The Origins of Modern Domestic Space

This lecture explores the origins of modern domestic space, focusing on the Renaissance Palazzo and the rise of typological design, the crisis of feudalism, the accumulation of wealth, and the investment in real estate. It delves into the use of private assets as public decorum, the professionalization of architects, and the rediscovery of ancient sources about domestic life. The lecture also covers the sequence of rooms in a Renaissance apartment, the significance of the hall, the bed-chamber, and the studio. Additionally, it discusses the formation of the courtyard house in Persia and China, highlighting the transition from nuclear to extended family households. The importance of the courtyard as 'empty' space is emphasized, drawing parallels to the concept of usefulness in emptiness from ancient texts.