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History of Art and Architecture V: Caractère (Character)
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:36:01
Abstract
This course is a reading class in which the architectural category of "caractère" or character, stemming from the 18th century but of great relevance until today, will be examined by a close reading of several key texts.
Objective
Deepen basic knowledge, improve ability to critically analyze texts of architectural theory, and understand shifts in architectural thinking.
Content
"Caractère" or character is not only a quality applied to human beings. It is also a category of architectural discourse, developed in the 18th century when architects and theorists were seeking new ways to talk about and judge buildings, pushing architectural discourse beyond Vitruvian categories to which it had been tied for centuries before. This reading class will closely examine key texts that discuss the phenomenon of a building's "character" from the 1700s up until today. One text a week will be read at home and then discussed in class. Independent reading and vivid participation in class are a fundamental prerequisite. The course will combine various teaching methods ranging from playful hands-on methods via close reading to formats involving digital tools and communication.
Resources
Learning Materials (Links)
- Main link
- Information
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- MSC
- Frequency
- Semesterly recurring
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture |
History of Art and Architecture V: Caractère (Character)
No course on 23.10. (seminar week) and 11th and 18th December 2020 (before final critics).
The course is full. Please do not enroll after 4.9.2020. Thank you.
|
|
1 h weekly |