Alternative Readings Jencks (Modern Movements in Architecture)-RPart III: TypologiesExpectations on written workPrécisPresentationsContact InformationMAJOR TEXTSArchitectural DictionariesKenneth Breisch, Hobson Richardson and the Small Public Library in America (1997).-John Knox Shear, Religious Buildings for Today (1957)- 726.5Ar25RArt 179: American Architecture ShankenU.C. Berkeley Fall, 2005T and Th 12-1:15Office Hours (Wurster 486): Thursday 1:30-3:30, and by appointment*Walk-ins are welcome, but to guarantee a spot please sign up on the sheet on my office door ahead of time.Blackboard: There is a blackboard site for this class; the username and password should be “ashanken.”COURSE DESCRIPTIONThe first half of this course surveys American architecture from Colonial times to contemporary trends. Stylistic and spatial analysis is linked with the socioeconomic, political, and environmental influences on architecture, issues of originality, American exceptionalism, the influence from abroad, regionalism, and the role of technology. The second half delves more deeply into the history of specific building types – house, church,museum, library – grafting the earlier themes onto a history of modern institutions as theytook shape in the United States. SYLLABUS*The general reading for all three units will appear at the heading. Additional and alternative readings are listed under particular lectures. The first are required, the latter are there in case you want to do extra reading. On occasion, short readings will be added to the syllabus. TBA = To be announced. All reserve readings can be found in the CED Library in Wurster Hall. I will also try to post readings on Blackboard.Required Texts:These will be available in the Cal Student Store; they will also be on reserveDavid Handlin, American Architecture (revised edition, 2003)Henry-Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson, The International Style [1932] (1966)Robert Venturi, Complexity and Contradiction (1966)Kenneth Breisch, H. H. Richardson and the Small Public Library in America (1997). (N.B. This last one is an expensive text and we are only reading a couple of chapters, so you may want to read it on reserve).Part I: Colonial to Romanesque RevivalReadings: Handlin (7-166) and T.B.A.A30: IntroductionS1: Transplantations in the New World—Colonial to the Revolution1Alternative Readings: Whiffen (ch. 2, 3, 4, 5)S6: Building a New Nation—New Republic to the Civil WarAlternative Readings: Whiffen (ch. 6, 7, 8)*Formal Analysis due on Friday by 4:00 in my box in the Art Dept. office.S8: The Architecture of Reconstruction/Victorian Architecture*Additional Readings: TBAAlternative Readings: Whiffen (ch. 9)S13: The Cause Conservative: The American Renascence and the Gilded Age*Additional Readings: TBAAlternative Readings: Whiffen (ch. 11)S15: Beaux-Arts Berkeley: Tour of John Galen Howard’s Berkeley’sOptional Readings: I will try to put readings on Berkeley architecture on reservein the CED library. S20: The Tall Building Artistically ReconsideredAdditional Readings: Sullivan, “The Tall Building Artistically Considered” (I willtry to put this on Blackboard, and on reserve in the CED library)Alternative Readings: Whiffen (ch. 10); GoldbergerS22: Exam #1: This will be a short identification exam with one essay question that will be announced ahead of timePart II: Progressive Era to Post-ModernismReadings: Handlin (167-274)S27: Arts and CraftsReadings: TBAS29: From the Ecole des Beaux Arts to ModernismAlternative Readings: Whiffen (ch. 12)O4: No Class: Rosh HashanahO6: Less Is More: Modernism in the United StatesAdditional Readings: Hitchcock and Johnson, (International Style)-R; and on Blackboard: Roth/Mies, etc. Alternative Readings: Whiffen (ch. 13, 14, 15);O11: Modernisms: Brutalism, Closet Historicism, Rational Expressionism, etc.Additional Readings: On Blackboard/Reserve: Wurster; Reed; Jordy2Alternative Readings Jencks (Modern Movements in Architecture)-RNote: See especially those sections that deal with the 1950’s and 1960’s.O13: No Class: Yom KippurO18: Less Is a Bore: Postmodernism in the United States Additional Readings: Venturi (Complexity-entire)-RAlternative Readings: Jencks (What Is Postmodernism?, The Language of Post-Modern Architecture, and Ghirardo (Architecture after Modernism)-RO20: This day has been reserved for tours of the Architectural Archive and possibly a presentation on library research. This is critical for the précis section of thecourse.O25: Exam #2: A short identification exam with one essay question.O27: Towards an Institutional History of Architecture O29: Optional Saturday Tour of Oakland Architecture: details TBA Part III: Typologies*Each week will consist of a lecture on the given building type on Tuesday and short student presentations on Thursday, followed by discussion. Each Thursday you will hand in a 2-page précis on a specific example of the week’s building type. A description of these assignments is written below and a longer description will be passed out. At least one of these précis must be informed by material from the Architectural Archives on the second floor of Wurster. Interesting examples of these papers will be put on reserve and past examples may be on reserve, as well. The final exam will draw on your work.N1: The HouseReadings: 1. Spend an hour with Downing 2. On Reserve/Blackboard: TBA: (Professor’s reminder to self: Roth/TheHouse I, Roth/J.F. Harbeson/F.L. Wright; Mumford/The House: II; Banham N3: Presentations on the house*Precis on house due in classN8: Houses of Worship: The Church in America Readings: 1. Sinnott, “The Puritan in His Meetinghouse” and Pugin, Apology; 2. Reserve/Blackboard: Cram, Stanton33. TBAN10: Presentations on sacred spaces*Precis on a house of worship due in classN15: Housing Books: The American LibraryReadings: Breisch (chapters TBA) See Abigail Van Slyck's Free to All, also TBAN17: Presentations on the library*Précis on a library due in classN22: Architectural books: This may take place in the library or the archivesN24: No Class: Thanksgiving BreakN29: Housing Memory: The American MuseumReadings: TBAD2: Presentations on the museum*Précis on a museum due in classD6: ConclusionsD8: No class due to final studio projectsEXAM: Final Exam #3: This covers the typology readings, lectures, and presentations. At least one question will be drawn from the précis. I may opt to make this a take-home exam.COURSE