Case Studies Construction History and Building Preservation

Abstract

Acquiring in-depth knowledge of construction history and building archeology by means of detailed study of selected historic monuments. The course will start with a multi-part classroom introduction, followed by field studies in small groups.

Objective

The participants will gain in-depth knowledge on the methodology of building archeology by means of the documentation and interpretation of real historic structures in on-site studies. These field studies will be embedded into a framework by accompanying archival and literature studies, leading to a training of the associated methods of analysis of historic written sources.

Content

We study historic constructions in German-speaking Switzerland (individual small groups, objects within 2 hrs public transport reach from ETH Hoenggerberg). Each group will be assigned an individual tutor (PhD student) who will be present on-site, on individual appointment. We will survey, document and analyze a historic construction, with particular attention to production traces, constructive detail and laod-carrying system. We will start with introductory classroom lectures and on-site teaching during the first third of the semester. This will be followed by individual investigations on site. Each group will be tutored as follows: 1) one on-site tutoring (several hours, individual groups) 2) tutoring at the institute, in small groups The final result has to be submitted before the final phase of the semester (drawings and written report). Due to the Covid situation, we will no longer organize a "final review" (normal operation may be resumed in autumn 2021)

Resources