Introduction
Teaching is one of the natural extensions of the research conducted at CIRCA.
It is not merely about transmitting knowledge about perception or cognition, but about shaping ways of thinking through space — understanding how architectural design engages perceptual, affective and reflective processes.
Courses combine philosophy, cognitive science and architectural theory, providing students with conceptual and critical tools to connect spatial experience, representation and knowledge.
Teaching philosophy
Teaching at CIRCA is structured around three core principles :
– Bridging the sensory and the conceptual: describing and interpreting spatial experience through perception, emotion and judgment.
– Design as a cognitive act: analysing how drawings, models and representational tools shape architectural thought.
– Critical reflection: situating contemporary theories (phenomenology, embodied cognition, neuroarchitecture) within a broader philosophical framework.
Courses and topics
Courses address several key areas:
– Philosophy and psychology of space
– Empathy and architecture
– Ambiance and atmosphere
– Perception and cognition in architecture
– Representation, imagination and design
Each course combines readings, case studies, and perceptual or graphic experiments, encouraging critical and reflective thinking.
Moodle plateform
Teaching resources and assignments are available on the dedicated Moodle platform:
Students will find:
– detailed course programmes,
– bibliographies,
– reading guides,
– and assessment guidelines.
Perspectives
CIRCA’s teaching approach fosters a transdisciplinary reflection where architecture becomes a laboratory of human cognition.
Understanding how we perceive, imagine and design space also means exploring how architecture participates in the formation of thought.