Modern vs. American: Rethinking the Architectural Relationship

3 units

What is American about American architecture? Architects, historians, and theorists have asked this question throughout our nation's history, but it gains renewed importance in this age of globalization. Can we, should we, continue to apply national labels to our architecture? This seminar will examine the architectural culture of the United States in the twentieth century, with special attention to the relationship between national identity and the internationalizing forces of modernity, particularly European modernism. Through analysis of theoretical writings, developments in education and practice, and key projects like the Chicago Tribune Tower Competition, the Illinois Institute of Technology, and U.S. embassies around the world, students will gain insight into the dynamic between the local and the global in the design of the built environment. Course requirements include in-class presentations, field trips, and a substantial research paper. Fulfills History/Theory elective requirement.