Syllabus Information

5.1. Methodological overview

This programme offers an analytical overview of the historical development of architecture, presented as an instrument of learning and point of departure for the architect’s work, in the belief that an awareness and appreciation of the past will instruct the students in a better understanding of the present and the future.

This course doesn’t simply aim at increasing the student’s store of knowledge but to engage in a series of activities (study trips, guest lectures and the discussion of critical texts) that will foster their ability to formulate questions and provide them with the necessary tools for tackling high level research. It is our belief that the close study of the theories and practice of architects whose work is universally regarded as having won a place in the halcyon of the history of architecture is an essential component of an architect’s training, providing as it does a cultural background against which to gain a perspective of their own work. We believe that being versed in a wide spectrum of references as well as scale, volume, form and materials, equips students with the indispensable skills for critical reflection on matters such as typology, urban solutions, levels of language, semantics and project methodologies, among others.

The purpose of the programme is to equip students with a solid practical and theoretical knowledge that will enhance their interpretative and critical capabilities and prove invaluable in their future development as architects.

5.2. Learning tasks

Lectures on theory are taught in lecture rooms, whereas seminars, workshops and “crits” take place in smaller groups in seminar rooms through tutorials and individual teaching. Visiting scholars, lecturers and study trips complete the programme of study.

1. LECTURES. Attendance to lectures is strongly recommended

2. SEMINARS. Attendance to lectures is strongly recommended. Seminars are two hours per week. The class is divided in groups of no more than 25 students each. Each section of the course is supported by a seminar to discuss the main works and theoretical writings of the period.

3. OFFICE HOURS. The teachers will have six hours per week of office hours in order to solve the doubts that the students could have. In any case office hours could be used as a substitute for the lectures or the seminars.

4. EXCURSIONS AND TRIPS. An excursion to visit building related with the program could be scheduled during the semester.

5. VOLUNTARY ESSAYS. The students have the possibility to write short essays (should be 1.000 words long) to increase their grade.

6. MID-TERM EXAM will cover the topics explained in the first part of the course and the required readings.

7. FINAL EXAM will cover the topics explained in the second part of the course and the required readings.

MOODLE will be use to update the readings recommended during the course as well as to post grades and further readings. Student should check MOODLE every week.

5.3. Syllabus

Contents:

Course presentation

The turn of the century

C1_ Art Nouveau in Europe: Paris, Brussels, Barcelona… Glasgow and Charles Rennie Mackintosh

C2_ The School of Chicago. The origins of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie Houses

C3_ Viennese Secession. From Otto Wagner to Adolf Loos and his proposal for a ‘Raumplan’

C4_ The rationalisation of the new century. Art and industry: Deutscher Werkbund

Interwar avant-garde

V1_ Abstract and figurative avant-garde: Expressionism in Germany and in the Nederland

V2_ Abstract and figurative avant-garde: Neo Plasticism in the Nederland

V3_ Abstract and figurative avant-garde: Italian Futurism and Soviet Constructivism

V4_ Gropius and the Bauhaus: the Neue Sachlichkeit. Functionalism and Rationalism V5_ Rationalism in Italy: Terragni and the ‘littorio’

The masters of the first generation

M1_ Mies van der Rohe in Europe: neoplastic tectonics

M2_ Le Corbusier: a new spirit. 1918-1939

M3_ Alvar Aalto: from Nordic Classicism to Rationalism al Rationalism

M4_ Frank Lloyd Wright: from Taliesin to Johnson Wax

5.4. Course planning and calendar

Indicative schedule

Week 1: Course presentation

Week 2: C1

Week 3: C2

Week 4: C3

Week 5: C4

Week 6: V1

Week 7: V2

Week 8: V3

Week 9: V4

Week 10: V5

Week 11: M1

Week 12: M2

Week 13: M3

Week 14: M4

5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY AND THEORY ‐ FIRST HALF OF THE 20TH CENTURY

BASIC TEXTS

I. DICTIONARIES:

CALZADA ECHEVARRIA, A.: Diccionario clásico de Arquitectura y Bellas Artes. Serbal, Barcelona, 2003

FORTY, A.: Words and Buildings. A Vocabulary of Modern Architecture. Londres: Thames & Hudson, 2000

MIDANT, J.P. (dir.): Diccionario Akal de la arquitectura del siglo XX. Akal, Madrid, 2004

PEVSNER, N.: A Dictionary of Architecture. Overlook Press, New York, 1966

II. HISTORIES OF ARCHITECTURE:

BANHAM, P.R.: Teoría y diseño en la primera era de la máquina. Paidós Estética, Barcelona, 1985

BENEVOLO, L.: Historia de la arquitectura moderna. Gustavo Gili, Barcelona, 1985

COLLINS, P.: Los ideales de la arquitectura moderna, su evolución. GG, Barcelona, 1998

COLQUHOUN, A.: La arquitectura moderna: una historia desapasionada. GG, Barcelona, 2005

CONRADS, U.: Programas y manifiestos de la arquitectura del siglo XX. Lumen, Barcelona, 1973

CURTIS, W.: La arquitectura moderna desde 1900. Hermann Blume, Barcelona, 1986

DAL CO, F. Y TARUFI, M.: Historia de la arquitectura contemporánea. Madrid, Aguilar, 1989

DE FUSCO, R.: Historia de la arquitectura contemporánea. Celeste Ediciones, Madrid, 1992

FRAMPTON, K.: Historia crítica de la arquitectura moderna. Gustavo Gili, Barcelona, 1981

GIEDION, S.: Espacio, tiempo y arquitectura. Dossat, Madrid, 1979

GRAVAGNUOLO, B.: Historia del urbanismo en Europa, 1750‐1960. Madrid, Akal, 1991

HITCHCOCK, H.R.: Arquitectura de los siglos XIX y XX. Manuales de arte Cátedra, Madrid, 1981

PIZZA, A., Y GARCÍA, C. (ed.): Historia del arte y de la arquitectura moderna (1851-1933), UPC, 2016

ZEVI, B.: Historia de la arquitectura moderna, Poseidón, Barcelona, 1980.

III. READINGS:

CALVO SERRALLER, F., MARCHÁN FIZ, S., Y GONZÁLEZ GARCÍA, Á.: Escritos de arte de vanguardia. 1900-1945. Istmo, Madrid, 1999

DE MICHELI, M.: Las vanguardias artísticas del siglo XX. Alianza, Madrid, 1995

HEREU, P., MONTANER, JM. Y OLIVERAS, J.: Textos de Arquitectura de la Modernidad. Nerea, Madrid, 1994

IV. MONOGRAPHS:

In general, monographs on architects mentioned in the lectures: Guimard, Gaudí and Mackintosh / Richardson, Sullivan and Wright / Wagner, Olbrich, Hoffmann and Loos / Muthesius, Van de Velde and Behrens / Berlage, De Klerk and Kramer / Taut, Poelzig, Mendelsohn and Häring / Van Doesburg, Van Eesteren and Rietveld / Sant’Elia and Chiattone / Tatlin, Ginzburg and Melnikov / Gropius, Meyer, Hilberseimer and Van der Rohe / Saarinen, Asplund And Aalto / Le Corbusier / Muzio, Terragni, Libera and Ridolfi.