ARC 308–Architecture and Society, Fall 2010

Instructor:  Larry Speck

Prerequisites

None. Required course for architecture majors.

Educational Objectives

1.   To establish a perspective of the role and influence of architecture in society

and vis-a-vis other disciplines in the arts and science.

2.   To develop an understanding of how architecture is shaped by and reflects

cultural values and social organization.

3.   To present a broad picture of issues and factors which influence architectural

design.

4.   To begin an acquaintance with the history and development of architecture.

Educational Approach

This is a reading/looking/listening course. It will follow a fairly conventional lecture format supplemented by related outside reading. Most presentations will be illustrated by slides with examples drawn from a broad spectrum of architectural history, with emphasis on the recent past.

Evaluation

There will be three quizzes as well as a final exam in the course. Each quiz will count as 15% of your final grade. The final will also count 15%. Participation in Discussion Sections will count 10%. The remaining 30% of your grade will be based on a series of short papers which you will write through the semester. The quizzes test understanding of material covered in lectures and reading over a five- to seven-week period. The final exam will deal with comprehensive material covered in the course. Paper assignments will be dealt with primarily in Discussion Sections.

Required Texts

Readings will be assigned from the following three texts:

Rasmussen, Steen Eiler. Experiencing Architecture.

Heschong, Lisa. Thermal Delight in Architecture.

Moore, Charles, et al. The Place of Houses.

Course Outline

I.  Introduction

Aug. 26    -   Course Description

Aug. 31    -   Architecture and Society–Overview

Sept. 2     -   Architectural Values/Philosophy/Principles/Prejudices/Theory

II.  Form in Architecture

Sept. 7     -   Architecture as Sensual/Visual Experience

Sept. 9     -    Form in Practice

Sept. 14   -   Architecture as an Intellectual/Artistic Experience

Sept. 16   -   Order and Systems in Architecture

Sept. 21   -   Numbers/Mathematics/Geometry as Inspiration of Form

Sept. 23   -   Nature/Biology/Organisms as Inspiration of Form

[Reading in Experiencing Architecture to be completed by Sep. 23]

Sept. 28   -    Synthesis – Form

Sept. 30   -   Quiz #1

III.  Physical Considerations in Architecture

Oct. 5       -   Buildings and Land

Oct. 7       -   Geography/Topography/Ecology

Oct. 12    -    Structure and Materials

Oct. 14     -   Physical Considerations in Practice

Oct. 19     -   Construction/Tectonics

Oct. 21     -   Architecture in Response to Climate

Oct. 26     -   Synthesis – Physical Considerations

[Readings in Thermal Delight in Architecture to be completed by Oct. 26]

Oct 28      -   Quiz #2

IV.  Human Use in Architecture

Nov. 2      -   The Designation and Organization of Use

Nov. 4      -   Architectural Determinism

Nov. 9      -   Humanism at the Personal Scale

Nov. 11    -   Humanism at the Scale of Organizations/Communities/Bureaucracies

Nov. 16    -   Meaning in Public Buildings

Nov. 18   -    Synthesis – Human Factors

(Readings in The Place of Houses to be completed by Nov. 18)

Nov. 23    -   Quiz #3

V.  Combinations and Synthesis

Nov. 30    -   Perfection and Compromise

Dec. 2      -   A Few Good Buildings

Final Exam to be scheduled by the University.