B020824 - HISTORY OF CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

English

The course outlines the development of Western architectural languages and urban forms from early modern Italy to the globalized 21th century, focusing on architects and monuments, and issues of cultural cross-relations. Special attention is dedicated to the role of Italian and Western models in 19th and 20th century design and urban planning.

Colin Davies, Thinking about Architecture. An Introduction to Architectural Theory, London 2011; Andrew Leach, What is Architectural History?, Cambridge 2010; John Summerson, The Classical Language of Architecture, London 1980; Spiro Kostof, The city shaped: urban patterns and meanings through history, London 1991; Spiro Kostof, The city assembled: the elements of urban form through history, London 1992; David Watkin, A History of Western Architecture, New York 2005; Marvin Trachtenberg, Isabelle Hyman, Architecture from Pre-History to Post-Modernism. The Western Tradition, New York 1986; Frank Ching, M. Jarzombek, V. Prakash, A Global History of Architecture, New York 2011; Richard Ingersoll, Spiro Kostoff, World Architecture: A Cross-Cultural History, New York 2012; Barry Bergdoll, European Architecture 1750-1890, Oxford 2000; Alan Coquhoun, Modern Architecture, Oxford 2002.

A basic knowledge of the language of classical architecture and theories is required.

A multidisciplinary approach emphasizes different interpretations of architecture, and their development over the centuries, from the birth of the discipline to our days. The course includes lectures, guided readings, on-site visits in Florence and other Italian centres.

Final exam: written paper, and interview