75455 - History of Italian/European Architecture M

Learning outcomes

At the end of the class, student has knowledge of methods and tools to analyse and understand architectural buildings and spaces, from the Ancient times to the Modern age, with particular attention to: relationships between forms and structures; building materials and techniques; aims of the clients and the architects; connections with previous and contemporary architectures. In particular, at the end of the course he/she is able to critically analyse an architectural work by identifying forms, building typologies and techniques as well as their relationships.

Course contents

The objective of the course is to provide knowledge of the history of Italian and European architecture from classical times to contemporary architecture.
The history of architecture will be approached globally, with an in-depth study of specific cases that have served as models over the centuries.
Particular attention will be given to Italian architecture and its relationships with the rest of Europe.

A critical reading of historical developments will be proposed, taking into account the contexts in which the movements emerged.

 

The course content is divided into seven units:

1. Introduction 

How to read architecture (lines, shapes, light, materials)
Navigating the history of Western architecture
The sources of history: drawings, texts, buildings

2. Ancient Era
Egyptian architecture as an example of meaningful architecture
Ancient Greek architecture and the creation of the canon
Roman architecture and the power of construction

3. Christian Architecture
The first basilicas between East and West
Defensive architecture: Romanesque
Expansive architecture: Gothic

4. Renaissance and Mannerism
Florence and the return to the classical
Rome and the affirmation of the new classical
The anti-classical Mannerism

5. Baroque and Enlightenment
Roman Baroque architecture
European Baroque architecture and the transition to Rococo  Neoclassical, Enlightenment, and revolutionary architecture

6.The 19th Century Between History and Industry
Architecture in iron and glass
Historicisms and revivals

7. The 20th Century and Modernity
Functionalism and technological innovations (Bauhaus, Le Corbusier, Mies Van Der Rohe)
Figures of contemporary architecture

Readings/Bibliography

The following texts serve as support for learning and as a tool for exam preparation:

Ian Sutton, Western Architecture, Thames and Hudson, New York, 2001.
Marvin Trachtenberg, Isabelle Hyman, Architecture from Prehistory to Postmodernism,Harry N. Abrams, New York, 2002.
Spiro Kostof, A History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals, Oxford University Press, 2010.

Any version or edition of these texts is acceptable.

For non-attending students, it is recommended to contact the teacher for the indication of necessary readings.

Additional teaching materials will be available on the virtual platform, following the progression of the lessons.

During the lessons, the specific parts of the bibliography and teaching materials necessary for exam preparation will be explained in detail.

Teaching methods

The course will alternate between traditional lectures and seminar-style sessions, in which students will analyze and discuss specific topics in groups.

At the end of each unit, a review or assessment of learning will be conducted in preparation for the exam.

Active participation in class will be positively evaluated, and students are encouraged to critically engage with the course content.

Assessment methods

The exam will consist of an oral interview, covering both a chosen architectural work and questions from the instructor.

Students must prepare an in-depth analysis of an architecture of their choice, which can be selected from those discussed in class or independently. The presentation should clearly reference topics covered during the course.

The bibliography and teaching materials required for exam preparation will be further clarified during the lessons.

Teaching tools

Projected presentations during lectures, containing images and key points of the course.
Additional materials (texts, videos, images) for exam preparation and seminar activities will be provided at the end of the lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Ramazza