“We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us” (Winston Churchill, 1943)

Architecture is the one art form that is inescapable as it provides the environment for our daily lives. We will explore how architecture affects us, as well as how it informs us about past societies.  What does it tell us about the priorities and values of the cultures we are examining? In what ways does architecture shape human experiences; how does it enhance or detract from human activities? These are among the questions that will be asked from both historical and contemporary perspectives. This course will cover material from the pre-historic period through c. 1420 largely in Europe with some examples from Asia, Africa and the Americas. We will analyze monuments such as the Colosseum, the Great Stupa at Sanchi and Teotihuacan. Classes will be a combination of lectures and in-class activities as you learn the fundamentals of architectural history as well as how to analyze buildings.

This course is required for all entering undergraduates in the School of Architecture and fulfills the fine arts requirement for students in the College of Arts & Sciences.  It is open to any student interested in learning how to understand and analyze the built environment.