Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Synopsis This subject examines current architecture and its move away from orthodox modernism. Seminars will concentrate on architects' attempts to enrich design by the use of historical reference, political ideology, humour, symbol, the consideration of surroundings, and other methods. This work is often presented as a recent and capricious reaction to the Modern Movement. However, this subject will emphasise how the latest architecture has evolved from sources in early twentieth-century design. The subject will explore how this tradition has been developed by Robert Venturi, Denise Scott-Brown, Charles Moore and others in America. The `opposing' European design that has developed around the Krier brothers and Aldo Rossi will also be studied. Several seminars will consider work by architects such as Rem Koolhaas and Michael Graves. Later seminars will consider developments since 1985, particularly the architectural `deconstructivism' of Frank Gehry, Bernard Tschumi and others, and the recasting of corporate and Neoclassical architecture. Australian design will be considered as integral throughout the study.
Assessment Written (4500 words): 75% + Visual test (1 hour): 25%