COURSE SYLLABUS: HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE I

Location: Heredia, Costa Rica

Partner Institution: Latin University of Costa Rica (Universidad Latina de Costa Rica)

Course Title (English):  History of Architecture I

Course Title (Spanish): Historia de la Arquitectura I

Sessions Offered: Semester

Instructional in: Spanish

Classroom Contact Hours: 45

College Credit (Semester Credit Hours): 3 credit hours

College Credit (Quarter Units): 4 quarter units

Prerequisites: Advanced Spanish I

Course Code: HT305        

Course Description

Historical processes in architectural expressions, observing the interaction between man and his environment; prehistory; Middle Eastern cultures; pre-Hispanic cultures.  

Course Objectives

1. Learn about the historical processes in architectural expressions, observing the interaction between man and his environment.
2. Analyze different prehistoric cultures in the Middle East and in Mesoamerica, evaluating how the cultures modified spaces and observing the socio-cultural, religious and technical influences.
3. Learn about the first architectural expressions in the prehistoric period, observing their special characteristics and methods of construction.
4. Learn about different architectural constructions in the ancient Middle East, and understand its development and relationship with different cultural and religious customs.
5. Explore the development of different types of architecture in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican cultures, from prehistory to the fall of the Aztec empire.
6. Establish a relationship between how Mesoamerican cultures and the Middle East managed space.

Course Content

1. Prehistory. Observe the first architectural expressions. Knowledge about the religious and social factors that contributed to primitive architecture. Knowledge about construction techniques employed. Prehistory. Introduction. Prehistory. Paleolithic. Neolithic.
2. Middle Eastern cultures. Observe the architectural expressions of different Middle Eastern cultures.  Knowledge of the religious and social factors that contributed to the different expressions in each culture. Observe the construction techniques used in each type of architecture. Middle Eastern cultures. Egyptians (Semites and Hamitic). Assyria, the Akkadian Empire, the Guti and Sumers.  Hittites, Kassites or Hurrians, Mitannis and Lydians. Phoenicians. Canaanites and Hebrews. Aryans (Middle and Persian). Indians.
3. Pre-Hispanic cultures. Learn about the first pre-Hispanic architectural expressions in Mesoamerica and its evolution and interpretation by different cultures in the area. An understanding of the religious, social and technical-construction factors that effected these different expressions. Pre-Hispanic cultures. First expressions. Olmecas. Preclassic. Teotihuacan. Toltecs. Mayans. Zapotecs. Aztecs. Mesoamerica and Pre-Colombian cultures in Costa Rica and Central America.

Course Methodology

Participative classes where respect and rigor are both essential elements for the educational relationship between the students and teacher, a consciousness of the complexity of creating spaces, architecture and unban areas, which can be marked by different contexts.  Foster community development and solidarity, overall quality and cultural identity in the processes of thought and reflection about academic activities, with a vision towards the future.  Integral training with processes that generate thought and knowledge.

The professor will be responsible for communicating the methods for studying and analyzing spatial, architectural and urban design and the essential "savoir faire" to make the most out of the course.

Learning Outcomes

The teaching-learning system will be the foundation for training and educating students, with an emphasis on learning through discovery and a constructivist vision of teaching.  Providing the student with objective and scientific feedback and evaluation, both individually and as a group, through research, presentations and lectures. When appropriate there will be guided visits and trips for study and analysis.

Educational Resources

• Photocopies, notes and texts selected by the teacher.
• Audiovisual equipment: Projector and screen, television and DVD.
• Computer lab with printers, scanners, plotters and data show.
• Basic software: Office (Word, PowerPoint, Ecxel), AutoCad 14, CorelDraw, PhotoShow, Paint, Internet.
• Individual drawing tables and a table for group work (student - student, students - teacher).
• White board and equipment necessary for its use (colored pens, eraser, rulers and set squares).
• Panels for presenting work.
• Library.

Course Evaluation

Rules, Conduct, Guidelines, Special Recommendations

Classes start on time.  Arriving more than 10 minutes late is equivalent to being tardy.  Three tardies equal one absence.  Students who arrive more than 30 minutes late are marked absent. A student who accumulates three (3) or more absences fails the course.

All assignments must be handed in on the due date.

Exams must be taken on the assigned date and will only be made up in case of documented emergencies.  If an emergency occurs, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate with the professor and make arrangements.

There is a 17,000 colon charge for make-up tests/activities which require the professor´s presence.

The University provides, upon request, appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. Any student with a documented disability (physical or cognitive) who requires academic accommodations should contact the Academic Coordinator as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations. Approved accommodations will not change the basic elements of the course/class.

Bibliography (Text and Materials)

• Sigfried, Giedon.  “Architecture and the Phenomena of Transition.” New York, USA: Gustavo Gili, 1975.
• Sigfried, Giedon.  “Espacio, Tiempo y Arquitectura” (Space, Time and Architecture). Bogotá, Colombia: Editorial Norma, 1993.
• Marquina, Ignacio.  “Arquitectura Prehispánica” (Pre-Hispanic Architecture). Barcelona, España: Editorial INHA (SEP), 1992.
• Gendrop, Paul.  “Arte Prehispánico en Mesoamérica” (Pre-Hispanic Art in Mesoamerica). México, D.F.: Editorial Trillas, 1995.
• Ferrero, Luis.  “Costa Rica Precolombina” (Pre-Colombian Costa Rica). San José, C.R.: Editorial Costa Rica, 1990.
• Kostof, Spiro.  “Historia de la Arquitectura I” (The History of Architecture I). Buenos Aires, Argentina: Alianza Forma, 1985.
• Kostof, Spiro.  “Historia de la Arquitectura II” (The History of Architecture II). Buenos Aires, Argentina: Alianza Forma, 1985.
• Kostof, Spiro.  “Historia de la Arquitectura III” (The History of Architecture III). Buenos Aires, Argentina: Alianza Forma, 1985.
• González Chávez, Alfredo;  González Vázquez, Fernando.  “La Casa Cósmica Talamanqueña y sus Simbolismos” (The Cosmic House, Talamanca and its Symbolism). San José, C.R.: Editoriales UNED and Universidad de Costa Rica, 1994.
• Gamboa, Héctor;  Stone, Doris.  “Publicaciones del Museo Nacional” (Publications by the National Museum). San José, C.R.: Editorial de la Universidad de Costa Rica.

Contact Information:

SOL EDUCATION ABROAD

EMAIL: info@soleducation.com

WEB: www.soleducation.com

PHONE: 512.380.1003

FAX: 512.287.4886

MAIL: 503 Oakland Ave. Austin, TX 78703

(Translation of the syllabus from the Universidad Latina, Heredia)