History and Theory of Architecture II

The course explores European architecture of the period ca. 1500 - 1850 to discuss different answers that have been given over time to the following questions:

• What is good architecture?
• How is it designed?
• How does it respond to the needs of society?
• Why is it important?

We discuss these questions from the point of view of architects or writers who speak on behalf of architects. We also pay attention to their cultural, political, and religious contexts, as these help us to understand their position.

We also look at what society expects from architecture, how it uses architecture, and how architecture responds to these expectations. In so doing, the course aims to give an overview of 'answers' that have been important in the history of Europe ca. 1500 - 1850 - to make clear that each of these answers is relative to a moment and to specific conditions, so as to foster a critical attitude towards any absolute claim about architecture.