78047 - History of Medieval and Modern Architecture (1)

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course students will:

- know the general issues of the medieval and early-modern history of architecture;

- identify, contextualize from an historic point of view, and critically evaluate the major architectures of the time considered;

- distinguish the major formal and structural features of architectural works;

- compare architecture with other artistic disciplines

Course contents

The goal of this course is to provide students of a basic knowledge of western pre-modern architecture, from Egyptian pyramids to the Architecture of the French Revolution. Through the analysis of a selection of paradigmatic buildings of different historical periods, it will be possible to understand how architecture materializes and fulfill the human needs across time.

Syllabus

Class starts ten minutes after the hour and ends five minutes before the hour. In order to prevent disruption for students and instructor, please enter the classroom before class starts.

Mon. 11/11 – Introduction to the topics, organization and requirements

Tue. 12/11 – The notion of “architectural order” through the centuries

• Bibliography: J. Summerson, Il linguaggio classico dell’architettura, Torino, Einaudi 2000 (or any other reprint or edition). Chapters of this book should be read through the course, according to the period dealt in class.

Wed. 13/11 – Hellenistic Architecture

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 3-21
  

Mon. 18/11 – Roman Architecture.

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 35-66
  

Tue. 19/11 – In class discussion

• Deadline and submission of the first drawing assignment and class discussion. “The Architectural Order”
  

Wed. 20/11 – Early Christian and Byzantine Architecture

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 67-86.
  

Mon 2/12 – Medieval and Romanesque Architecture

• Bibliography D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 87-91, 95-101, 108-124
  

Tue. 3/12 – Gothic Architecture

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 125-141, 146-147, 170-177
• Deadline and submission of the second drawing assignment: “Palazzo D’Accursio”

Wed. 4/12 – Walking tour (weather permitting) among significant Medieval and Gothic Bolognese architecture

Mon. 9/12 – Italian Renaissance Architecture

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 185-223
  

Tue. 10/12 – European Renaissance Architecture

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 224-252
• Deadline and submission pf the third drawing assignment: “San Petronio”

Wed. 11/12 – Baroque Architecture

• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 253-298, 300-312

Mon. 16/12 – Neoclassic Architecture

• Deadline and submission pf the third drawing assignment: palazzo Nascentori.
• Bibliography: D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, pp. 337-362, 375-382, 404-409

Tue. 17/12 – Lesson at the Museum of San Petronio

Wed. 18/12 – Conclusions

Bibliography

D. Watkin, A History of Western Architecture, London: Barrie & Jenkins, 1986.

Italian Translation:

D. Watkin, Storia dell’architettura occidentale, Bologna, Zanichelli 1990, or any other reprint or new edition.

Further bibliographic suggestions will be given when needed class by class.

Mandatory requirement

Both for attending and non-attending students. In order to be admitted to the final exam a paper sketchbook (A4 size) on which is drafted a list of significant Bolognese architecture is required. Details will be provided during the first class in 11/11.

It will NOT be taken in consideration the graphic quality of the drawings. What counts is only the logic and the sharpness with which students analyze and comment through annotations, the buildings.

List of topics:

1. Architectural order

• Doric: Palazzo Comunale’s (palazzo D’Accursio) portal facing Piazza Maggiore
• Ionic: Roman Ionic Capital inside Santi Vitale and Agricola church (within Santo Stefano church)
• Corinthian: Palazzo del Podestà

1. Medieval Architecture
2. Palazzo D’Accursio piazza Maggiore, façade (only the south portion at the left of the portal) and the courtyard.
3. Gothic Architecture
4. San Petronio, interiors
5. Renaissance

• Palazzo Nascentori, via Drapperie 8

In the final exam students will be tested on topics included in the bibliography as well as issued discussed in class. The latter might not be found in the text book.

Readings/Bibliography

David Watkin, A History of Western Architecture, Barnes & Nobles Inc., New York, 1986

Teaching methods

Lectures, in-situ analyses, class discussion.

Assessment methods

The final examination consists of an interview and it will be the same for all the students (attending or not) to assess whether students have acquired critical and methodological skills. It will be based on the texts recommended in the bibliography. Non-attending students are required to write a 7/8 pages long essay on a topic of the syllabus to be approved by the teacher and submitted in PDF no later than the penultimate week of the course.

Students are expected to demonstrate the acquisition and possession of the fundamentals of the topics dealt with and of the methodological approach adopted, even by recognizing buildings by images. In this regard, students are recommended to focus on the iconographic documentation of the exam texts and on the teaching material provided, also available for download at the teacher’s webpage: https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/ f.benelli

Grades breakdown for the oral examination

1. It will be graded as excellent the performance of those students demonstrating to be able to thoroughly analyse the texts and to put them into an organic view of the topics discussed during the course. The proper use of the specific language during the examination will be also essential.

2. It will be graded as discrete the performance of those students with mostly mnemonic knowledge, no in-depth analysis capabilities and a correct, but not always appropriate, language of the recommended texts.

3. It will be graded as barely sufficient the performance of those students with approximate knowledge, superficial understanding, poor analytical capabilities and a not always appropriate language.

4. It will be graded as insufficient the performance of those students with learning gaps, inappropriate language, no orientation within the recommended bibliography.

Teaching tools

Various audiovisual tools (audio CDs, image projections and digital movies).

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Benelli