The course aims at the application of historical methods and critical theories to the study of the history of architecture and the decorative arts in the Western World from the beginning of the Contemporary Age (mid -18th century) to the present.

Students will acquire a basic understanding of the technological, social, political, cultural and economic factors involved in the production of the built environment, and a broad grasp of some of the major structures in contemporary architectural history.

Familiarity with the historical, political and social events happened in the Western World (Europe and the United States) in the period comprised between 18th and 20th centuries is required.

The lectures will approach architecture and the built environment as critical features located in a broad social and cultural context, illuminating the changing meaning of architecture for the people who commission, design, build, use, preserve, and demolish buildings.

The course will be organized through a series of lectures. Visits and short tours to architectural sites in Turin and its surroundings will be also organized. Students will be

1. John Summerson, The Classical Language of Architecture, London – New York: Thames & Hudson, 1996
2. Barry Bergdoll, European Architecture 1750-1890, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000
3. Kenneth Frampton, Modern architecture. A critical history, London – New York: Thames & Hudson, 2007
4. Pdf documents with the text and images of the lectures will be uploaded on the course blog https://hca1516.wordpress.com, as well as on the course portal the day after each lecture

Important course rule: questions and doubts should be asked and raised in the course of the lecture, rather than after, before the beginning or in the break time
The examination will be based on the written discussion of the subjects illustrated during the course
The dates of the two written examinations will be communicated during the first week of the course
The final score will be calculated as the average of the scores of the two examinations