The course aims to provide advanced critical tools to read and contextualize the built environments of the past and at the same time grasp the historical roots of many contemporary phenomena. The course identifies the 'long' modernity, between the mid-eighteenth and twentieth centuries, as a field of investigation. In the first place, the aim is to understand the complexity of the processes, the identities of the different actors and the multiplicity of technological, economic, social, political reasons which, between the eighteenth and twentieth centuries, produced architecture and cities. Secondly, the focus is on enriching the lexicon that allows the understanding and interpretation of architectural and urban phenomena in the long term. Thirdly, the aim is to build a specific skill in reading architecture, both as a figurative and cultural phenomenon. The course may have a monographic character and will be in any case characterized by a focus on the development of specific skills, such as documentary and bibliographic research, critical analysis of sources, and discussion of alternative interpretations, leading to the construction of complex arguments concerning the reading of architectural phenomena in their temporal dimension.

The course is based on two kinds of cognitive structures. The first, 'factual', focuses on architectural and urban episodes capable of exemplifying crucial problems and notions in the history of the built environment. The second, 'critical', analyzes and compares the different interpretations that have been produced on these facts over time and through a variety of social actors involved in the production and reception of the built environment. Students will learn to distinguish between these two levels: architectural and urban facts, and their historical and / or critical reception, along a wide temporal spectrum and through a plurality of voices. In deepening the study, students will also be asked to apply the notions of historical method they have acquired, and to interpret a plurality of materials and sources from the history of architecture and the city. Thus, at the end of the course, students will have to be able to demonstrate different intellectual qualities: the knowledge of architectural and urban facts, but also the ability to be able to distinguish the various interpretations, and, finally, the ability in producing other, new and original, historical insights.

A basic historical culture and a good familiarity with written English are required to take the course. Furthermore, the knowledge and skills learned in the architectural history courses of the bachelor degree, both contemporary and modern,ar given for granted, as well as the competences stemming from other bachelor courses dealing with history and critical reading: such as " Theory, history and technique of restoration” or the multidisciplinary design ateliers. A good passive knowledge (reading) of Italian, French or another European language (Spanish, German) is certainly welcome and can be put to use, but it is not a requirement.

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Libro di testo;

Modalità di esame: Prova orale obbligatoria; Elaborato grafico individuale; Elaborato scritto individuale;

Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Individual graphic design project; Individual essay;

... The final grade will be based upon an evaluation of: 1. An oral exam on Part 1 (30%). This will consist of a discussion of the required readings from Adrian Forty's book (see above). Students will typically be asked to present and discuss some of the keywords presented during the course. 3. An oral exam on Part 2 (30%). This will consist of a discussion of the books selected for this part of the course. Students will typically be asked to present and critically discuss the themes and issues emerging from these research works and the intellectual agenda behind them. 3. The written paper (30%). The paper will have to be submitted two weeks before the exam session that the student(s) wishes to attend. The evaluation of the paper will focus on its originality, the precision of bibliographic research, the clarity of its organization, and the quality of the critical discussion provided by the author(s). 4. An evaluation of the student’s overall participation in the activities and discussions carried out during the course (10%). The paper is optional and can be replaced with additional readings for the oral exam. Additional details will be provided at the beginning of the course and published on the Teaching Portal. The evaluation will assess: a) the capacity of the students to report historical facts with accuracy and precision; b) the capacity of the students to forge connections between the various elements of information acquired during the course and to critically discuss the historical problems raised by the bibliography; c) the capacity of each student to clearly express herself/himself through oral presentations and writing.

Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.