History: A History of Architecture – How to See and Interpret Buildings

From Egyptian pyramids and Greek temples to skyscrapers and modern villas, we will study a selection of emblematic buildings. We will examine some key architectural concepts and you will become more confident in describing and analysing buildings. As we study a selection of architectural styles, we will reflect on how architecture is a product of its society, a cultural artifact, determining which materials, techniques, styles, decorations, and shapes are used in a given building.

Based on a series of significant historical examples, you will study key architectural structures, such as post-and-lintel system, the different types of arches, vaults and domes, the steel frame and curtain wall. This will help us understand how buildings stand.

You will also explore an array of architectural styles, such as Greco-Roman, Romanesque/Norman, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Neo-Gothic, Art Nouveau, Functionalist, Art Deco, and Brutalist. For each style we will highlight the key elements defining it.

Finally, you will be encouraged to think about how a building’s form, space and style relate to its function. And what happens when a building is repurposed? For example, when an abbey becomes a prison, such as in the case of Clairvaux in France.