School of Architecture
ARC 308
Architecture and Society
Instructor:
Lecture Time:
Lecture Place:
Fall 2014
Handout #1
Larry Speck, office GOL 4.142B, office hours TTh 2:00-3:00pm
TTh 12:30 pm-2:00 pm
HRH 2.104
Prerequisites
None. Required course for architecture majors. This course may be used to fulfill the
visual and performing arts component of the university core curriculum and addresses the
following four core objectives established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board: communication skills, critical thinking skills, teamwork and social responsibility.
Educational Objectives
1. To establish a perspective of the role and influence of architecture in society
and vis-a-vis other disciplines in the arts and science.
2. To develop an understanding of how architecture is shaped by and reflects
cultural values and social organization.
3. To present a broad picture of issues and factors which influence architectural
design.
4. To begin an acquaintance with the history and development of architecture.
Educational Approach
This is a reading/looking/listening course. It will follow a fairly conventional lecture
format supplemented by related outside reading. Most presentations will be illustrated by
slides with examples drawn from a broad spectrum of architectural history, with
emphasis on the recent past. This course carries a Global Cultures flag which means it
will increase your familiarity with cultural groups outside the U.S. and how they have
used architecture as a means of forming and expressing their cultural values.
Evaluation
There will be three tests as well as a final exam in the course. Each test will count 15% of
your final grade. The final will also count 15%. Participation in class (in the form of
question responses due most class periods) and in discussion sections will count 20%.
The remaining 20% of your grade will be based on a series of short papers that you will
write through the semester. Tests will involve standard questions as well as essay
questions analyzing buildings on campus or nearby to demonstrate understanding of
material covered in lectures and reading over a five- to seven-week period. The final
exam will deal with comprehensive material covered in the course. Paper assignments
will be dealt with primarily in discussion sections. Students with disabilities may request
accommodations from the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement, Services
for Students with Disabilities, 512-471-6259, http://www.utexas.edu/diversity/ddce/ssd/.
Required Texts
Readings will be assigned from the following three texts:
Rasmussen, Steen Eiler. Experiencing Architecture.
Heschong, Lisa. Thermal Delight in Architecture.
Moore, Charles, et al. The Place of Houses.
Website: www.larryspeck.com
ARC 308–Architecture and Society
Instructor: Larry Speck
Fall 2014
Handout #2
Course Outline
I. Introduction
Aug. 28 - Course Description
Sept. 2 - Architecture and Society–Overview
Sept. 4 - Architectural Values/Philosophy/Principles/Prejudices/Theory
II. Form in Architecture
Sept. 9
Sept. 11
Sept. 16
Sept. 18
Sept. 23
Sept. 25
Sept. 30
-
Oct. 2
Architecture as Sensual/Visual Experience
Architecture as an Intellectual/Artistic Experience
Frank Gehry as Form Maker
Order and Systems in Architecture
Class replaced with Campus tours Sept 20
Numbers/Mathematics/Geometry as Inspiration of Form
Nature/Biology/Organisms as Inspiration of Form
[Reading in Experiencing Architecture to be completed by Sep. 30]
Test #1
III. Physical Considerations in Architecture
Oct. 7
- Buildings and Land
Oct. 9
Geography/Topography/Ecology
Oct. 14 - Structure and Materials
Oct. 16 - Construction/Tectonics
Oct. 21 - Frank Lloyd Wright as Builder
Oct. 23 -Architecture in Response to Climate
[Readings in Thermal Delight in Architecture to be completed by Oct. 23]
Oct. 28 - Test #2
IV. Human Use in Architecture
Oct 30
Nov. 4
Nov 6
Nov. 11
Nov. 13
Nov. 18
Nov. 20
-
The Designation and Organization of Use
Architectural Determinism
Sam Mockabee and Human Use
Humanism at the Personal Scale
Humanism at the Scale of Organizations/Communities/Bureaucracies
Meaning in Public Buildings
Synthesis - Human Use
[Readings in The Place of Houses to be completed by Nov. 20)
Nov. 25 - Test #3
V. Combinations and Synthesis
Dec. 2 - Perfection and Compromise
Dec. 4 - A Few Good Buildings
Final Exam to be scheduled by the University.
ARC 308–Architecture and Society
Instructor: Larry Speck
Fall 2014
Handout #3
Policies and Information
Make-up exams will only be given to students with satisfactory justification for excused
absences.
Excused absences can be justified in one of three ways:
1. Absence due to illness–Student Health Center can document even minor illness quickly
and easily. A note from them is satisfactory for absence due to illness.
2. Absence due to family emergency which requires travel out of town–A note from a
parent or other responsible family member can document such required absence.
3. Absence due to student observance of a religious holiday. Arrangements must be made
in advance with instructor or TA.
ALL REQUESTS FOR MAKE-UP EXAMS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING
WITHIN ONE WEEK OF THE MISSED EXAM ALONG WITH PROPER
DOCUMENTATION.
-A notice regarding academic dishonesty. UT Honor Code (or statement of ethics) and
an explanation or example of what constitutes plagiarism (Link to University Honor
Code: http://catalog.utexas.edu/general-information/theuniversity/#universitycodeofconduct)
-See the following recommendations regarding emergency evacuation from the Office of
Campus Safety and Security, 512-471-5767, http://www.utexas.edu/safety/
-Occupants of buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus are required to
evacuate buildings when a fire alarm is activated. Alarm activation or announcement
requires exiting and assembling outside. Please familiarize yourself with all exit doors
of each classroom and building you may occupy. Remember that the nearest exit door
may not be the one you used when entering the building.
Students requiring
assistance in evacuation shall inform their instructor in writing during the first week of
class.
In the event of an evacuation, follow the instruction of faculty or class
instructors.
Do not re-enter a building unless given instructions by the following:
Austin Fire Department, The University of Texas at Austin Police Department, or Fire
Prevention Services office.
-Behavior Concerns Advice Line (BCAL): 512-232-5050
ARC 308–Architecture and Society Fall 2014
Instructor: Larry Speck
Handout #4
Poll
1. Name _______________________________________
3. Classification_______________________
2. Age ___________
Major ____________________
4. Hometown _____________________________________
5. Father's Occupation ________________
Mother's Occupation ________________
6. Give the name and address of the high school teacher who helped you the most. (Their
school address is fine. Give special weight to any teacher who might have helped you
develop an interest in architecture.)
7. Do you know the names of architects whose work you admire? List as many as you
can.
8. Please list a few of your favorites (if such exist) in each of the following categories:
Books:
Authors:
Artists:
Films:
Musicians:
9. What major cities or regions of the U.S. or of foreign countries have you visited?
10. What do you expect to like the most about studying architecture?
11. What do you expect to dislike most about studying architecture?
ARC 308
Larry Speck
Handout #5
"Architecture and Society"
Primary Examples
Bishop’s Palace, Galveston, Texas, Nicolas John Clayton, 1886-1891
Foam House, Austin, Texas, Charles Harker, 1969 ff.
The Parthenon, Athens, 447-430 B.C.
St. Peter’s, Rome, Bramante, Sangallo, Michelangelo, Della Porta, Maderno, Bernini,
et al., 1505-1626
Library, San Antonio, Texas, Ricardo Legorreta, 1995
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Architectural Values/Philosophy/Principles/Prejudices/Theory"
Primary Examples
Farm, Gut Garkau, Germany, Hugo Haering, 1924-25
Barcelona Pavilion, Mies van der Rohe, 1929
Farnsworth House, Plano, Illinois, Mies van der Rohe, 1945
New State Chancellery, Berlin, Albert Speer, 1937
Handout #6
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Sensual/Visual Form"
Primary Examples
Cathedral, Chartres, France, 1194-1220
Chateau, Vaux-le-Vicomte, France, Le Vau/Le Notre/Le Brun, 1656-61
Taj Mahal, Agra, India, Shah Jahan, 1631-53
Chapel, Ronchamps, France, Le Corbusier, 1950-53
Opera House, Sydney, Australia, Jorn Utzon, 1956-73
Handout #7
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Intellectual and Artistic Experience"
Primary Examples
Villa Rotunda, Vicenza, Italy, Palladio, 1550
Casa Rotunda, Stabio, Switzerland, 1980
Dormitory, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Penn., Louis I. Kahn, 1960
S. Carlo alla Quattro Fontane, Rome, Borromini, 1641
Mother's House, Chestnut Hill, Penn., Robert Venturi, 1964
S. Andrea, Mantua, Italy, Alberti, 1470
Schroeder House, Utrecht, Holland, Gerritt Rietveld, 1924
Centre Pompideau, Paris, Piano and Rogers, 1976
Handout #8
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Systems and Order"
Primary Examples
Austin City Plan, Edwin Waller, 1839
Savannah City Plan, James Oglethorpe, 1733
Central Beheer Offices, Apeldoorn, Holland, Herman Hertzberg, 1974
Sarabhai Residence, Ahmedabad, India, Le Corbusier, 1952
Kimball Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, Louis I. Kahn, 1972
Modern Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, Tadeo Ando, 2002
Handout #9
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Mathematics/Geometry"
Primary Examples
Pyramids, Giza, Egypt, 2650-2500 B.C.
Designs for Chaux, Claude Ledoux, 1804
Library, Stockholm, Sweden, Gunnar Asplund, 1920-1928
Guggenheim Museum, New York, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1956-1959
U.S. Pavilion at Expo, Montreal, Canada, Buckminster Fuller, 1967
Houses, Peter Eisenman, 1967-1969
Zollverein School of Design, Essen, Germany, Kazuyo Sejima, 2006
Exploratorium, Wichita, Kansas, Moshe Safdie, 1999
Handout #10
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Nature/Biology/Organisms"
Primary Examples
Wat Arun and Royal Palace, Bangkok, Thailand
Casa Mila, Barcelona, Spain, Antonio Gaudi, 1906-10
TWA Terminal, Kennedy Airport, New York, Eero Saarinen, 1956-62
"Dipoli" Student Union, Otaniemi, Finland, Reia Pietila, 1966
Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain, Frank Gehry, 1997
Phaeno Science Center, Wolfsburg, German, Zaha Hadid
Handout #11
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Technology as a Source of Beauty"
Primary Examples
Ernsting Warehouse, Coesfeld-Lette, Germany, Santiago Calatrava, 1984
Volantin Footbridge, Bilbao, Spain, Santiago Calatrava, 1991
Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Santiago Calatrava, 2000
Olympic Sports Complex, Athens, Greece, Santiago Calatrava, 2004
ARC 308
Larry Speck
“Synthesis-Form”
Primary Examples
St. Ignatius Chapel, University of Seattle, Steven Holl, 1998
Jewish Museum, Berlin, Daniel Libeskind, 1999
Museum of Contemporary Art of the XXI Century, Kanazawa, Japan, 2004
Handout #12
ARC 308
Larry Speck
Handout #13
“Buildings and Land”
Primary Examples
Monte Alban, Oaxaca, Mexico, 3-7 c.
Acoma, New Mexico, 12-17 c.
Mont St. Michel, France, 12-16 c.
“Falling Water,” Bear Run, Pennsylvania, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1936
Condominiums, Sea Ranch, California, Moore/Lyndon/Turnbull//Whitaker, 1965
Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1938-59
ARC 308
Handout #14
Larry Speck
"Geography/Topography/Ecology"
Primary Examples
Sea Ranch, California, Laurence Halprin, Planner, 1965 ff.
The Woodlands, Texas, Ian McHarg, Planner, 1970 ff.
Hill Towns in Tuscany, Italy
Swim Club, Sea Ranch, MLTW, 1967
ARC 308
Handout #15
Larry Speck
"Structure and Materials"
Primary Examples
The Pantheon, Rome, 120-124 A.D.
Hagia Sophia, Constantinople, 532-37 A.D.
Maisons Jaoul, Neuilly, France, Le Corbusier, 1952-56
Colosseum, Rome, 80 A.D.
Pont du Gard, Nimes, France, 14 A.D.
Ames Gate Lodge, North Easton, Mass., H. H. Richardson, 1880
Morse and Stiles Hall, Yale University, New Haven, Conn., Eero Saarinen, 1958-62
Capital Buildings, Dacca, Bangladesh, Louis Kahn, 1962-74
Strimling House, Weston, Mass., Maurice Smith, 1968
Lake Shore Drive Apartments, Chicago, Mies van der Rohe, 1948-51
Deere and Co. Headquarters, Moline, Ill., Eero Saarinen, 1957-63
ARC 308
Larry Speck
Handout #16
"Construction/Tectonics"
Primary Examples
Cathedral, Amiens, France, 1220-1288
S. Maria della Fiore, Florence, Italy, Arnolfo di Cambio and Filippo Brunelleschi,
1296-1462
Sydney Opera House, Jorn Utzon, 1957-73
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Architecture in Response to Climate"
Primary Examples
Cameron Offices, Belconnen, A.C.T., Australia, John Andrews, 1972
Tenneco Building, Houston, S.O.M., 1963
Secretariat Building, Chandigarh, India, Le Corbusier, 1958
Palace of Justice, Chandigarh, India, Le Corbusier, 1958
Assembly Building, Chandigarh, India, Le Corbusier, 1958
Handout #17
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Synthesis–Physical Considerations"
Primary Examples
Dominus Winery, Napa Valley, California, Herzog and de Meuron, 1998
Simpson-Lee House, Mount Wilson, Australia, Glenn Murcutt, 1994
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Designation and Organization of Use"
Primary Examples
Stoughton House, Cambridge, Massachusetts, H. H. Richardson, 1882-83
Glessner House, Chicago, Illinois, H. H. Richardson, 1885-86
History Faculty, Cambridge, England, James Stirling, 1964-68
Exeter Library, Exeter, N.H., Louis Kahn, 1972
Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, India, Louis Kahn, 1962-78
Handout #18
ARC 308
Larry Speck
Handout #19
"Architectural Determinism"
Primary Examples
Baker House Dormitory, M.I.T., Cambridge, Massachusetts, Alvar Aalto, 1949
Undergraduate Dormitory, M.I.T., Cambridge, Massachusetts, Jose Luis Sert, 1975
La Tourette Monastery, Lyon, France, Le Corbusier, 1956-60
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Humanism at a Personal Scale"
Primary Examples
Paimio Sanatorium, Paimio, Finland, Alvar Aalto, 1929-33
Library, Viipuri, Finland (now Russia), Alvar Aalto, 1930-35
Resurrection Chapel, Turku, Finland, Erik Bryggman, 1941
Handout #20
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Humanism at the Scale of Neighborhoods/Communities/Bureaucracies"
Primary Examples
Kresge College, University of Santa Cruz, California, Charles Moore, 1973
Tapiola New Town, Finland, 1955-65
Byker, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, Ralph Erskine, et al., 1968 ff.
San Antonio Riverwalk
Crown Fountain, Millennium Park, Chicago, 2005
Handout #21
ARC 308
Larry Speck
Handout #22
"Meaning in Public Buildings"
Primary Examples
Hindu Temples, Khajuraho, India, 930-1050 A.D.
The Pantheon, Rome, 120 A.D.
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Thomas Jefferson, 1817-25
Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy, 1309-1424
Campidoglio, Rome, Michelangelo, 1560
Town Hall, Stockholm, Sweden, Ragnar Otsberg, 1923
City Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, Kallman, McKinnell and Knowles, 1968
St. Mary’s Church, San Francisco, Pier Luigi Nervi and Pietro Belluschi, 1972
LBJ Library and Museum, Austin, Texas, SOM, 1972
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Synthesis – Human Use"
Primary Examples
Austin Bergstrom International Airport, 1999
Idea Store, London, David Adjae, 2005
Stata Center, M.I.T., Cambridge, Massachusetts, Frank Gehry, 2003
Handout #23
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"Perfection and Compromise"
Primary Examples
John Hancock Building, Boston, Massachusetts, I. M. Pei, 1975
Ayub Hospital, Dacca Bangladesh, Louis Kahn, 1962 ff.
Housing at La Defense, France, Emile Allard, 1977
History Faculty, Cambridge, England, James Stirling, 1964-68
Medical Faculty, University of Louvain, Brussels, Lucien Kroll, 1979
Kresge Auditorium, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Eero Saarinen, 1955
Centre Pompideau, Paris, Piano and Rogers, 1977
Handout #24
ARC 308
Larry Speck
"A Few Good Buildings"
Primary Examples
deYoung Museum, San Francisco, Herzog and deMeuron, 2005
Thermal Baths, Vals, Switzerland, Peter Zumpthor, 1996
Handout #25