Foundations of Architecture

This subject is not offered in 2013.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject will survey the history of architecture and urbanism from the beginnings of shelter to the end of the 17th century in the context of social, technical and environmental settings. It will include the architecture and design traditions of early civilisations in the Middle East, Europe, South Asia, East Asia, South America and the Pacific. It will analyse the values reflected in vernacular buildings (housing), religious institutions (churches, temples), and the power of ruling institutions (state, city, palace and empire).

On completion of this subject, students will be able to:

• demonstrate a broad understanding of the history of architecture and urbanism from ancient origins to the end of the 17th century in both the East and the West;
• understand concepts of spatial organisation, construction, theory and representation which are useful in the analysis of architecture;
• analyse buildings and places in terms of their context, form, spatial grammar, structural approaches, function and social role.

• Three written submissions with graphic content equivalent to a total of 3000 words due from weeks 4 to 10 (totalling 60%).
• A two-hour end-of-semester examination (40%).

Ching, F, Jarzombek, M and Prakash, V. A Global History of Architecture, John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken, NJ, 2007.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students should aquire the following skills:

• analysis of physical artifacts in their historical context;
• understanding of history as a discipline and as a process;
• understanding of the social, cultural and environmental context of architecture;
• essay writing to undergraduate standard;
• use and understanding of architectural terminology.