DU1722 An Introduction to the History of the Architecture

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Taught online.
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Jiří Kroupa, CSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jiří Kroupa, CSc.
Department of Art History – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: prof. PhDr. Jiří Kroupa, CSc.
Supplier department: Department of Art History – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 10:00–11:40 K21
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The aim of this course is to familiarize the students with the theoretical foundations of architecture and building construction, to introduce them to ways of looking at, describing and interpreting architectural works. The main form of lectures is to work with pictorial examples on a systematic basis.
The main themes are: Defining art of architecture and its creator in the past and present; Basic concepts and categories of architecture; Architectural tractates; Architectural "practice"; Description, analysis and interpretation of the architectural work.
Learning outcomes
The student will be able after the lecture course
- to orientate himself in basic art history questions in the study of the history of architecture;
- to acquire professional architectural terminology;
- to identify an adequate way of looking at a particular architectural work;
- to describe the architectural work.
Syllabus
  • Topics:
  • 1. Architecture: classic definitions (Vitruvius/building craft - Leone B. Alberti/art - Karl Bötticher/tectonics - Adolf Loos/space in architecture).
  • 2. Architecture as part of art: "disegno" and "idea" (Vincenzo Scamozzi).
  • 3. Architecture, engineering and art in the 19th and the 20th century theories (tectonic, stereotomy, space and time).
  • 4. Basic concepts and categories of architecture (function, space, form, light, colour).
  • 5. Function, assignments, architectural task: Burckhardt´s “Aufgabe”; intention of architectural work; decorum – bienséance - convenance.
  • 6. Matter, form: analysis and interpretation of form - tectonic principle, stereotomy, stereotomical illusion - aesthetics of building blocks, stereometry, disposition of elements - architectural form and visual meaning.
  • 7. Space: spatial feeling - spatial effect - spatial image; outside and inside; space and place; metaphoric attributes to the describing of space; analysis of space units.
  • 8. Light: natural and artificial light - light directing - light and space.
  • 9. Color: paint and material, Semper´s “Prinzip der Bekleidung”, plastering and sgraffito (figutal - theoretical) ; construction and wall painting.
  • 10. Theoretical Tractates I: Vitruvius Legacy, the theory of five orders; samplers, dogmatic tractats of the 16th century, images of historical architecture.
  • 11. Theoretical Tractates II: French classical theory of the 17th century in France;technical and scientific publications; discussions in the 18th century, architects and engineers; architectural theory and the birth of Art history.
  • 12. Theoretical Tractates III: theory and construction of modern times; from Le Corbusier to Robert Venturi; architectural theory today.
  • 13. Architectural "practice" in Antiquity and the Middle Ages: craft practice, "fabrica", masonry lodges; building construction, "sapere"; theoretical demonstration, solertia (subtle knowledge).
  • 14. Model and Drawing Planning in history: models in the Italian Renaissance; a new way of drawing plans; the importance of academies for the expansion of new modes of planning; model vs. drawing today.
  • 15. Description and professional terminology.
  • 16. Three basic dimensions of analysis: construction research – critique of style - semantics.
  • 17. Various possibilities of interpreting the architectural work: autonomous and heteronomic approaches in the history of architecture; structure and intentions of the work; possibilities of interpretation.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • BLAŽÍČEK, Oldřich J. and Jiří KROPÁČEK. Slovník pojmů z dějin umění : názvosloví a tvarosloví architektury, sochařství, malby a užitého umění. Vyd. 1. Praha: Odeon, 1991, 246 s. ISBN 8020702466. info
  • ŠKABRADA, Jiří. Konstrukce historických staveb. Vyd. 1. Praha: Argo, 2003, 395 s. ISBN 8072035487. info
  • Glossarium artis (Wörterbuch zur Kunst – Dictionnaire des Termes d´Art – Dictionary of Art Terms) I - X.
Teaching methods
Lectures; homework with an e-learning course.
Assessment methods
Written test + description of an architectural work.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2021/DU1722