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History of Art and Architecture: 120 Years of World Exhibitions: The Global Architecture Race
Kunst- und Architekturgeschichte: 120 Jahre Weltausstellungen. Der globale Wettlauf der Architektur
Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:30:00
Abstract
120 years of world exhibitions: the global architecture race
Content
The first World Exhibition was held in London in 1851, as a national industrial exhibition and platform for industrialization. The latest technological achievements were presented to an international public in the spectacular iron and glass architecture of the Crystal Palace, designed by Joseph Paxton. During the following 120 years, the idea of the World Exhibition as a vision for the future that also provided a forum for effective advertising made triumphant progress all round the world. Technological innovations ranging from the telephone to the atomic clock were presented in Paris (1889, 1937), Chicago (1893), San Francisco (1915), Barcelona (1929), Brussels (1958), and Montreal (1967). The World Exhibitions represent a collage made up of industry, product design and architecture. Evidence of this is provided by the ambitious architecture of the exhibition buildings, ranging from the Eiffel Tower and Galerie des Machines in Paris to Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion and the Atomium in Brussels.
General Information
- Language
- German
- Levels
- BSC , DS , MSC
- Frequency
- Yearly recurring
Examination
- Type
- ungraded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| lecture with exercise | Kunst- und Architekturgeschichte: 120 Jahre Weltausstellungen. Der globale Wettlauf der Architektur |
|
2 h weekly |