48-383 Ethics in Architecture

6 units, Carnegie Mellon University

Architecture is inextricable from the uneven social, political, technological and environmental conditions shaping the contemporary world. With this reality as our starting point, in this course we examine the complex intersections of ethics, power and space that often shape architects' choices. How would you respond if a major client demanded that you use materials you know create toxic landscapes and long-term environmental harm? Should architects unionize their labor? Would you take a job renovating an old sugar plantation? Through close reading, writing, in-class discussions and role-play, we explore the challenges facing architects across various spatial and temporal scales - from the long-term energy flows and planetary infrastructures of the polycrisis to the interpersonal challenges of daily life in the workplace.

Prerequisites: none listed

Offered: Spring 2027, Spring 2026

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