Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
History and Theory of Architecture I
Other languages of instruction: English
Teaching staff
By appointment.
Teaching staff:
Dr. Paolo Sustersic - psustersic@uic.es
Dra. Jelena Prokopljevic - jprokopljevic@uic.es
Introduction
History and Theory of Architecture 1 is the first of four subjects that form the group of Theory of Architecture distributed throughout for semesters of the second and the third course.
All four of them consider the art and architecture history from the common point of view: the language. Because the language is the universal mean where the comprehension is carried out. The form of the realization of the comprehension is the interpretation. (…) All understanding is interpretation, and all interpretation develops within the means of a language that pretends to let the object speak and simultaneously the language itself acts as an interpreter. (Gadamer, 1975)
The language is understood as a fundamental instrument for the interpretation, as a substrate that systematically traverses the history of art and architecture of the 20th century.
Still it is necessary to give form (and this will be the objective of each one of the four courses of the History and Theory) to another question: why? for whom? and by whom is this history written? The history of architecture is made because there is a search for the significance of the contemporary architecture: in order to resolve the unease of the present there is no use in projecting over the past the certainties that are to be overcome. In this sense, it is the architecture that should be re-proposed as a problem. This apparent suspension of judgement of the numerous recent analysis has, to the contrary, the sense of the free research of the possible directions that the future might take. (Tafuri, 1968)
However, to reflect on history is not an occupation of the past. To reflect on the history, on the art and architecture history over and over means to reflect on the present. And, as a consequence, to be contemporary. That means that contemporary is not only the one who, perceiving the shadow of the present, grasps its light; it is also the one who by dividing and interpolating the time, finds himself in conditions to transform it and place it in relation with other times, to read the history in an unprecedented manner, to “quote” on it according to a need that doesn’t come from the arbitrary but from a demand that cannot remain unattended. (Agamben, 2009)
Pre-course requirements
No prerequisites needed.
Objectives
The course History and Theory of Architecture 1, The Dissolution of the Language: 1851-1919, will address the specific moment in the history of art and architecture when the perception of the world changes and the language becomes aware of its own limits. From the turn of the centuries to the vanguards of the early 20th century, the artistic and architectonic language announces and manifests the new ways of understanding the world.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 34-T - Ability to design, practice and develop basic and execution projects, sketches and blueprints.
- 35-T - Ability to conceive, put into practice and develop urban projects
- 40 - Ability to express architectural criticism.
- 48 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the general theories of form, composition and architectural typologies
- 49 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the history of architecture.
- 50 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the study methods for the processes of symbolization, practical functions and ergonomics.
- 51 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the study methods of social needs, quality of life, habitability and basic housing programmes
- 53 - To acquire adequate knowledge of architectural, urban development and landscaping traditions of Western culture, as well as their technical, climate, economic, social and ideological foundations
- 54 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the aesthetics, theory and history of Fine Arts and Applied Arts.
- 55 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the relationship between cultural patterns and the social responsibilities of the architect
- 56 - To acquire adequate knowledge of the principles of vernacular architecture
- 57 - To acquire adequate knowledge of urban sociology, theory, economy and history.
Learning outcomes of the subject
See next part.
Syllabus
Course meeting times: Tuesday from 09:00 to 13:00
- The Modern paradigm and its contexts 1851-1919
- Architecture and Industrial Revolution: new materials, new programs, new forms
- The quest for meaning, the debate on orament: past and present, man and machine
- Technical changes and new architectural languages
- Art Nouveau: interpreting the spirit of modern times
- Fin de siécle Vienna: the crisis of language and form
- The birth of a Nation: City, Architecture and Design In the United States
- Towards an American architecture
- The era of the avantgardes·1: Cubism and Futurism
- The era of the avantgardes·2: Suprematism, Constructivism and De Stijl
- The culture of modernity: Architecture, Technology, and Industry
- The era of the avantgardes·3: Expressionism and Dada
- New Horizons
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The course is methodologically organized around two main axis: theory and praxis
THEORY
1:Master classes. Exposition by the professors of the thematic content of the course
PRAXIS
2: Readings and texts discussions. Activity destined to deepen the themes explained in the master classes
3: Notebook: research diary carried out by the student
4: The opportunity of studying in Barcelona allows to plan visits to different museums and buildings in order to contextualize and observe directly the contents of the studies of the master-classes.
Programmed visits: Palau Güell; Picasso Museum
5: Student’s presentations. Part of the learning process consists of the correct presentation of the research that the student has developed during the course either individually or in a group.
6: Analytical models of selected buildings.
| TRAINING ACTIVITY | COMPETENCES | ECTS CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| Class exhibition | 34-T 35-T 40 48 49 50 51 53 54 55 56 57 | 0,75 |
| Class participation | 34-T 35-T 40 48 49 50 51 53 54 55 56 57 | 0,75 |
| Clase practice | 34-T 35-T 40 48 49 50 51 53 54 55 56 57 | 0,75 |
| Tutorials | 34-T 35-T 40 48 49 50 51 53 54 55 56 57 | 0,75 |
| Individual or group study | 34-T 35-T 40 48 49 50 51 53 54 55 56 57 | 3 |
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The course evaluation responds to different conditions: exam notes, notes of the practical exercises and active participation in the course.
More precisely:
Theoretical part:
Exams
2 partials eliminatory of the subject: 50% of the final grade
Final 1st call (the partial notes are preserved)
Final 2nd call (partial notes are NOT preserved)
Practical part:
Research (elaboration and presentation): 30%
Readings, discussions, notebook, models: 20%
Observations:
- In order to make an arithmetic average between examinations and practices, the two parts must be approved. In the case of suspending one of the parts at the first call (theory or practice), it must be recovered in the second call for the ongoing course. In case of not approving the parts evaluated in second call, the student will have to repeat the whole subject in the following course.
- All exercises are mandatory. The non-delivery of one of the exercises, or delivery out of time implies the suspense of the corresponding part.
Bibliography and resources
FRAMPTON, Kenneth, Modern Architecture. A Critical History (fourth edition. Revised, expanded and updated). London & New York: Thames & Hudson, 2009.
HITCHCOCK, Henry-Russell, Architecture : nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Baltimore : Penguin Books, 1968.
INGERSOLL, Richard, KOSTOF, Spiro: World architecture: a cross-cultural history. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013.
JARZOMBEK, Mark, PRAKASH, Vikram, CHING, Francis D. K. : A Global History of Architecture. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley, 2017. (1st edition, New York: Wiley & Sons, 2006); Trad. Cast: Una Historia universal de la arquitectura: un análisis cronológico comparado a través de las culturas. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili, 2011.
KOSTOF, Spiro: A History of Architecture. New York & London: Oxford University Press, 1985; Trad. Cast: Historia de la Arquitectura. Madrid: Alianza, 1988.
MICHELI, Mario de. Las Vanguardias artísticas del siglo XX. Alianza editorial. Madrid, 2004.
PEVSNER, Nikolaus, Pioners of Moder Design : from William Morris to Walter Gropius. New Haven, CT : Yale University Press, 2005 (or. ed. New York : Museum of Modern Art, cop., 1936).
PEHNT, Wofgang, Expressionist architecture. London : Thames and Hudson, 1973.
ZEVI, Bruno, Storia dell'architettura moderna. Torino: Giulio Einaudi, 1950