2022 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Architecture and Building Engineering Graduate major in Architecture and Building Engineering
History of Architecture
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Architecture and Building Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- David-Butler Stewart
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Mon (M1-314) / 3-4 Thu (M1-314)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ARC.D401
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2022
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course offered in seminar format explores a different C20/ C21topic each spring. The language of instruction is English. Participants are M1-level Japanese students or degree- or research-based international students from the Department of Architecture and Building Engineering. Postgraduate students from any other department are most welcome, if they possess the requisite level of English-language skills. Such "outsiders" broaden our perspective.
Our aim will be to examine topics of architecture or city-planning in greater depth than could be achieved in a pure lecture format.
Goals are to:
a) Increase one's familiarity with lesser known events from the history of architecture and urban planning.
b) Provide an opportunity for written and oral presentations of different design methods and approaches.
These take into account significant and shifting overall differences of opinion about historical achievements.
c) Broaden the ability of each student, at his or her own pace, to exchange information and opinions in English in a practical and effective way.
Course description and aims
By the end of the course students will have made progress toward:
a) An organized and confident approach in presenting topics or ideas about building and planning history in the modern and postmodern eras.
b) Design and presentation of one or more short PPTs (or similar software) to express and communicate our research aims.
c) Consolidating fresh knowledge about the past with students' own current aims/ philosophies concerning architecture and/ or the built environment.
Keywords
architectural history, city planning history, history of technology, building description skills, building assessment skills, role of the architect in the profession, the social, material, and economic basis of architecture and planning
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Weekly attendance is compulsory because discussions pick up and continue from one session to the next. There will a fair amount of reading and video-watching. Homework involves timely preparation for group discussion as well as for individual presentation in English.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Guidance about the current theme (the topic is changed every year). Introduction to related materials, including MOOCs. | The class meets twice weekly, so that the pace of learning needs to be respected. |
| Class 2 | Most classes consist of in-class discussion of assigned online PDF and video materials complemented by student, or group, oral presentation. | Idem. |
| Class 3 | Idem. | Idem. |
| Class 4 | Idem. | Idem. |
| Class 5 | Idem. | Idem. |
| Class 6 | Idem. | Idem. |
| Class 7 | Idem. | Idem. |
| Class 8 | Idem. | Idem. |
| Class 9 | Idem. | Idem. |
| Class 10 | Idem. | Idem. |
| Class 11 | Idem. | Idem. |
| Class 12 | Idem. | Idem. |
| Class 13 | Idem. | Idem. |
| Class 14 | Idem. | Idem. |
| Class 15 | This final class will be a wrap-up intended to set the quarter's topic or architectural figure in both historical and contemporary perspective. | Idem. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
There is usually no underlying course textbook. When available, a reasonably priced English-language text will be signaled and required for purchase. Occasionally, other books may be suggested for optional purchase.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Materials are student-devised PPTs, journal reprints and/ or PDFs. It is requested that each student bring a laptop computer or handheld device able to connect with the Internet to each class meeting.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Assessment is above all based on active class participation, individual classroom presentations, and homework assignments. There is no final examination or report that can repair missed attendance. Design studio preparation is not an excuse for failure to attend class regularly.
Related courses
- history of Japanese architecture
- history of western architecture
- history of modern architecture
Prerequisites
Any other course in architectural or planning history, whether dealing with Western or Japanese building history will be helpful. No other related course is presently taught by this instructor.
Other
Nothing of note.