THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2023/2024

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Edinburgh College of Art : Architecture - History

Undergraduate Course: Architecture in Scotland before 1650 (ARHI10038)

Course Outline
SchoolEdinburgh College of Art CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryA systematic survey of the development of Scottish architecture from the 11th Century to mid 17th century. There is strong focus on the social and political context and the development of the castellated tradition and its transformation to domestic and civic forms. We will examine buildings, styles and designing, vernacular buildings and designed landscapes.
Course description There will be a strong emphasis on archival skills and interpretation and the way that different historiographies impact on our understanding. Part of the course will look at film, and TV productions such as Outlander, and consider how and why Scotland's landscape and architectural heritage are represented in particular ways and how these representations might be improved.

Students will be encouraged in seminars and site visits to participate in consultation and discussion. Site visits will offer a uniquely immediate experience of buildings, cityscapes and landscapes and their visual and physical impact on the reading of places. The historiographical aspect will develop an authentic spirit of enquiry that transcends biases and received opinions, and the course offers a model for students to examine their own, though different, national heritages. The methodologies and analytical skills taught are transferable to other contexts and so the course will appeal to a diverse and inclusive community of oversees and home students.

At some point during the semester each student will have the opportunity to give one 20-minute tutorial presentation. These presentations are optional.

The course content will include pre-mediaeval and vernacular buildings, the Mediaeval styles, including ecclesiastical and castellated architecture and the Introduction of Renaissance forms and types including the Royal Palaces. For the early 17th Century we will study Scottish Classicism.
The course will also examine historiographical issues, interiors and furnishings, and designed landscapes.

The course will be delivered twice weekly. This is in the form of a series of 10 lectures-seminars each of 2 hours duration, totalling 40 hours of teaching over 10 weeks. Some seminars will be set aside for the optional, unassessed PowerPoint presentations
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed ( Architectural History 1A: Introduction to World Architecture (ARHI08009) AND Architectural History 1B: Revivalism to Modernism (ARHI08004)) AND Urbanism and the City: Past to Present (ARHI08010)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Students should normally have passed at least 60 credits of Architectural History or History of Art/History courses at Level 8. If the pre-requisites cannot be met, entry to this course can be negotiated in consultation with either the Course Organiser or Programme Director (Architectural History).
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students should have at least 3 History of Art/Architectural History courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.
** as numbers are limited, visiting students should contact the Visiting Student Office directly for admission to this course **
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2023/24, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  17
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10, Formative Assessment Hours 2, Summative Assessment Hours 3, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 161 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 50 %, Coursework 50 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) The course comprises 2 assessment components:

1. Essay (2,000 words) 50%, due weeks 9-10.
2. Exam (2 hours duration) 50%, due in examination period.

Both components are assessed against all Learning Outcomes.
Feedback Formative Feedback
A 200-word essay plan and bibliography to be submitted any time up to week 7 of the semester. Written and verbal feedback will be given in a one-to-one tutorial with the CO.

Summative Feedback
Essay: Grade and written feedback will be given via Learn.

All feedback will be given as per University regulations.

Exam: No formal feedback except the grade.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May)2:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)2:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the ways in which architecture in Scotland before 1660 developed, including techniques of inquiry and research methodologies.
  2. Undertake critical analyses, evaluation and synthesis of ideas, concepts, information and issues affecting interpretation of architecture in Scotland before 1660.
  3. Communicate knowledge and thinking about architecture in Scotland before 1660 using verbal and visual media.
Reading List
Fawcett, R. (2011) The Architecture of the Scottish Medieval Church, 1100-1560. New Haven and London

Howard, D. (1995) Scottish Architecture: Reformation to Restoration 1560-1660. Edinburgh University Press

Mitchison, R. (1997) A History of Scotland / Rosalind Mitchison; Illustrated by George Mackie. Second edition. London: Routledge

McKean, C. (2001) The Scottish Chateau: the Country House of Renaissance Scotland. Stroud

MacKechnie et al. (1996) A history of Scottish Architecture: From the Renaissance to the Present Day. Edinburgh University Press, Chapters 1 and 2 (available online).
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Research and enquiry: the ability to conduct research into relevant issues through research into architecture in Scotland before 1650.

Personal and intellectual autonomy: the ability to critically evaluate ideas, to form an open-minded and reasoned perspective for the development of effective analyses.

Communication: effectively - develop and communicate complex ideas and arguments using a range of media.
Keywordsarchitecture scotland medieval renaissance prehistoric early modern gothic romanesque baronial
Contacts
Course organiserMs Margaret Stewart
Tel: (0131 6)51 5788
Email: m.c.h.stewart@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Louisa King
Tel: (01316) 502306
Email: Louisa.King@ed.ac.uk
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