6 ROYAL ARCHITECTURAL INSTITUTE OF CANADA SYLLABUS

Theory of Modernism Course Outline & Sample Exam Pre-requisites: TH2

Design Theory Fundamentals Recommended Co-requisite: D2 (Studio) Foundations of Architectural Design Pre-requisite to: TH4 Contemporary Architectural Theory GOALS / OBJECTIVES The goals of this course are to comprehend the conditions which brought forth the Modern movement in the early twentieth century, its evolution through the first half of the century, and the rise of post-modern theory and practice. These goals are met by the following objectives: To examine the conditions at the turn of the century which lead to the rise of modern architecture, the various movements which arose in the first two decades of the century, the development of modern architectural theory, and the reactions to modern theory and architecture which led to post-modern theory and architecture. OUTLINE Topics in this course include the study of form, structure, and order of architectural space as the linguistic instruments of conveying meaning through architecture. Meaning is determined and rendered through philosophical positions, societal values, and behavioural practices which give content to architectural form. The semantic of this language of form is the essence of architecture – that which distinguishes the act of building as a work of architecture. Works of modern and post-modern architecture will be examined with respect to the philosophical, pragmatic, and intuitive notions which gave rise to the works. METHODOLOGY The Architectural Theory courses are seen as fundamental to understanding architecture as a means of creating form and must be understood as integral to the studio sequence. It is expected that issues raised in the theory sequence will be integrated with the design studio work. Through individual study and reflection on the readings, students will be required to provide critical and informed responses in written and graphic form. RAIC SYLLABUS TH3 Theory of Modernism Page 2 of 6 ASSIGNMENTS This course requires that each student undertake the study of a number of required readings which will give an understanding of the development of architectural design theory in the first 70 years of the 20th Century. To demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge, the student will have two (2) options: OPTION 1 An examination of three (3) hours duration at the end of term. The scope of the examination will cover the entire required reading list. OPTION 2 Two (2) short essays of 1500 – 2000 words on topics selected by the student from lists supplied by the Examiner. These topics will be taken, one from the development of theory in the modern period and one from the evolution and development of post-modern theory. The student electing Option 2 above is required to notify the Examiner by e-mail via the Registrar, Jeanné Fox, Hon. MRAIC: [email protected] This notification must occur before undertaking the work, and it is required that any essay must be submitted, at least once, in draft form for possible comments and observations by the Examiner prior to final submission. DEADLINES E-mailed by deadlines for Option 2 above are: Term 1 Term 2 Intent to Write essays March 30 September 30 Draft form submitted: May 1 November 1 Final submissions (NO EXTENTIONS) June 2 December 2 All three e-mailed-by deadlines must be met to qualify for Option 2: – i.e. Students who do not submit their Intent to Write per the above schedule will be required to write the end of term exam. Students are to proceed with Final Reports according to the above schedule whether or not they have received comments on their draft submissions. Submissions of final reports will not be accepted after June 2 for Term 1 students; December 2 for Term 2 students. Students failing to make Final submissions by June 2 for Term 1 or December 2 for Term 2, will receive an automatic Fail mark on their transcript. RAIC SYLLABUS TH3 Theory of Modernism Page 3 of 6 FORMAT Essays are to be formatted at post-secondary level standards, and are to include bibliographies. Illustrations, and be properly labelled with sources cited. The following references are provided as a guide to report writing. Your local librarian may have additional sources. The Chicago Manual of Style University of Chicago Press Writing Research Papers, A Complete Guide 6th Edition, James D. Lester The Basics of Technical Writing and Speaking C. Edward Collins, Prentice Hall A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations 5th Edition, Kate L. Turabian The University of Chicago Press Theses and Project Work C.J. Parsons, George Allen and Unwin Ltd REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED READING The required reading is intended to provide a basic body of knowledge of the foundations, the development of, and the evolution of design theory between the beginning of the century and the establishment of post-modernist thinking in the field of architecture. • Those works marked with a bullet are the primary sources for this course. Students will be responsible for the content of them. All other works listed here and following are supplementary. • Banham, Reyner Theory and Design in the First Machine Age MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1980 Dickens, Peter The Hut and the Machine Architectural Design, 51, ½, pp. 18-24. Academy, London, 1981 Guilleme, Jacques The Idea of Architectural Language: A Critical Inquiry Oppositions 10, pp. 21-26. MIT Press, Cambridge, Fall 1977 • 2013 Add: Frampton, Kenneth Modern Architecture: A Critical History Huxtable, Ada Louise The Troubled State of Modern Architecture Architectural Design, 51, 1 ½, pp. 8-17, 1981 • Jencks, Charles The Language of Post-Modern Architecture 5th Edition. Rizzoli International, New York, 1988 • Nesbitt, Kate Theorizing a New Agenda for Architecture Princeton Architectural Press, New York, 1996 Norberg-Schulz, Christian The Concept of Dwelling Electra/Rizzoli, New York, 1985 Rossi, Aldo The Architecture of the City MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 1982 • Venturi, Robert Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture Museum of Modern Art, New York, 1977 RAIC SYLLABUS TH3 Theory of Modernism Page 4 of 6 FURTHER SUGGESTED READINGS Frampton, Kenneth Modern Architecture, A Critical History Thames and Hudson, London, 1983 Giedeon, Sigfried Space, Time and Architecture 5th Edition, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1969 Jencks, Charles What is Post-Modernism? 3rd Edition, St. Martin’s Press, London, 1990 Le Corbusier Towards a New Architecture London, 1928 Lyotard, Francois The Postmodern Condition Manchester University Press, Manchester, 1984 Modern Architecture and the Critical Present Architectural Design, 52, 7/8, 1982; Garden House Press, 1982 Portoghesi, Paolo After Modern Architecture Rizzoli International, New York, 1982 Post-Modernism and Discontinuity Architectural Design, 57, ½, 1987; Academy London, 1987 Post-Modernism on Trial Architectural Design, 60, 9/10, 1990; Academy London. 1987 Revision of the Modern Architectural Design, 55, ¾, 1985; St. Martin’s Press, New York, 1985 Rowe, Colin & F. Koetter Collage City MIT Press, Cambridge, 1978 The New Modern Aesthetic Architectural Design, 60, 7/8, 1990; Academy London, 1990 Zevi, Bruno Architecture as Space Da Capo Press, New York, 1993 RAIC SYLLABUS TH3 Theory of Modernism Page 5 of 6 ESSAY TOPICS A student electing to undertake two (2) essays will be required to choose a topic from each of the two lists below, one of which relates to the development of modern theory and one of which relates to postmodern theory. ESSAY 1 : THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN THEORY Heroic Thoughts for a Theory of Modern Architecture: Loos, Behrens & Gropius. A New Architecture for America: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie School. Utopian Manifestos for a Twentieth Century Architecture – 1900 to 1920. The Mystical Legacy of Louis Kahn. “What a Building Wants to Be”. The De Stijl Movement: Concepts and Discipline Fulfilment of Modern Theory – Mies van der Rohe – from Tugenhaut to Seagrams. Architecture and the Corporate Image: Who are Eero Saarinen, Kevin Roche, and Skidmore Owings Merrill? ESSAY TWO : THE TRANSFORMATION TO POST-MODERN Post-modern Arising “Michael Graves Houses – Issues and Answers” Learning from Venturi “Pluralism in Architecture” The School of Venice The Return of Decoration to Architecture: Post-modern Ornament What is This Double-coding Anyhow? “An Explanation of Post-modern by Definition” The Architecture of Emilio Ambasz Historicism and the Post-modern Movement As He Was Saying “The Theory and Teaching of Colin Rowe” Alvar Aalto – The First Post-modernist The Works and Writings of Aldo Rossi Carlo Scarpa: The Italian Version of (post) Modern Architecture SAMPLE EXAMINATION follows. RAIC SYLLABUS TH3 Theory of Modernism Page 6 of 6 TH3 Sample Examination ROYAL ARCHITECTURAL INSTITUTE OF CANADA SYLLABUS TH3 THEORY OF MODERNISM SAMPLE Examination 3 hour CLOSED Exam No reference material is allowed in the exam room Instructions to Candidates 1. Answer all the questions ~ put your name on each answer booklet that you use. 2. The examination has a total of 100 points. The passing mark is “C”, or 55 points. 3. Each question has a value noted at the left. 4. Times are indicated as suggestions only. Candidates may use the three hours as they wish. 5. All sheets from this exam must be returned, including this question paper & any unused answer booklets. 50 points [80 minutes] 1. In his book, Theory and Design in the First Machine Age, Reyner Banham identifies three (3) predisposing causes of 19th Century origin that led to the rise of modern architecture. These causes included a sense of the Architect’s responsibility to society; a Rationalist, or structural, approach to architecture; and a tradition of academic instruction, worldwide in distribution. > Discuss reactions to these causes, where they arose & who, or what group(s), arose, either wholly, or in part, as a reaction to it. 50 points [80 minutes] 2. The following are four (4) realities of postmodern culture: (i) Awareness of the ambiguous articulation of diverse and conflicting groups and social classes…SOCIAL FRAGMENTATION (ii) A collective production of works toward interpersonal processes, mediated by institutions and social aggregations…SINGLENESS OF MANKIND IN A FINITE WORLD (iii) Awareness of the effects of environmental transformations on high culture – reinterpretations of environmental conditions…THE IMPACT OF MANKIND THROUGH TECHNOLOGY UPON NATURE (iv) Awareness that industrial civilization has gone beyond its capacity to fulfill ideological aspirations it expressed…it can no longer use the symbols of its aggressive youth…FAILURE OF THE INDUSTRIAL & TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION / EVOLUTION > Discuss the architectural responses to two (2) of the four, citing works, individuals, and their ideas by way of example. [20 minutes to re-read your paper] END OF EXAMINATION Return all papers ~ including this question paper ~ to your Invigilator Th3.doc_SR:jf: e&oe: 2012-13