Undergraduate Course: Structural Design and Construction in Medieval and Renaissance Times (ARHI10024)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh College of Art |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Architecture - History |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The course will survey the relationships between building and structural design, materials and construction through the medieval and renaissance periods. The design process of 'constructive geometry'and its irrationality will be reviewed in relation to the possibility of intuitive judgement; then the eventual adoption of more rational 'rules of thumb', particularly following the collapse of Beauvais Cathedral in 1284. Decisions as to what constituted sufficient structure for stability will be considered, as against the requirements of security or fortification. The qualities and limitations of naturally occuring materials will be introduced and the course will also explore the process of construction itself, particularly where it has a bearing on the structural design.
No more than a very fundamental ability in mathematics is required for this course. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students must have honours entry to History of Art or its combined degrees or honours entry to Music or by agreement of Head of Subject Area. |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
- a thorough knowledge of the design and construction processes of masonry building in the medieval and renaissance periods in Britain and parts of Europe, and an awareness of the conceptual distinction between these and modern techniques.
- an appreciation of the limited rationality of geometric structural design, of the uncertainty of the medieval condition generally, and the possibility of unstable building construction in particular;
- an appreciation of the multiple role of the master mason as architect, engineer and building contractor, and the consequent synthesis of architecture, engineering and construction in medieval times;
- the ability to analyse and discern the original design basis of simple buildings of the medieval and renaissance periods;
- the development and honing of critical intelligence as students work with original source material such as building accounts & contracts, as well as secondary sources, in the formation of original analysis of historical processes.
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Assessment Information
Coursework 50%
Degree Exam 50% 2 hours |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | structure, architecture, engineering, structural design, medieval, renaissance, masonry, constructiv |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Graham Harris
Tel: (0131 6)50 2297
Email: graham.harris@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Claire Davies
Tel: (0131 6)50 2309
Email: c.davies@ed.ac.uk |
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