Architectural Cultures 1: Modernism

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

Admission into the 300 point Master of Architecture program.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website : http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject surveys the ways in which architecture as a discipline and a profession influenced, reciprocated and sometimes shaped the changing ideological, social and political environment of the 20th century and after.

It identifies key ideas and interventions at different scales ranging from domestic buildings to urban institutions and environments.

Who/what were the agents, organizations, projects and users – and what were their legacies?

Each lecture will link architectural movements and texts to built works and built environments focusing on specific examples and people that best illustrate key ideas. The theme of each lecture will be formulated around the critical analysis of the legacy of these various orientations and their positive or negative outcomes or reception.

Students will examine colonial and imperial cities, the European avant garde, American modernism, CIAM 8 and social programs and utopian movements.

• Understand the historical development of architecture.
• Understand social, political, historical and cultural contexts through contextualisation of knowledge on the built environment.
• Be aware of intellectual discourses that have influenced or are influenced by specific periods and issues.
• Be aware of specific examples and individuals or groups that are central to intellectual discourses.

• A short summary of each weekly reading (10)
• Presentation of one weekly reading during tutorial (10%)
• One page abstract due by week 4, followed by five page outline with bibliography due in week 6 (20%)
• 4000 word essay (with references) due during exam period (50%)
• Students will be asked to present on their essay topics in weeks 11 & 12 (10%)

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• Research through the selection of architectural case studies and regular use of the library.
• Critical thinking and analysis through required reading, discussion, essay writing and presentations and assessment of arguments.
• Communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically, in written and oral form through essays, discussion and class presentations .
• Selection and critique of architectural case studies.