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2019　History of Architecture

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Academic unit or major
Graduate major in Architecture and Building Engineering
Instructor(s)
Stewart David-Butler 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Mon3-4(M1-314)  Thr1-2(M1-314)  
Group
-
Course number
ARC.D401
Credits
2
Academic year
2019
Offered quarter
1Q
Syllabus updated
2019/4/18
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
English
Access Index

Course description and aims

This course offered in seminar format explores a different C20/ C21topic each spring. The language of instruction is English. Participants are M1-level Japanese students or degree- or research-based international students from the Department of Architecture and Building Engineering. Postgraduate students from any other department are most welcome, if they possess the requisite level of English-language skills. Such "outsiders" broaden our perspective.
Our aim will be to examine topics of architecture or city-planning in greater depth than could be achieved in a pure lecture format.

Goals are to:
a) Increase one's familiarity with lesser known events from the history of architecture and urban planning.
b) Provide an opportunity for written and oral presentations of different design methods and approaches.
These take into account significant and shifting overall differences of opinion about historical achievements.
c) Broaden the ability of each student, at his or her own pace, to exchange information and opinions in English in a practical and effective way.

Student learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will have made progress toward:
a) An organized and confident approach in presenting topics or ideas about building and planning history in the modern and postmodern eras.
b) Design and presentation of one or more short PPTs (or similar software) to express and communicate our research aims.
c) Consolidating fresh knowledge about the past with students' own current aims/ philosophies concerning architecture and/ or the built environment.

Keywords

architectural history, city planning history, history of technology, building description skills, building assessment skills, role of the architect in the profession, the social, material, and economic basis of architecture and planning

Competencies that will be developed

Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills ✔ Communication skills ✔ Critical thinking skills ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

Weekly attendance is compulsory because discussions pick up and continue from one session to the next. There will a fair amount of reading and video-watching. Homework involves timely preparation for group discussion as well as for individual presentation in English.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Guidance about the current theme (the topic is changed every year). Introduction to related materials, including MOOCs. The class meets twice weekly, so that the pace of learning needs to be respected.
Class 2 Most classes consist of in-class discussion of assigned online PDF and video materials complemented by student, or group, oral presentation. Idem.
Class 3 Idem. Idem.
Class 4 Idem. Idem.
Class 5 Idem. Idem.
Class 6 Idem. Idem.
Class 7 Idem. Idem.
Class 8 Idem. Idem.
Class 9 Idem. Idem.
Class 10 Idem. Idem.
Class 11 Idem. Idem.
Class 12 Idem. Idem.
Class 13 Idem. Idem.
Class 14 Idem. Idem.
Class 15 This final class will be a wrap-up intended to set the quarter's topic or architectural figure in both historical and contemporary perspective. Idem.

Textbook(s)

There is usually no underlying course textbook. When available, a reasonably priced English-language text will be signaled and required for purchase. Occasionally, other books may be suggested for optional purchase.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Materials are student-devised PPTs, journal reprints and/ or PDFs. It is requested that each student bring a laptop computer or handheld device able to connect with the Internet to each class meeting.

Assessment criteria and methods

Assessment is above all based on active class participation, individual classroom presentations, and homework assignments. There is no final examination or report that can repair missed attendance. Design studio preparation is not an excuse for failure to attend class regularly.

Related courses

  • history of Japanese architecture
  • history of western architecture
  • history of modern architecture

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

Any other course in architectural or planning history, whether dealing with Western or Japanese building history will be helpful. No other related course is presently taught by this instructor.

Other

Nothing of note.

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