Environment, Space and Housing
Code: 101248 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Social and Cultural Anthropology | OT | 3 |
| Social and Cultural Anthropology | OT | 4 |
Contact
- Name:
- Marķa Teresa Tapada Berteli
- Email:
- teresa.tapada@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
There are no official prerequisites compulsory to attend this subject
Objectives and Contextualisation
The course aims the student to introduce to the theoretical contributions and applied knowledge of the anthropology of the built environment and the urban anthropology. After the acquirement of these basic knowledge, the course introduces to the critical approach of urban policies from the anthropological perspective.
Competences
- Social and Cultural Anthropology
- Act with ethical responsibility and respect for fundamental rights and duties, diversity and democratic values.
- Apprehending cultural diversity through ethnography and critically assessing ethnographic materials as knowledge of local contexts and as a proposal of theoretical models.
- Carry out effective written work or oral presentations adapted to the appropriate register in different languages.
- Introduce changes in the methods and processes of the field of knowledge to provide innovative responses to the needs and demands of society.
- Producing cultural diversity materials that could have a critical impact on the common sense conceptions.
- Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the history of anthropological theory and the genesis of its basic concepts.
- Take account of social, economic and environmental impacts when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
- Take sex- or gender-based inequalities into consideration when operating within one's own area of knowledge.
- Use digital tools and critically interpret specific documentary sources.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse a situation and identify points for improvement.
- Analysing a contemporary fact from an anthropological perspective.
- Analysing data critically from anthropological investigations and reports.
- Assess the reliability of sources, select important data and cross-check information.
- Carry out ethical use of the information especially when it is of a personal nature.
- Critically identify and compose a basic bibliography for the field opf study.
- Enumerating the theories about human species in their relation to society and culture production.
- Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
- Explaining the work's results narratively in accordance with the critical standards of discipline and bearing in mind the different target audiences.
- Express ideas with a specific vocabulary appropriate to the discipline.
- Identify main and secondary ideas and express them with linguistic correctness.
- Identify situations that require improvement or change.
- Identify the social, economic and environmental implications of academic and professional activities within one?s own area of knowledge.
- Identifying the contemporary interdisciplinary tendencies shared by the Anthropology and social disciplines related to the corresponding field.
- Identifying the recent disciplinary developments and the correlation between the anthropological theory and the social disciplines related in their historical development and the current interdisciplinary tendencies.
- Identifying the sociocultural variability in specific ethnographic contexts.
- Identifying the various relationship processes between human populations and their environment.
- Producing materials related to the human population-environment relationships that may have a critical impact on the political and common sense conceptions in their respective fields.
- Propose projects and actions that incorporate the gender perspective.
Content
1. Introduction and objectives of the course.
2. Perspectives from urban and space anthropology: the spatialization of culture.
a. Theoretical principles and basic concepts.
b. From urban anthropology to space anthropology.
c. From tangible to intangible: the physical space, the experience of the use of space and imagined space.
3.Forms of space appropriation and vernacular construction in the age of globalization.
a. Traditional and vernacular constructions.
b. Cultural diversity in the use of space.
c.The process of globalization and its impact on the perception of the territory: deterritorialization and identity.
4. Processes of adaptation and socio-symbolic meanings of physical space: sense of belonging
4. Processes of adaptation and socio-symbolic meanings of physical space: sense of belonging, identity and social and community empowerment.
a. The physical space as a projection of the social structure at various scales: housing, block, inter-block, street, neighbourhood, city.
b. The physical space as a projection of norms, habits and sociocultural practices. c. The urban re-accommodation as a reterritorialization experience.
5. The problem of housing, identity processes and social movements.
6. The applicability of anthropological knowledge from an interdisciplinary perspective.
7. Conclusions. Methodology
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Discussions in the classroom | 15 | 0.6 | 3, 9, 17, 16, 18 |
| Theoretical Classes and practices directed by the teacher | 30 | 1.2 | 3, 9, 17, 16, 18 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Individual tutorials | 5 | 0.2 | 3, 9, 17, 16, 18 |
| Tutorials-supervised work | 19 | 0.76 | 3, 9, 17, 16, 18 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Personal Study | 25 | 1 | 3, 9, 5, 17, 6, 16, 18, 4 |
| Reading | 25 | 1 | 3, 9, 17, 16, 18 |
| Search for information (libraries or other sources). Personal study. Reading. | 10 | 0.4 | 3, 9, 10, 5, 17, 6, 16, 18, 4 |
Training activities: theoretical classes and guided practices, directed readings and presentation of the work.
Teaching methodology: master classes, viewing of documentaries, debates, individual reading and group discussion.
Training activities
Type: Directed
Theoretical classes and practices directed by the teacher
Discussions in the classroom
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 30% | 3 | 0.12 | 7, 8, 15, 14 |
| Individual Work | 40% | 3 | 0.12 | 3, 2, 1, 10, 5, 17, 6, 16, 11, 13, 12, 18, 19, 4 |
| Participation | 20% | 10 | 0.4 | 2, 8, 17, 16 |
| Presentation of the course work at the Final Seminar (individual) | 10% | 5 | 0.2 | 3, 9, 16, 12 |
30% Written essay based on the material covered in class, compulsory theoretical readings, videos and lectures.
40% Individual project on a topic of your choice, supervised by the lecturer (urban social movement, specific urban space, rural space, architectural space, etc.).
20% Participation in class discussions, practical exercises completed and handed in class. Non-retakeble activity.
10% Presentation of course work in the Final Seminar (individual). Non retakeble activity
A minimum grade of 4.5 must be obtained in the first written test of the course in order to be included in the average with the rest of the course grades. If this grade is not obtained, the course will be failed and the exam will have to be retaken during the re-evaluation period. If, despite passing the exam, the final course grade is below 5, the course will be failed. Attendance and participation cannot be recovered during the re-evaluation period. Obviously, the exam and the coursework can be recovered during the re-evaluation period.
At the time of each assessment activity, the teacher will inform the students (Moodle) of the procedure and date for reviewing the grades.
If a student commits any type of irregularity that could lead to a significant change in the grade of an assessment, it will be graded with a 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may result from it. If several irregularities are found in the assessments of the same subject, the final grade for that subject will be 0.
If the tests cannot be taken in person, their format will be adapted (maintaining their weighting) to the possibilities offered by the UAB's virtual tools. Homework, activities and class participation will be carried out through forums, wikis and/or exercise discussions via Teams, etc. The lecturer will ensure that students can access these or will offer them alternative means within their means.
This course allows the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies exclusively for bibliographic research or information retrieval tasks.
Students must (i) identify the parts that have been generated with AI; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and the final result of the activity.
The lack of transparency in the use of AI in this assessable activity will be considered academic dishonesty and will result in the activity being graded with a 0 and not being able to be recovered, or greater penalties in serious cases.
This course is subject to a single assessment consisting of: 1. a written test based on the theoretical material of the course (40%), 2. an application assignment on an empirical case study of built space analysis chosen by the student (40%), 3. two pieces of evidence of participation in activities outside the classroom on the subject matter (20%) (e.g., conference summary, workshop, etc.). The three exercises must be submitted on the date set for the single assessment.
Students may opt for the Single Assessment by completing a form available from the Faculty's Academic Management Office from 22 September to 16 October 2025.
The Single Assessment tests will coincide with the dates reserved for Continuous Assessment.
Bibliography
Altman, Irvin, Rapoport, Amos, & Wohlwill, Joachim F. (1980). Environment and culture. New York: Plenum Press.
Altman, Irvin, & Wohlwill Joachim F. (1976). Human behavior and environment: Advances in theory and research. New York: Plenum Press.
Ashmore, Wendy, & Kent, Susan (2006). Integrating the diversity of twenty-first-century anthropology : The life and intellectual legacies of Susan Kent. Arlington, Va.: American Anthropological Association.
Atkin, Tony, & Rykwert, Joseph (2005). Structure and meaning in human settlements (1st ed.). Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Augé, M. (1995). Non-places : Introduction to an anthropology of supermodernity [Non-lieux.] .London ; New York: Verso.
Bergalli,Roberto & Rivera, Iñaki, Emergencias Urbanas. Barcelona: Anthropos. Observatori del Sistema Penal i els Drets Humans de la Universitat de Barcelona.
Buchli, Victor (2013) An Anthropology of Architecture. London: Bloomsbury.
Cátedra Tomás, María. (1997). Un santo para una ciudad : Ensayo de antropología urbana (1a ed.). Barcelona: Editorial Ariel.
Cieraad, Irene (1999). At home: An anthropology of domestic space (1st ed.). Syracuse: Syracuse University Press.
Cohen, Abner (Ed)(1974). Urban ethnicity. London, New York: Tavistock Publications Distributed in the USA by Harper & Row Publishers, Barnes & Noble Import Division.
Coleman, Simon, & Collins, Peter (2006). Locating the field: Space, place and context in anthropology. Oxford; New York: Berg.
Cordeiro, Graça Indias, Baptista, Luis Vicente, Costa, da Costa, Antonio Firmino (2019). Etnografias urbanas Oeiras, Portugal: Celta Editora.
Cucó Giner, Josepa (2004). Antropología urbana (1a ed.). Barcelona: Ariel.
Delgado Ruiz, Manuel (1999). Ciudad líquida, ciudad interrumpida : La urbs contra la polis (1.th ed.). Medellín, Colombia: Facultad de Ciencias Humanas y Económicas de la Universidad de Antioquia:Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín. Delgado Ruiz, M. (1999). El animal público : Hacia una antropología de los espacios urbanos. Barcelona: Editorial Anagrama.
Delgado Ruiz, Manuel (2007).Sociedades movedizas. Pasos hacia una antropología de las calles. Barcelona: Editorial Anagrama.
Fernández de Rota y Monter, José Antonio. (1992). Espacio y vida en la ciudad gallega : Un enfoque antropológico. La Coruña: Universidade da Coruña, Sercivio de Publicacións.
Fernández Martorell, Mercedes (1997). Antropología de la convivencia : Manifiesto de antropología urbana. Madrid: Cátedra.
Gaggiotti, Hugo (2006). Un lugar en su sitio: Narrativas y organización cultural urbana en el espacio latinoamericano. Sevilla: Comunicación Social : Doble J.
Giglia, Angela (2012) El Habitar y la cultura. Perspectivas teóricas y de investigación. Barcelona; Anthropos. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana de México. Unidad Iztapalapa.
Giglia, Angela & Signorelli, Amalia (Eds) (2012) Nuevas topografías de la cultura.México: Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. Juan Pablos Editor.
Gmelch, George., & Zenner, Walter P. (2002). Urban life: Readings in the anthropology of the city (4th ed.). Prospect Heights, Ill.: Waveland Press.
Gravano, Ariel (2003). Antropología de lo barrial : Estudios sobre producción simbólica de la vida urbana (1a. ed.). Buenos Aires: Espacio.
Gray, J. N. (2006). Domestic mandala: Architecture of lifeworlds in Nepal. Aldershot, England ; Burlington, VT: Ashgate.
Hatzfeld, Marc (2007) La cultura de los suburbios. Barcelona: Laertes.
Hannerz, Ulf (1980). Exploring the city: Inquiries toward an urban anthropology. New York: Columbia University Press.
Hirsch, Eric, & O'Hanlon, Michael. (1995). The anthropology of landscape: 5 Hirsch, E.,& O'Hanlon, M. (1995). The anthropology of landscape: Perspectives on place and space. Oxford; New York: Clarendon Press; Oxford University Press.
Lovejoy, Paul E., & Williams, Pat Ama Tokunbo (1997). Displacement and the politics of violence in Nigeria. Leiden; New York: Brill.
Low, Setha (1999). Theorizing the city: The new urban anthropology reader. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press.
Low, Setha (2017) Spatializing culture. The Ethnography of Space and Place. New York: Routledge.
Low, Setha, & Chambers, Erve (1989). Housing, culture, and design : A comparative perspective. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Low, Setha, & Lawrence-Zúñiga, Denise (2003). The anthropology of space and place : Locating culture. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub.
Lucas, Ray (2020) Anthropology for Architects. Social Relations and the Built Environment. London: Bloomsbury Visual Arts.
Pellow, Devora (1996). Setting boundaries: The anthropology of spatial and social organization. Westport, Conn.: Bergin & Garvey.
Perrault, Ray (2022) Urban Regeneration. Methods, Implementation and Management. New York: Nova Science Publishers.
Rapoport, Amos. (1990). History and precedent in environmental design. New York: Plenum Press. Rapoport, A. (1990). The meaning of the built environment: A nonverbal communication approach. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
Rapoport, Amos (1982). The meaning of the built environment: A nonverbal communication approach. Beverly Hills: Sage Publications.
Rapoport, Amos (1977). Human aspects of urban form: Towards a man-environment approach to urban form and design (1st ed.). Oxford; New York: Pergamon Press. Rapoport, A. (1976). The mutual interaction of people and their built environment: A cross-cultural perspective. The Hague; Chicago: Mouton; distributed in the USA and Canada by Aldine.
Rapoport, Amos (1969). House form and culture. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall. Rotenberg, R. L., & McDonogh, G. W. (1993). The cultural meaning of urban space. Westport, Conn.: Bergin & Garvey.
Signorelli, Amalia (1999) Antropología urbana. Anthropos. Barcelona: Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana.
Stender, Marie et alii (2022) Architectural Anthropoogy. London: Routtledge.
Tapada-Berteli, Teresa (2002) "Antropología, vivienda y realojamiento urbano: la necesidad de diseños arquitectónicos más flexibes y adaptados". Gitanos: pensamiento y cultura, 16, pp 46-51
Teresa-Berteli, Teresa & Arbaci, Sonia (2011) "Proyectos de regeneración urbana en Barcelona contra la segregación socioespacial (1986-2009): ¿solución o mito?". ACE: Architecture, City and Environment, Octubre 2011, vol. VI, núm. 17. 187-222.
Tapada-Berteli, Teresa (coord.) et alii (2013) "Ann'n panse Ansanm Pou Mayard" Diagnostic socio-urbain du quartier de Mayard, Jacmel (Haïti). Barcelona: ACUP, Nexe Impressions.
Tapada-Berteli, Teresa (2021) "Comentario: Los espacios extremos como categoría analítica". Scripta Nova. revista Electrónica de Geografía y Ciencias Sociales. Universitat de Barcelona. Vol 25. Núm. 2 pp 179-188
Tapada-Berteli, Teresa (2022) "Urban regeneration and Citizen's City Making, lessons learned from a South-European Perspective" In: Ray Perrault (Ed) Urban Regeneration. Methods, Implementation and Management. New York: Nova Sicence Publishers.
Wacquant, Loïc (2007) Pàriesurbans. Guetos, banlieues, Estat. Barcelona: Edicionsde 1984
Software
There is no specific sofware for this course
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Spanish | first semester | morning-mixed |