impact, and collaboratively map shifting perspectives using a collaborative whiteboard. Sessions are structured into two components: one hour of theoretical exploration through lectures, readings, and media excerpts, followed by one hour of interactive activities, including mapping exercises. These in-class assignments are designed to build critical thinking skills and will cumulatively contribute to the final assignment and evaluation. 

By revisiting and reinterpreting key theoretical conversations from the 1990s, this course enables students to situate themselves within the evolving landscape of architectural thought. We will explore how engagement with theoretical perspectives can enrich our understanding of architecture and encourage reflection on the social, political, and cultural forces that shape the built environment.

Time and Location

The course will take place on Friday mornings from 9:45 to 11:30 in room HIL E1.

• Seminar 01 | 1990s
  Friday 26 September 2025

• Seminar 02 | 1990s
  Friday 03 October 2025

• Seminar 03 | Electrotecture
  Friday 10 October 2025

• Seminar 04 | Electrotecture
  Friday 17 October 2025

• [SEMINAR WEEK] 

• Seminar 05 | Feminism
  Friday 31 October 2025

• Seminar 06 | Feminism
  Friday 7 November 2025

• Seminar 07 | Whiteness
  Friday 14 November 2025

• Seminar 08 | Whiteness
  Friday 21 November 2025

• Seminar 09 | Public Fear
  Friday 28 November 2025

• Seminar 10 | Public Fear                                                                                                          Friday 5 December 2025

Course Reader

Download here