Architecture 101 - Part III (iversity)

Architecture 101 - Part III (iversity)

From space to architecture: To structure, order and transform space into architecture.

To learn more about architecture 101, we kindly invite you to read about it in the first part of the course description, here. Eventually, also read the description of part 2 here.

Architecture 101 (part 3: from space to architecture)
In part 1 of our course, we explore the state of nothingness and start to understand the idea of “place”. In part 2 we learn to transform a place into a space. Now, we are ready for part 3: to transform a space into architecture.
What does it mean to transform a space into architecture?
“Architecture is the thoughtful making of space.” Louis Kahn
In part 2, we learn that space is composed of mind and matter. Now, in order for us to benefit from this matter, we need to put it in order. And this is exactly what architecture is all about. Architecture is about giving a very specific kind of meaning and symbolic value to a series of different things.
In this part of the course, we will plan, design and construct a system in which to organize and render coherent important matter (that matters to us). A matter of structure and proportions.
By doing so, we will give a new sense to place and space.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Reimagining Blackness and Architecture (Coursera) Coursera
The Museum of Modern Art

Reimagining Blackness and Architecture (Coursera)

Architecture structures our daily lives. It shapes our homes, streets, neighborhoods, cities and more. But who gets to create and occupy these spaces? In the United States, a long history of anti-Black racism has created spatial inequalities that are built into the physical environment and erased the stories of Black architects and communities. Reimagining Blackness and Architecture explores the relationship between architecture and Blackness as an identity and a lived experience.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
The Business, Politics, Policy, & Players of Space Programs (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

The Business, Politics, Policy, & Players of Space Programs (Coursera)

Welcome Course 3 - The Business, Politics, Policy, & Players of Space Programs. If you are here, you have successfully completed both Course 1 and 2 of this specialization. Course 3 has nine lessons spread out over 4 weeks with 31 Learning Objectives. In this course, we will discover who and what funds the exploration that we have enjoyed learning about in Course 1 and 2. We will also focus on a few specific applications of some of the concepts we have learned about so far with two companies, the Global Positioning System, and the an academic program that could be implemented at your institution of higher learning.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Interpreting Vernacular Architecture in Asia (edX) EdX
University of Hong Kong,HKUx

Interpreting Vernacular Architecture in Asia (edX)

Discover the value of local peoples' traditional built environments in Asia, find inspiration in these buildings, and learn how to conserve them for future generations. This course is about architecture. But it’s not about grand structures such as monuments or royal palaces. Rather, it is about the built environment that the ordinary people live in. Instead of the architectural techniques, we use stories to understand the processes through which people make their building decisions.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
The Architectural Imagination (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

The Architectural Imagination (edX)

Learn fundamental principles of architecture — as an academic subject or a professional career — by studying some of history’s most important buildings. Architecture engages a culture’s deepest social values and expresses them in material, aesthetic form. This course will teach you how to understand architecture as both cultural expression and technical achievement. Vivid analyses of exemplary buildings, and hands-on exercises in drawing and modeling, will bring you closer to the work of architects and historians.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Railway History: The Rise of the Railway Station (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Strathclyde

Railway History: The Rise of the Railway Station (FutureLearn)

Gain a unique insight into British history as you explore the heritage and uses of railway stations from the 19th century to now. Go behind the scenes of York Railway Museum with the University of Strathclyde. Railway stations are an integral part of British history, helping to shape the economy and Britain’s built environment. On this four-week course, you’ll discover the heritage of railway stations and their significance in British history and culture.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Space is Everywhere (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

Space is Everywhere (Coursera)

You are here! Welcome to Course 4 - Space is Everywhere and the last course of this specialization. You are on the final stretch of this journey to finding your Pathway to Space. The topics of Course 4 span four weeks and nine lessons with 36 learning objectives. This course contains some of my most favorite aha moments in the the entire specialization. I hope that you find them and that they impact you in a positive way. We will discuss how space is communicated through news, art, movies, books, music and more. Space is everywhere in our lives and therefore everyone can be involved in it. So keep up the pace. You can do this. Your reward awaits you, finding your pathway to space.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Rocket Science in Everyday Life (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

Rocket Science in Everyday Life (Coursera)

We encounter the results of rocket science all the time; from weather prediction to GPS navigation, rocket science has helped navigate our world in new, innovative ways. Rocket Science in Everyday Life explores innovations in rocket science, including the formation of space agencies, like NASA and the European Space Agency, that work to advance rocket science. Learn how satellites are used to track climate changes across the globe and how rockets have taken us to worlds beyond our own.

Nov 2nd 2026
4 Weeks
New Space: Access to space - Basics (Coursera) Coursera
ISAE-SUPAERO

New Space: Access to space - Basics (Coursera)

The spirit of NewSpace is revolutionizing our vision of access to space. Reading keys will enable you to understand the technological and strategic challenges in games with new rules, fixed by ambitious players. Combine the new technologies and management of space access with the classical paradigm of the existing space context.

Nov 9th 2026
3 Weeks
Four Facets of Contemporary Japanese Architecture: Theory (edX) EdX
The University of Tokyo,UTokyoX

Four Facets of Contemporary Japanese Architecture: Theory (edX)

Learn the history, ideas and concepts behind contemporary Japanese architecture through four architectural facets and five generations of architects. This series will explore four facets of contemporary Japanese architecture; theory, technology, city, and humans. It will also span five generations of architects since Kenzo Tange. Through lectures by instructors and discussions with the most influential Japanese architects, the course will trace the development of contemporary Japanese architecture and will consider its future direction.

Self Paced
Self-Paced