Art and Architecture (ARTH-GA)

These courses use a range of readings and visits to buildings and places of interest to show the great variety of discourses within which historic buildings can be placed. Coursework assignments range from the historic works of Wordsworth, Ruskin and Morris to current government reports and guidance documents on the historic environment. Trips highlight the adaptive reuse of historic buildings; relationships to landscapes; and technical aspects of conservation work.

The second half of this course continues the same approach used in the first, balancing readings against case studies and visits, with a focus on the role of memory in preserving historic buildings and the relationship between modernism and “heritage.”

This course offers an overview of aspects of the setting, presentation, and continuity of buildings. Presented in four sections, the instruction will leave the class able to navigate in four fields: town squares and gardens, the structure of older buildings, architectural representations and historic interiors.

This course presents the economics of development in regard to the adaptive reuse of old buildings, for those considering a career in the built environment. Using case studies in London and the U.K., the course will equip participants with some of the tools and concepts needed to enter the development world. The course first deals with how cities grow; then considers the different demands in cities; cost and finance questions; and development models. Readings bring together experience in both the UK and North America

This course outlines methods of environmental assessment for buildings, in relation to sustainability concepts and the impact of buildings on the environment. It examines the application of these tests including the context of existing buildings and the scope for action in this field, referencing the balance of sustainable and non-sustainable characteristics of historic buildings.

Independent Study encourages exposure to the wide range of lectures, discussions, conferences, exhibitions, special events, visits and tours taking place in and around London. Students attend and reflect on events held by national amenity societies, heritage organizations, historical societies, official bodies, professional institutions, educational establishments and museums and galleries.

This course focuses on both the policy and practice of adaptive reuse. Through the study of individual case studies, students study the solutions implemented by clients, developers, and designers. Coursework focuses on the roles of government agencies and advocacy groups, as well as technical issues, including communication through visual media, aspects related of conservation and reuse, and contractual arrangements and problem solving. Most meeting take place off site, in London and surrounding communities.

This class considers conservation of heritage assets from the viewpoint of the practitioner. Students will gain a basic understanding of London’s architectural history, as well insights into the work of amenity societies, heritage public bodies and charitable organizations that conserve historic buildings today. The class will be taught through a combination of lectures, guest presentations, and field trips to historic properties, both within London and by day-trip. Students learn how to analyze and describe historic assets and how to assess their significance, as well as the technical implications of new uses for historic buildings within their historical contexts.

Students engage in independent research, using resources in London and New York to produce an original thesis. This may take the form of a paper or report with supporting documentation, images and notes. Research may consist of archival investigation and/or fieldwork, including personal interviews, site reports, and condition assessments. Students will be assigned a thesis advisor, with whom they will meet on alternative weeks throughout the spring semester.

Independent study consists of an investigation, under the guidance and supervision of a designated instructor, of a research topic agreed upon by the student and instructor. Independent studies culminate in the submission of a research paper documenting and analyzing the issues and topics under investigation. Students submit essays of approximately 3000 words for a 2 credit independent study, or 6000 words for a 4 credit project.