History of Urbanism III

Abstract

The lecture covers the time from late 19th century until the inter war period. With selected examples of American and European cities it emphasizes on the historical plannings and methods. Each specific urban development will be presented within a broader context.

Objective

This course analyzes the history of urban architecture primarily in its existing three dimensional form as a complex human artefact. It also explores the inspirations that prompted the creation of this artefact: philosophical and religious concepts, social conditions, property relationships and the mechanisms that exploit the economics of real estate and the influence of building technology. Intellectual, literary or artistic modes of thought will also be assessed with regard to their impact on urban development. Urbanism has its own distinctive approach as a discipline, but it is also clearly responsive to the influence of related disciplines. Study is made of actual cities and urban expansion plans which are in the process of implementation, as well as unrealized projects and visions of the future. These projects sometimes illustrate ways of thinking that are equal to, or clearer than, actual urban situations.

Content

The lecture of the winter term includes the developments of the late 19th century in America and Europe until the inter war period. 01. civilized wilderness: from Frederick Law Olmsteds park movement to the frenzy of freeways in Robert Moses' New York 02. City Beautiful: The American city between democratic emotiveness and commercial speculation 1898-1909 03. urban development of the Beaux-Arts, moderne classical period and a socialistic skyscraper: The Cité Industrielle of Tony Garnier and the Gratte-Ciel in Villeurbanne 04. Antagonists in the shadow of the ‚Ringstrasse': The artistic urban development of Camillo Sitte, the ‚infinite city' of Otto Wagner and the ‚retrogressive utopia' of Adolf Loos. 05. ‚Impressionistic' city architecture: Hendrik Petrus Berlage and the School of Amsterdam 06. Ideas of the city in the radical avantgarde movement: futurism in Italy and constructivism in the Soviet Union after the October Revolution 07. ‚walkinglines' of pedestrians and ‚movinglines' of the traffic: The modernization of the City of Berlin 08. The ‚Lebensreform' movement, the ‚crown of the city' and the housing schemes of the ‚Neue Sachlichkeit' 09. Satellite town versus ‚Superblock': New Frankfurt and Red Vienna 10. Le Corbusier: Visions and demolition in the name of the ‚autorité' 11. Italy during fascism: ‚sventramenti' and ‚città di fondazione' between the enthusiasm of modernization and the mania of representation

Resources