Course Catalogue

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This course examines developments and debates in the theory and practice of modern architecture in Europe in selected global contexts since c. 1900. It traces developments in the work of individual architects and designers and examines changing ideas about the social and political purposes of architecture, town planning and built spaces. The focus is on the modern period of 1900-1980 but we will also consider key 19th-century precursors and selected contemporary developments, bringing the topic into our present.

1 x 1hr lecture; 1 x 1hr seminar per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus. This is one of the Honours options in History of Art and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into History of Art, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Illustrated building review, 1000 words, 25%

■ Reflective portfolio, 2000 words, 50%

■ Presentation with slides, 10 minutes, 25%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the building review or reflective portfolio, but a flexible deadline can be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

■ Recorded presentation or 1-1 with lecturer as alternative to the presentation.

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course aims to: 

■ develop a critical understanding of the key developments in modern architecture and design of the period (c.1900-1950) and the contemporary debates informing them.

■ develop understanding of diverse theoretical and critical methods in the historical study of architecture and built environments and their interrelations with social life.

■ examine the ways in which built or planned structures may articulate particular ideologies and power relations and to develop findings through discussion.

■ situate examples of the architecture and writing on architecture of the period within wider historical and cultural contexts, specifically of political movements and events and constructions of modernity.

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

■ evaluate key developments in the history of modern architecture

■ formulate the key conceptual, stylistic and thematic preoccupations of the groups, movements and individual architects studied

■ propose how these preoccupations are interrelated with the wider social and political movements of the period

■ assess selected sites or structures and their significance

■ synthesise their historical findings and theoretical knowledge of the above both in verbal and written form