PROFESSOR RUTH KOLARIK
 

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS
 

History of Architecture is an introductory course with no prerequisites.  By the end of the class  students will have considered the many ways in which architecture expresses practical, religious, political or ceremonial values.   Why do the great architectural monuments of the past look so different from each other?  Why have concepts of order in architecture varied over the centuries? How have cultures widely separated in space and time used architecture to embody their values?

What criteria should we use to judge our contemporary built environment? Whose concept of order should we follow? That of a renowned architect capable of designing a beautiful, functional and stable structure? The economic order of a developer that produces the most "product" for the money? The logic of a city planner who creates distinct zones for different functions, residential, commercial, industrial, etc.? The plans of a traffic engineer who seeks to move automobiles quickly and efficiently through a neighborhood? The vision of an environmentalist whose plans would make optimum use of energy? How do the choices each individual makes about her/his architectural environment add up to the appearances of our homes, campuses, and cities?

The class will be divided into three segments.
 
 

During the first week we will cover the basics of architectural analysis and discuss the architecture of our immediate surroundings: the Colorado College campus.

The second segment will be a history of Mediterranean and European architecture. We will discuss the major monuments, as well as their cultural and historical background. This segment lasting three and a half weeks will apply the principles of analysis discussed during the first week and survey the "great works of architecture" so that the students will be familiar with the major styles and their features.

The third segment of the class, the last two and a half weeks, will deal with issues in American architecture. We will survey the history of American architecture, study how it reflects our culture and discuss contemporary issues such as: historic preservation, sprawl/development, green architecture, affordable housing. We will return to the issues raised during the first week with the benefit of historic perspective on the relationship between culture and architecture. There will also be several field trips.

BOOKS: The following books are available in the CC Bookstore:

James O'Gorman, The ABC of Architecture

Marvin Trachtenberg and Isabel Hyman, Architecture

Carter Wiseman, Twentieth-Century American Architecture: The Buildings and Their Makers alternate title Shaping a nation: Twentieth Century American Architecture and Its Makers

In addition there will be additional readings available as PDFs and other web assignments on the Course Prowl Site.


REQUIREMENTS:



The requirements for the course include the following:

-Daily preparation and active participation

-Reading responses to be completed before the class period in which they are assigned.  These may be uploaded to Prowl or turned in at the beginning of class.   Complete 5 of the 6 responses due Block 4 and 7 of the 10 assigned in Block 5.  May complete more of them for extra credit.

-Other assignments—two  article reviews per block.  Choose articles from the Architectural Record or other sources.

Two film reviews, due at the end of Block 5.  We will watch several films about architecture/architects, particularly during Block 5.   Write brief reviews of two of them (or two others of your choice).

Group report on a campus building

Short paper comparing two campus buildings

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Team class report --choice of assigned topics.  Groups of students will research an issue or a major building and give a brief class report that will serve as the basis of discussion and as a source of information.

Report on a contemporary architect. Each student will choose an architect working today and present a report on his or her work.

Substantial research paper/project--student's choice, A research paper/essay or other type of project subject to approval  The project should addresses a topic in the history of architecture. Students may write on one of their report topics.

Two exams during each block.

GRADE

Students will receive one grade for the two blocks. It will be calculated approximately as follows:

Exams 40%; Short paper 10%; Class reports 15%;
Research project 20%; Class participation/Reading responses/Journal 15%.

Class attendance is vital, students who miss class will have their grades lowered.
Late work may also be penalized.