Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

History of Art and Architecture

History of Art and Architecture
6
13740
1
First semester
OB
Main language of instruction: English

Teaching staff


Dra. MORÁN GARCÍA, Maria del Pilar - mdpmoran@uic.es

Student support will be provided, in addition to class hours, upon request via the institutional emails (see “Presentation to the course”) of the instructors and, if an in-person meeting is deemed necessary, by appointment only.

Introduction

COMPULSORY Course.

1st Year. Bachelor's Degree in Architecture. 

1st Semester.

6 ECTS credits.

Module: Propaedeutic.

Language of instruction: English.

LECTURER IN CHARGE OF THE COURSE: Dra. Maria del Pilar Morán García (mdpmoran@uic.es).

PROFESSORS: Dr.Paolo Sustersic (psustersic@uic.es), Dra.Jelena Prokopljevik (jprokopljevic@uic.es).


As its name indicates, the course introduces students to the study of the History of Architecture, a fundamental aspect for their training as architects. The aim is not only to introduce students to the main styles, architects and buildings of Western culture, but also to make them aware of the existence of other architectural traditions that overlap with it in time. It is also intended that, through historical knowledge of architecture, students reflect on questions such as what is architecture , what we call style, how the profession of the architect has changed throughout history, how buildings are integrated into their urban context, what is the relationship of architecture with the rest of the arts, etc. In addition, the course aims to provide students with the tools to be able to carry out a historical-critical analysis of buildings and thus be able to interpret the built environment that surrounds them, with which they will have to deal with in their work as architects. The subject covers the history of architecture up to the first half of the 19th century, in a not complete but solid summary, as the rest will be studied in the Composition subjects of higher courses.

 

Pre-course requirements

Upper-intermediate level of English, as the subject will be taught entirely in English.

Attendance at both theoretical and practical classes is compulsory. Attendance will be recorded. Failure to attend more than 30% of the classes (theoretical or practical) will result in the loss of the percentage corresponding to attendance (10%) and, if applicable, to practical classes (20%).

Objectives

The course aims to provide students with:

  1. Knowledge on the development of the History of Western architecture from antiquity to the nineteenth century, but also basic knowledge on the History of Architectuer in other of other latitudes.
  2. The ability to identify and define the main architectural styles that have developed from antiquity to the 19th century in the Western Culture. Know the buildings and architects associated with each of them.
  3. Knowledge about the historical development of the city, in particular that of Barcelona.
  4. The ability to approach architecture theoretically, making initial contact with the main writings and theories on architecture developed since antiquity.
  5. The awareness of the relevance of studying architecture from a historical point of view.
  6. Basic Knowledge of how the profession of the architect has changed throughout history.
  7. The ability to analyse architecture historically and critically, from a contemporary perspective.
  8. The ability to express their ideas both graphically and in writing, in a coherent and orderly manner.

Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme

48 - Adequate knowledge of the general theories of form, composition and architectural types.

49 - Adequate knowledge of the general history of architecture.

54 - Adequate knowledge of aesthetics and the theory and history of the fine arts and applied arts.

69 - Aptitude for discovering the critical-cultural dimension of the architect's role.

66 - Ability to internalise architectural form.

Learning outcomes of the subject

On completion of the course, the student will be able to:

  1. Identify, compare and analyse the main buildings, architects and architectural styles of the Western tradition of architecture (Europe) from antiquity to the 19th century.
  2. Identify the main architectural traditions and typologies of other parts of the world, from antiquity to the 19th century.
  3. Know the historical evolution of the city, particularly that of Barcelona.
  4. To understand the main theories of architecture developed since antiquity.
  5. Understand how the profession of architect has developed at different times in history.
  6. Analyse buildings from a historical-critical perspective.
  7. Express their ideas orally, graphically and in writing.

Syllabus

The course consists of 60 hours of classroom instruction, of which 30 are theoretical and 30 are practical. The main content of the course will be taught in the theoretical classes, while the practical classes will reinforce this content through various exercises. On the one hand, students will work on texts, which will then be discussed in groups of up to 30 students. On the other hand, they will develop a research assigment in groups, which will be developed partly in class through critical sessions and workshops. When deemed necessary, the practical classes will include short sessions to provide students with the tools they need to carry out this group work.

The texts selected for the practical sessions will complement the theory taught in Monday's class, whether they are treatises by architects of the period or texts by relevant historians reflecting on a style, architect or architectural tradition covered in class. 

The theory classes will cover the following content:

  • Class 1: Introduction. What is architecture? What is and why to study History of Architecture?
  • Class 2: Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.
  • Class 3: Ancient Greece Architecture and Urban Forms.
  • Class 4: Ancient Roman Architecture and Cities.
  • Class 5: Early Christian + Romanesque Architecture.  
  • Class 6: Gothic architecture + medieval cities.
  • Class 7: Eastern Europe and West Asia:  The Orthodox tradition+ Architecture of Islam.         
  • Class 8: Rennaissance and Mannerism in Italy.
  • Class 9: Renaissance in Europe.
  • Class 10: Baroque Architecture.
  • Class 11: Architecture in the era of Enlightenment and Revolution. Neoclassicism.
  • Class 12: Neoclassicism vs. Medievalism in the Nineteenth century.
  • Class 13: Towards other latitudes: South America, China, and Japan.
  • Class 14: Repaso del curso y explicación del examen final.

One of the sessions of theory will be dedicated to the execution of the mid-term exam.

Teaching and learning activities

In person



The course consists of four hours of class per week, two theoretical and two practical.

The theoretical classes will follow the structure of lectures on the various topics covered in the course. Attendance will be recorded.

The practical classes will consist of text commentary sessions in groups of 30 people and review and critique of the work that students must complete for the course. Each of these activities will

  1. Group assignment (6-7 sessions): This is a research project in groups of three or four people, in which students must carry out a formal and historical-critical analysis of a canonical building in the history of architecture. To do this, they will have to redraw and build a model of the building in order to understand and analyse it formally. They will also have to use historiographical sources. The final assignment will consist of the submission of the documents produced, as well as an essay summarising their conclusions.The progress of the work will be reviewed in class through partial submissions and workshops.
  2. Reading Discussions (5-6 Sessions):The second practical activity will consist of a joint commentary on texts related to the content of the class. Students will be asked to respond individually to a questionnaire, which must be handed in at the end of the class. During the second hour of class, the texts in question will be discussed in groups.
  3. Visits (3 sessions): In addition to group work and Reading Discussions, there will be three visits to the city of Barcelona during class time, which aim to give students first-hand experience of what they have learned. Thus, tours will be conducted to visit the Roman ruins of the city, as well as the medieval city. On each visit, students will be asked to complete a small drawing exercise, which they must hand in at the end of the visit.
    • Roman Walls and MUHBA.
    • Monastery of Sant Pau del Camp or MNAC.
    • Gothic Quarter of Barcelona.
LEARNING ACTIVITY

COMPETENCIES

 ECTS CREDITS

Lecture

48 49 54

1,5

Participatory class

48 49 54

0,2

Practical class

48 49 54

1,1

Student counselling

48 49 54

0,2

Individual or group study

48 49 54

3

Evaluation systems and criteria

In person



The course will be assessed through two exams, one mid-term and one final, in addition to various practical exercises and research work assigned to students.

  1. MID-TERM EXAM - 10%.
  2. FINAL EXAM - 40%. (In January, according to the academic calendar).
  3. VISITS + ATTENDANCE - 10%.
  4. TEXT COMMENTS - 20%.
  5. GROUP WORK - 20%.

To pass the course, it will be mandatory to obtain a grade of 5 or higher on the final exam, which will be held on the date indicated in the academic calendar, and to achieve the required average grade.

In the event that the student does not pass the course in the first examination period, they may take the second examination period in June. This examination will consist of a new test, which will carry the full weight of the evaluation.

Bibliography and resources

To study the subject, students will have the support of the presentations given in class, whose information they must supplement with their own notes, which they can also supplement with the information contained in the following books:

  • Ingersoll, R., Kostof, S.: World architecture: a cross-cultural history. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2013. 
  • Watkin, David. A History of Western Architecture. London: Laurence King Publishing, 6ª ed., 2015 ó 5ªed.,2011.


In addition, the following supplementary bibliography is recommended:

a) Architectural History and History of the City survey books :

  • Benevolo, L., El diseño de la Ciudad. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili, 1977.
  • Benevolo, L., Historia de la arquitectura moderna. Madrid : Taurus , 1963.
  •  Blaser, W. Drawings of Great Buildings. Basilea, Boston, Stuttgart:  Birkhäuser Verlag, 1983.
  • Ching, F.D.K., Jarzombek, M., Prakash, V. A Global History of Architecture. Nueva Jersey: Wiley, 2007.
  • Fletcher, B., The History of Architecture by the Comparative Method. Londres: Batsford, London, 2012.
  • Gombrich,E.H. The Story of Art. Londres: Phaidon, 1968.
  • Jolliffe,E. y Crosby,P., Architect: The evolving History of A Profession.Londres: Riba Publishing, 2023.
  • Kostof, S., Historia de la arquitectura.  Madrid: Alianza. Madrid: Alianza (vol 1, 2, 3), 1998(vol 1, 2, 3), 1998.
  •  Kostof, S., The City shaped: urban patterns and meanings through history. Londres: Thames & Hudson, 1991Hudson, 1991.
  • Parker, J. H., Classic dictionary of architecture: a concise glossary of terms used in Grecian, Roman, Italian and Gothic architecture. Poole, Nueva York: New Orchard editions, 1986.
  • Pevsner, N., An Outline of European Architecture. Londres: Thames & Hudson, 2009.
  • Pevsner, N., Pevsner's architectural glossary. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2010.
  • Pevsner, N. A history of building types. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997.
  • Stierlin, H., Encyclopedia of World Architecture. Friburgo: Taschen,1977.

b)     Architectural Theory Books:

  • Alberti, L.B., Ten books on architecture. London : Alec Tiranti, 1955.
  • Durand, Jean-Nicolas-Louis, Compendio de lecciones de arquitectura: parte gráfica de los cursos de arquitectura. Madrid : Pronaos, 1981.
  •  Palladio, A. The Four Books of Architecture. New York : Dover, 1965.
  • Pugin, A.N.W. Contrasts. Leicester : Leicester University Press ; New York : Humanities, 1973.
  • Rowe, C., The Mathematics of the Ideal Villa and Other Essays. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1976.
  • Serlio,S. The Five books of architecture: an unabridged reprint of the English edition of 1611. New York : Dover, 1982.
  • Summerson, J., El lenguaje clásico de la arquitectura. Barcelona: Gustavo Gili, 1984 [1963].
  • Vitruvius,M.P. The Ten Books on Architecture. Cambridge [etc.]: Cambridge University Press, 1999.
  • Wittkower, R., Architectural Principles in the Age of Humanism. Londres: Academy Editions, 1998.
  • Wölfflin, H. Renaissance and baroque. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1967.
  • Zevi, B., Saber ver la arquitectura: ensayo sobre la interpretación espacial de la arquitectura. Buenos Aires:  Poseidon, 1971.

c)     Books on specific architects, styles or building traditions:

  • Argan, G.C., Brunelleschi. Milan: Mondadori, 1955.
  • Argan, G.C., Renacimiento y Barroco. Torrejón de Ardoz: Akal,1987.
  • Argan, G.C., Michelangelo architect. Michelangelo architect. Milan: Electa, 2004.
  • Blunt, A., Borromini. Allen Lane: Penguin Books, 1979.
  • Blunt, A., Art and Architecture in France 1500-1700. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999.
  • Borsi, F., Bernini. Madrid: Akal, 1998.
  • Brothers, C., Michelangelo, drawing and the invention of architecture. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2008.
  • Carver, H., Form and Space of Japanese Architecture. Tokyo : Shokokusha, cop. 1955.
  • Early, J., The Colonial architecture of Mexico. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1994.
  • Fanelli, G., Brunelleschi’s Cupola: Past and Present of an Architectural Masterpiece. Florence: Mandragora, 2004.
  • Frankl, P., Gothic Architecture.  New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2000.
  • Heyden, D. and P. Gendrop, Pre- Columbian architecture of Mesoamerica. Nueva York:  Harry N.Abrams, 1975.
  • Martienssen, R. D.,The idea of space in Greek architecture, with special reference to the Doric Temple and its setting. Johannesburg: The Witwatersrand University Press, 1954.
  • Robertson, D.S., Greek and Roman Architecture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1974.
  • Schapiro, M., Romanesque Art. Selected Papers. Nueva York: George Braziller,1977.
  • Scott, G., The Architecture of Humanism; A Study in the history of Taste.Boston y Nueva York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1914.
  • Stierlin, H., Islam: Early architecture from Bagdad to Cordoba. Colonia: Taschen, 1996.
  • Senseney, J.R., The art of building in the classical world: vision, craftsmanship, and linear perspective in Greek and Roman architecture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016.
  • Trager, P., The villas of Palladio. Boston: Little, Brown, 1986.
  • Travenor, R., On Alberti and the art of Building. New Haven, London: Yale University Press, 1998.
  • Wilson Jones, M., Principles of Roman Architecture. New Haven, London:  Yale University Press, Yale University Press, 2000.
  • Worringer, W., Form Problems of the Gothic, Nueva York: G.E. Stechert & Co.,1910.
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