Architectural History

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1020899BER for all students in the 2nd semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

2nd semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Possible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics

Educational team

Pieter Martens
Oliver Kik (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
4 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
60 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

This course offers a general overview of Western (European) architecture from antiquity to the present.

The first lectures give a concise thematic introduction to classical (Greek, Roman) and medieval (Early Christian, Romanesque, Gothic) architecture, with a focus on those aspects that are crucial for understanding the architecture of later periods (e.g. the classical orders, the evolution of the basilica, longitudinal versus central church plans, trabeated versus arcuated structures, the development of different types of vault, etc.).

Then follows a more extensive and systematic survey of European architecture from the fifteenth century onwards. This survey largely follows the main movements and style periods (Renaissance, Baroque, Neoclassicism, Gothic Revival, Industrial Revolution, Art Nouveau, Modernism, etc.), but goes beyond a purely encyclopaedic approach by including also more in-depth discussions of selected issues. The canonical buildings and chief actors (architects, patrons, theorists) are discussed and situated in their cultural and historical context. The characteristics of the major movements and style periods, and the related architectural terms and concepts, are explained.

In this course architecture is regarded as an interplay of form, function and construction. Attention is devoted not only to the formal (artistic, aesthetic, decorative) aspects of buildings and style periods, but also to functional requirements and constructive principles. Moreover, this course emphasizes the spatial, three-dimensional nature of architecture. A considerable part of the illustrative material therefore consists of architectural drawings (ground plans, cross sections, elevations, axonometries, perspective views, 3D models, etc.).

The student develops a visual memory and learns how to ‘read’ architecture from the past. The selected cases illustrate also the diversity of approaches and research methods used by architectural historians.

This course comprises different teaching methods. The student is expected to study parts of the textbook independently. The lectures complement the textbook and provide more in-depth analyses and comparisons. The course typically includes also an excursion in Brussels during which selected historical buildings are studied on site. The course includes a mandatory exercise in which students practice their skills in documenting, describing, analyzing and presenting architecture.

Course material

Handbook (Required) : De Westerse architectuur, Een geschiedenis, David Watkin, 2de druk, Sun, 9789058750020, 2015
Digital course material (Required) : Slides met afbeeldingen en architectuurtekeningen; lesopnames; lijst met bouwkundige termen, gebouwen en architecten; leeswijzer bij het handboek. Dit alles wordt beschikbaar gemaakt, Pieter Martens (red.), Canvas

Additional info

Students may also use the original English edition of the textbook if they prefer: David Watkin, A History of Western Architecture (6th edition), London: Laurence King Publishing, 2015 ISBN 9781782675978.

For more information about the specifics of this course, see Canvas.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge, insight, competence

The student has a general knowledge of the development of Western (European) architecture from antiquity to the present.

The student has insight in the major movements, style periods and turning points of Europe’s architectural history and is able to interpret the main stylistic characteristics and technical aspects of the architecture form these different periods.

The student has a developed visual memory and can recognize canonical buildings from the history of Western architecture on the basis of images (photographs and architectural drawings); the student can correctly situate these buildings in their broader cultural, historical and social context; the student can cite these buildings as examples in a broader discussion and can compare them in a meaningful way with other canonical buildings.

The student has insight in long-term developments and continuities, across stylistic periods, of architectural concepts, building types, construction methods, and ornamental motifs.

The student is familiar with the most important actors (architects) of Europe’s architectural history and can situate them correctly in their broader cultural and historical context.

The student is capable of correctly explaining, employing and illustrating architectural terms.

The student can read and interpret architectural drawings (plans, sections, elevations, axonometries, perspective views).

The student can independently describe and analyse architecture in a clear and systematic manner, using the appropriate technical terms and relevant illustrations.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Other category, the following assignments need to be completed:

oral exam and exercise with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Note: oral exam and exercise

Additional info regarding evaluation

Oral examination with written preparation. The exam typically consists of four questions of diverse character: (1) identification of approximately five canonical buildings on the basis of images (photographs, architectural drawings); (2) open question assessing the student’s insight and ability to synthesize or compare larger issues or developments; (3) question on a concept, movement, style period or protagonist; (4) question on terminology.

The evaluation of the mandatory exercise is based on the process and the final result.

In order to be able to pass for this course, both parts of the assessment (exercise and oral examination) are mandatory. Absence on one part results in an ‘absent’ for the entire course.

A weighted average is made of the two assessment parts: exercise (30%) and oral examination (70%).

Partial marks for one assessment part are transferred to the second session if the student obtains at least half of the score for this part. Students may not relinquish partial marks.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context