SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING & DESIGN

Centre for Modern Architecture Studies in Southeast Asia

Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Architecture)

ARCHITECTURE CULTURE & HISTORY 2 [ ARC 60203]

Prerequisite: Architecture Culture & History 1
Project: Precedent Studies (50%)
Part A (Group): Presentation Board (20%)
Part B (Individual): Analytical Essay (30%)
Submission Date: 22/4/2015 (Week 5)
Introduction
The evolution of Architecture was very rapid and revolutionary during the Modern Masters period as compared to other periods.
Throughout the lectures, you will examine the principles, ideas and contributing factors that shaped Modern architecture. The project gives
the students the opportunity to work with a group of peers to investigate the Architecture of Modern Masters. The project is designed to
increase students ability to analyse visual evidence with specific reference to Modern Masters as precedent studies.
Learning Outcomes
1.
Increase understanding on the principle, ideas and contributing factors of the architecture of Modern Masters
2.
Ability to analyse and identify specific architectural features in terms of space planning, technology, details, form and the
aesthetics of the architecture of Modern Masters
3.
Learn how to create understanding in your audience visually by composing factual information and descriptive sketches on a
presentation board
PART A (GROUP):
Presentation Board (60%)
Tasks
Students are to form a group of 5 students. Each group will select ONE building from the given list and conduct architectural analysis on
the selected building. There will be a maximum of 3 groups for each building. The buildings are:

1.

Norton House

2.

Gehry Residence

3.

Barcelona Pavilion

4.

Villa Tugendhat

5.

Farnsworth House

6.

Villa Mairea

Alvar Aalto

7.

Falling Water

Frank Lloyd Wright

8.

Freeman House

9.

Robie House

Architecture Culture & History 2

Frank Gehry
Mies Van Der Rohe

Project: Precedent Studies

10.

Architecture Culture & History 2

Kaufman House

Project: Precedent Studies

Le Corbusier

11.

Curutchet House

12.

Maison Jaoul

13.

Villa Savoye

14.

Villa Stein de Monzie

15.

Steiner House

16.

Rufer House

17.

Villa Muller

18.

Scheu House

19.

Vanna Venturi House

Robert Venturi

20.

Kidosaki House

Tadao Ando

21.

Koshino House

22.

Benesse House

23.

Azuma House

24.

Gropius House

25.

The Allan

26.

W Frank House

Adolf Loos

Walter Gropius

The board should be composed to include the following information:

1)

2)

General Information
Fast facts of the building
building name, location, architect, size, function etc
The Architect / Design Ideas / Concept / Dictum
Building Inventory

The group component is focusing on answering the what questions of the assigned building. The inventory should cover the themes
listed below namely:
Spatial Organization (what is the plan like; it is open, compact or divided?)
Structure, Materials & Construction (what are the new methods and materials used in the building?)
Components (What are the types of windows, roof or other elements used in the building?)
Massing / Form (What does it look like? Is it heavy and massive as in Gothic churches?)
The external faade (What does faade look like. Does it have ornamentations on the facade?)
You can present the information using sketches of plan, elevation, section, detail construction, and include short annotations (not essay).
Photos may be added if necessary.

Architecture Culture & History 2

Project: Precedent Studies

Submission format
Final Group Submission is an A2 Board (Landscape). Clearly write down the names and matric number of all members on the board.

Sketches, short annotations and photos as

required

Assessment criteria

The contents of building inventory

The effectiveness of sketches and annotations
Board composition

Please refer to rubric assessment provided

Architecture Culture & History 2

Project: Precedent Studies

PART B (INDIVIDUAL):
Analytical Essay (30%)
The individual component analysis is about answering the why questions to further understand the underlying concepts and philosophy of
the Modern Masters by using the physical evidence gained from group analysis. In the Analytical Essay, students will be required to write a
comparison analytical essay of their chosen Modern Master with another Modern Master (eg. Adolf Loos planning with Le Corbusiers
floor planning) and elaborate on that single theme (For e.g. If you choose the theme faade, write on why the architect designed the
faade that way. Does the faade in the assigned building reflect the architects philosophy and how does it differ or is similar to the other
architects philosophy?)
Submission format
1500 word essay, portrait format, double spacing, Arial font, containing:

Introduction-The Architects building, dictum and the chosen theme

Body-The main analysis on the chosen themes
Conclusion-Does the chosen themes in physical building embody the architects philosophy
APA referencing
List of references

Although this is individual component, the essays of each member are to be compiled in A4 booklet before submission and must not be
submitted separately for easier reference in the future.

Assessment criteria
Architectural analysis
Grammar & coherence

Please refer to rubric assessment provided

Timeline and Schedule

Week 1
25/3/2015
Week 2
1/4/2015
Week 3
8/4/2015
Week 4
15/4/2015
Architecture Culture & History 2

Group

Individual

Research & discussion

--

Sketches

Draft essay

Layout design

Refined essay

Completed board

Compiled essay
Project: Precedent Studies

Architecture Culture & History 2

Project: Precedent Studies