Carlo Scarpa and Contemporary Architecture: Comparative Critical Analyses of Built Form

3 units

A seminar course examining the works of Carlo Scarpa (1906-1978), one of the most important second generation modern architects, whose works, though designed for the unique context of the Veneto region of Italy, nevertheless continue to exercise considerable influence on contemporary architecture around the world. Student teams will present analyses of a total of ten of Carlo Scarpa's built works, as well as analyzing the relation to Scarpa's works that can be found in the works of ten contemporary practices: Tod Williams + Billie Tsien, Steven Holl, Richard Murphy, Bridget Shim + Howard Sutcliffe, John Tuomey + Sheila O'Donnell, Shin Takamatsu, John and Patricia Patkau, Kathryn Dean/Dean-Wolf, Sverre Fehn and Tom Kundig/Olson-Kundig. Analytical methods employed in the student presentations in the course will cover the full range of contextual, cultural, material, constructive, and experiential attributes of buildings, with particular emphasis on the manner in which the spaces of a building are ordered by the patterns of occupation and the poetics of use, as well as the poetics of construction, or the way in which a building is built, and of what materials it is made, and how all these combine to construct the experience of those who inhabit it. Following introductory lectures by the professor, and introduction of the analytical methods and graphic standards, each of the subsequent ten class meetings will consist of two student-team presentations of architectural analyses, one building by Carlo Scarpa and selected buildings from a contemporary practice. Each team of two students will make two presentations, one in the first half of the semester, and one in the second half of the semester. Readings from the textbook and other sources will be assigned, to be discussed during each class. Individual research papers, as well as hardcopy and CD's of the two in-class presentations will be due at the end of the semester. Fulfills Master of Architecture History and Theory Case Study Elective Distribution requirement.