The University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning presents…”Opera In Complete: The Total Work of Art Dream House.”
Over the course of December 2015, participants in the ARCH 672, “Opera In Complete” studio will be using the Taubman College gallery as a sound stage to finish their semester’s work on a design opera entitled “The Total Work of Art Dream House.” Loosely based on Adolf Loos’ short story “The Poor Little Rich Man,” these projects operate as expressions of design in the space between control and happenstance, reality and simulation.
Ever since the German opera composer Richard Wagner proposed the idea of the total work of art (Gesamtkunstwerk), architects have been enthralled by the idea. In part such efforts test ideas of materials and assemblage, but they operate more so to extend the ideal of design and entail a shift of emphasis from the scope of a singular building to encompass a variety of scales (furniture, landscape, and even, in some cases, clothing). On display (and in use) within the gallery will be the extended field of the students’ production including: diagrams, drawings, models, images, furnishings, and videos…all in service of the design of a “dream house.” Organized by John McMorrough.
About University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning:
The Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Michigan is a leader in interdisciplinary education and research with a focus on creating a more beautiful, inclusive and better built environment. The college and its alumni are committed to pushing the boundaries of architectural practice, advancing global engagement, and significantly enhancing diversity in the profession. The college offers the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Architecture, Master of Architecture (currently ranked #6 nationally; ranked #1 in 2010 by Design Intelligence Report), Master of Science in Architecture, Master of Urban Planning, Master of Urban Design, and PhD programs.
University of Michigan:
The University of Michigan is one of the nation’s leading public universities, according to the U.S. News & World Report, and is ranked 29th overall amongst public and private universities. Of the 130 UM graduate programs evaluated by U.S. News & World Report, 99 are ranked in the top ten. Only three other universities have more top-ten graduate programs than the University of Michigan. Over the years, the university has grown to include 19 schools and colleges covering the liberal arts and sciences as well as most professions and has a population of almost 44,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. According to the latest national data, the university’s expenditures on research ($1.32 billion in FY2012) represent more than any other U.S. public university.
