HIAA 0850 Modern Architecture

Dietrich Neumann

This lecture course covers the so called "classic" period of European and American modern architecture (with a few
excursions into South American and Asia) from the turn of the century to the early 1960s, the period which has shaped
the form and appearance of our environment more profoundly than any other in the history of architecture. It will
present both the established canon of masterpieces by Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier and others
and counterbalance this approach with discussions about new building materials, changing conditions of architectural
production, the "mechanics of fame." Special emphasis will be placed on the social context in which buildings are
designed and used, ethnicity, class and gender as factors in the production and use of architecture and urban spaces.

Lectures: M-W-F, 12.00-12.50, List 120

Office Hours: Dietrich Neumann: Tuesday 2:30-3:30 (Maxcy 101) and Wednesday 2:30-3:30 (412 List), (Tel.: 863-3254); e-
mail: dn@brown.edu,

Teaching Assistants: Erica Kinias, Laura Chilson-Parks, Ciprian Buzila (office hours t. b. a.)

Course website on canvas will be updated daily and contain images, lecture notes, reading material, as well as information
on the section topics for each week.

Requirements:
Regular attendance in class.
Weekly Sections: Mandatory. (Attendance in class and participation in section count 20% towards final grades), signup
online after Monday, September 11, 5:00 pm.

iClickers: During lectures we will be using iClickers for polling and to get your feedback on key themes of the course.
(Counts toward 5% of your final grade). You will need to obtain an iClicker and bring it with you to every lecture. We will
begin using iClickers on Wednesday September 13 th. You can obtain your iClicker at the Service Desk at the CIT (first floor).
We recommend that you get and register your iClicker as soon as possible.

Response Papers: Instead of a Midterm and Final Exam, you will be required to write four response papers (2-3 pages)
during certain weeks throughout the semester (the three best will be counted towards 30% your final grade) There will also
be three short image IDs held in section (15% of final grade). Term Paper (ca. 10-15 pages) or Model: Counts for 35 % of
final grade. Papers could deal, for example, with the work of one individual architect of the 20th century, one particular
building type, one singular building (in Providence for instance), a certain building-material or -technique which was
developed in this period, changing meanings, functions or conditions of architecture etc. In any case it should provide an
opportunity for some original research and reflection. All topics must receive preliminary approval. The model should show
a building or piece of furniture (scale 1:1) of the 20th century (before 1960). (Some experience in model building is
recommended, an introduction will be held Monday, October 23 at 6pm in List 110). A brief essay (1 page) should explain
the design and your findings and choices. For those with experience in Computer Graphics there is the option of creating a
computer generated 'walk-through' instead. All projects must receive preliminary approval. The visual resource librarian
Karen Bouchard will hold individual research consultations for your research papers. Please see her librarians corner on our
website, or contact her at Karen_Bouchard@brown.edu. Deadline for models/papers and reception in the second floor
lobby of the List Art Building: Monday, December 11 at 5:00 pm.

The written assignments fulfill the requirements of a WRIT-designated course. You will receive feedback on your writing,
which you can use to complete subsequent writing assignments.

Brown University is committed to full inclusion of all students. Please inform me early in the term if you have a disability or
other conditions that might require accommodations or modification of any of these course procedures. You may speak with
me after class or during office hours. For more information, please contact Student and Employee Accessibility Services at
401-863-9588 or SEAS@brown.edu.Students in need of short-term academic advice or support can contact one of the deans
in the Dean of the College office.

Reading: Reading should parallel lectures and will be discussed in the sections. The following books have been ordered for
the bookstore and are permanently on reserve: William J.R.Curtis, Modern Architecture since 1900, Englewood Cliffs 1996;
Ulrich Conrads (Ed.), Programs and Manifestoes on 20th C. Architecture; Peter Gssels Modern Architecture is also
recommended, as it contains a multitude of helpful images and short texts. It is very affordable. Additional reading will be
placed on the course website. Reading assignments will be updated periodically, please make sure to check the website on
a regular basis, under Reading Assignments. Articles, website links and streaming video will be available on OCRA. The
password for OCRA is modern architecture.

Image lists: Printed lists with the buildings covered in each lecture and will be available shortly before class in List 120 and
on the website. They will contain dates, quotes and references to additional sources of information (which you might need
for your term papers or models). In addition, the powerpoint presentation for each lecture, and many of the film clips
shown will also be available on the course website.

Auditing: Students who receive permission from Professor Neumann to audit HIAA 0850 will be expected to attend lectures
regularly and will be required to complete three response papers, but not write a final paper. While section attendance is
optional, discussions generated in these meetings may help auditing students develop paper topics. For information on
auditing at Brown, go to: http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Registrar/registration.html

Over 13 weeks, students will spend 4 hours per week in class and section (52 hours total). Required reading for the meetings
and writing and researching response essays is expected to take up approximately 7 hours per week (98 hours). In addition,
the final paper is estimated to take a total of approximately 40 hours (a good model might take longer).

Laptop computers or any other electronic devices are not permitted in the classroom.

SCHEDULE

1) (Wednesday, September 6, 2017) Introduction

Reading: Curtis: 11-17

2) (Friday, September 8, 2017) Review: The achievements of the 19th century.

New Building Types, new technologies and materials, Historicism, the rise of architectural professionalism, history and
theory, tectonics and space. The rise and influence of the Panorama building and the panoramic gaze. Reading: Curtis: 21-51
NEW DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE TURN OF THE CENTURY TO WW I

3) (Monday, September 11, 2017) "Art Nouveau" in Brussels and Paris

Paris 1900 Worlds Fair, "Art Nouveau," B: Victor Horta: Horta Residence, Brussels 1900, Maison Tassel, 1900, Maison du
Peuple, Brussels 1896-99; Henry van de Velde: Shop for Bing, Paris 1902; Hector Guimard: Paris Subway Stations 1900).
Reading: Curtis: 52-59; Conrads: 13, 18; website.

4) (Wednesday, September 13, 2017) Antonio Gaudi and "Modernismo" in Barcelona

Casa Mila 1905-10, Casa Batll, 1905-07 and Sagrada Familia 1883ff., Parc Gell in Barcelona; Antonio Gaudi, Jujol)
Reading: Curtis: 59-63; website.

5) (Friday, September 15, 2017) Gaudi and his Contemporaries

Escuela, Sagrada Familia (Gaudi), Palace of Catalan Music 1905-08, Lluis Domenech Y Montaner, Vistabella Church, 1918-24,
Josep Maria Jujol, Sant Sadurni dAnoia, Codorniu Windery, 1901-04, Josep Puig I Cadafalch, Gandesa: Winery, 1919, arch.:
Csar Martinell I Brunet. Reading: Curtis: 59-63; website.

6) (Monday, September 18, 2017) The Impact of New Materials: Catalan Vaults, Reinforced Concrete, Steel
Catalan Vaults & Guastavino Brothers in US, Atlantida, Uruguay, Church, 1958, Eladio Dieste; Havana, Cuba, National Arts
Schools, 1961-65, Porro, Gottardi, Garatti; Reinforced Concrete, 1892, Franois Hennebique; Paris, Apartment 25 Rue
Franklin, 1902, Parking Garage, 1905-06 by Auguste Perret; Anatole de Baudot: St. Jean de Montmartre 1894-1904; Fiat
Factory Turin, 1914 Matteo Trucco; Reading: Curtis: 73-85; website.

7) (Wednesday, September 20, 2017) Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Glasgow

Stock Exchange Amsterdam 1903 by H.P.Berlage; Charles Rennie Mackintosh: Art School in Glasgow 1905-1910; Hill House:
1907; Willow Tea Rooms, 1902-04; Reading: Curtis: 63-65; website.

8) (Friday, September 22, 2017) Vienna: Secession, Modern Architecture and Contemporary Debates
Otto Wagner, Modern Architecture 1895 Postal Savings Bank, Vienna 1904-06, Subway Station, 1906, Apartment Building,
1910;; Adolf Loos, Ornament and Crime, 1908, Goldmann and Salatsch Tailorshop, Vienna 1908:; Josef Maria Olbrich:
Secession Building; Reading: Curtis: 66-71, 141; Conrads: 19-24; website.

9) (Monday, September 25, 2017) Industrial Architecture, The German Werkbund

Founding of the German Werkbund 1907, Werkbund Exhibition Cologne 1914, AEG Turbine Factory by Peter Behrens 1909,
Alfeld Factory by Gropius 1911, United Shoe Machinery in Boston by E.L. Ransome 1909, Model Factory in Cologne by
Gropius and Meyer 1914, Glass Pavilion by Bruno Taut 1914). Reading: Curtis: 99-107, Conrads, 26-31; website.

10) (Wednesday, September 27, 2017) The United States

Chicago World's Fair, 1893, Plan for Chicago, 1909 by Daniel Burnham; The City Beautiful Movement, New York City, Flat
Iron Building, 1902, Burnham and Root; New York City, Grand Central Terminal, 1903-13, arch.: Warren & Wetmore.
Reading: Curtis: 40-51; Conrads, 5, 25; website.

11) (Friday, September 29, 2017) Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie Style
F.L. Wright: Entwrfe und Ausgefhrte Bauten, 1910, B: Dana House in Springfield Ill., Larkin Building 1904-06, Unity
Church 1906, Robie House 1909, Gamble House in Pasadena by Greene and Greene 1908-09. Reading: Curtis: 87-97; 113-
129; Conrads, 5, 25; website.

BETWEEN THE WORLD WARS

12) (Monday, October 2, 2017) Wright, Japan, Europe

Oak Park, Cheney House, 1903, River Forest, Drummond House (William Drummond) 1910, Tokyo, Imperial Hotel, 1915-
1922; Tokyo, Japan, Myonichikan at Jiyu Gakuen School, 1921-26, Taliesin, Wisconsin, 1913, 1924ff; Reading: Curtis: 87-97;
113-129; Conrads, 5, 25; website.

13) (Wednesday, October 4, 2017) Futurism, Expressionism and The Bauhaus

Projects, for the Citt Nuova, 1914, arch: Antonio Sant'Elia , Glas Pavilion by Bruno Taut 1914, "Glass Chain" 1918-19 (Tauts,
Scharoun, Finsterlin, Hablik etc.), City Crown by Bruno Taut 1919, Crystal Buildings by Hans Scharoun 1919, Amsterdam,
Scheepvarthuis, 1912-16 by van der Mey, de Klerk, Kramer; Eigen Haard Housing in Amsterdam by Michel de Klerk 1917,
Einstein-Tower in Potsdam by Erich Mendelsohn 1921. Reading: Curtis: 190-199; Conrads, 49-53, 69-70, 74-75; 95-97, 115-
120; 123; website.

14) (Friday, October 6, 2017) The Bauhaus

Founding of the Bauhaus 1919, Bauhaus Exhibition 1923, W. Gropius Programme of the Bauhaus, Weimar Academy of
Fine Arts, by Henry van de Velde 1904-11, Monument for the March Dead in Weimar, 1921, Haus Sommerfeld in Berlin
1921, by W. Gropius, Bauhaus in Dessau 1926 by W.Gropius, Faculty Housing by Gropius and Meyer 1926; Reading: Curtis:
190-199; Conrads, 49-53, 69-70, 74-75; 95-97, 115-120; 123; website.

Monday, October 9, 2017: no lecture (Fall Weekend)

15) (Wednesday, October 11, 2017) The Bauhaus and its context I: De Stijl, New Sobriety
The De Stijl Manifesto 1918, projects for Workers Houses by J.J.P.Oud, Geneva, League of Nations, 1926-27 by H. Meyer, Red
and Blue Chair, 1918 by G. Rietveld, Schroeder Haus by Gerrit Rietveld 1925, Caf Aubette in Strasbourg by T.van Doesburg
1928, etc. Reading: Curtis: 149-159; Conrads: 39-40; 64-67; 78-80; website.

16) (Friday, October 13, 2017) The Bauhaus and its context II: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
project, Friedrichstrasse Skyscraper 1921 (22?), Concrete Office Building, 1922, Brick Villa, 1923, Brno, House Tugendhat,
1928-30, Barcelona, Exhibition Pavillon, 1929; Reading: Curtis: 188-192, Conrads; website;

17) (Monday, October 16, 2017) The Bauhaus and its context III: Russia
The October Revolution, Competition Centrosoyus, "Cloud Hangers" by El Lissitzky 1924; Prawda Building by the Vesnin
Brothers 1923;, Monument for the IIIrd Internationale by Wladimir Tatlin 1919; Stage Set for Chestertons "The Man who was
Thursday" by the Vesnin Brothers 1923, Lenin Institute, 1927 by Ivan Ivanovich Leonidov, experimental buildings, c. 1928 by
Y. Chernikhov; Reading: Curtis: 201-215; Conrads: 56, 74, 87-88, 121-122; 87-88; website.

18) (Wedneday, October 18, 2017) Le Corbusier in the 1920s

"L'Esprit Nouveau" and "Vers une architecture" 1923, B: Villa Laroche-Jeanneret 1922-23, Villa Stein 1927, Villa Savoie 1928;
Reading: Curtis: 163-181, 275-284; Conrads: 59-62, 89-94, 99-101

19) (Friday, October 20, 2017) Le Corbusier, Urbanism, Social Housing

Stuttgart Weissenhof Exhibition 1927, CIAM 1928; Le Corbusiers "Ville Contemporaine", "Plan Voisin" 1925, Highrise City
1924, Ludwig Hilberseimer; Weissenhof Siedlung Stuttgart 1927, Walter Gropius, Karlsruhe Dammerstock 1929; Reading:
Curtis 241-155, 324-327; Conrads, 109-113, 137-145; website.

20) (Monday, October 23, 2017); Housing and The International Style
Weissenhof Settlement Stuttgart 1927, Berlin Settlements by Bruno Taut, Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, MOMA
Exhibition 1932, Nikolaus Pevsner, Pioneers of the Modern Movement 1936, Sigfried Giedion, Time Space and Architecture,
1941; Reading: Curtis, 241-255, 257-273; Conrads: 81-82; 76-77; 102; website.

Introduction to Model Making: 6:00 6:50, List 120

21) (Wednesday, October 25, 2017) Totalitarian Critique of Modern Architecture

Rise of Italian Fascism 1925, Russian Stalinism 1927, Mario Palanti and a skyscraper for Mussolini, 1924; Palace of the
Soviets by Iofan 1934, Casa del Fascio in Como by G. Terragni 1934, EUR Roma by Piacentini and Guerrini 1942. Reading:
Curtis: 351-369; website.

22) (Friday, October 27, 2017) Totalitarian Critique of Modern Architecture II.
German Nationalsocialism 1933, Berlin, main axis, 1939 ff. by Albert Speer; Zeppelinfeld Nuremberg by A. Speer 1936,
House of German Art in Munich by Ludwig Troost 1934-36, etc.) Reading: Curtis: 351-369; website.

23) (Monday, October 30, 2017) Monumentalism and Modernity in the US

Washington, MacMillan Plan, Lincoln Memorial 1916, Jefferson Memorial 1942, National Gallery of Art 1942; New York City,
Woolworth Tower, 1913, Equitable Building 1916, Chicago Tribune Competition and Building 1922-1926, Metropolis of
Tomorrow 1929, Chrysler Building 1929, Empire State Building, 1931; Reading: Curtis: 287-303, esp. 292-294; review 351-
369

24) (Wednesday, November 1, 2017) American Modernisms: Art Deco Skyscrapers, Movie Theatres, Architecture of the
Night
Graumans Chinese Theatre Hollywood, 1927; The Olympia: 1926, Arch.: John Eberson; Metropolis of Tomorrow Hugh
Ferriss, Chrysler Building, 1929, Empire State Building, 1931. New York City, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall,
1931-39, Arch.: "Associated Architects" (Raymond Hood and others); House of Tomorrow, Chicago World's Fair 1933, G. F.
Keck, Futurama, NY World's Fair, 1939, N.B. Geddes; Reading: Curtis: 217-227, 238-239, 290-291, 267; website.

25) (Friday, November 3, 2017) Modern Architecture in the US: The arrival of the International Style
Tennesse Valley Authoritys Norris Dam, 1933-36, Fontana Dam 1942; Brooklyn Williamsburg Public Housing, 1934,
Dymaxion Deplyment Units, 1942, Quonset Hut, 1942, The Pentagon, 1943 etc.) Reading: Curtis: 217-227, 290-291, 267;
website.

26) (Monday, November 6, 2017) American Modernisms: Machine Art, Worlds Fairs, TVA, Housing
Reading: R.L. Duffus, What Modern Housing Means and Why it is Delayed. New York Times, Dec. 23, 1934; Eugene Ladner
Birch, Woman-Made America: The case of Early Public Housing Policy. In: American Institute of Planners Journal, 1978,
Apr.: 130-144; Wood, Edith Elmer, The Housing Situation in the United States, in: America can't have housing (Museum of
Modern Art, 1934); Lewis Mumford, "Houses-Sunnyside Up" in: The Nation, Feb. 4, 1925, pp. 115, 116.

27) (Wednesday, November 8, 2017) Depression Modern: WPA, Housing, TVA, Regionalist Revivals
Colonial Williamsburg, The architecture of Julia Morgan, Mary Ann Colter, Southwest Adobe, Spanish Colonial, Mayan
Revival; Reading: Arnold Berke, Drawing from the Desert: Architect Mary Colter told stories in Stone. In: Preservation
Magazine, July/August 1997, pp. 34-43; Black who overcame the odds: Paul R. Williams, in: Ebony Magazine, November
1986.

28) (Friday, November 10, 2017) Case Study: Frank Lloyd Wright in the 20s and 30s
Broadacre City, 1934ff; B: Chicago, Midway Gardens, 1913, Imperial Hotel Tokyo 1915-22, Ennis House, L.A., 1922; Johnson
Wax Company 1936-39, Falling Water 1936-39). Reading: Curtis, 228-239, 311-319; Conrads, 124-125

29) (Monday, November 13, 2017) California Modern

Rudolf Schindler, Lovell Beach House, 1926, Richard Neutra Lovell Health House, 1927, Neutra, Von Sternberg House, 1933,
Brown House on Fishers Island, 1938), Palm Springs, Kaufman House, 1946, The Case Study Houses 1945-66, Eames
Residence, 1945-48. Reading: Curtis, 232-238, 288-290; 351-415; Conrads: 154, 156; Dietrich Neumann, Richard Neutras
Windshield House and Modern Architecture in the US.

END OF WORLD WAR II the early 1960s

30) (Wednesday, November 15, 2017) Guest lecture: Prof. Philip Ursprung, ETH Zrich

31) (Friday, November 17, 2017) Modernism in Postwar US

Lake Shore Drive Apartments Chicago 1948-51, Farnsworth House 1946-50, New Canaan Glass House, 1948 by Philip
Johnson Seagram Building New York 1956-58 by Mies van der Rohe, Lever Headquarters New York by Gordon Bunshaft
1952, UN Headquarters by Harrison and Corbusier 1947-49, Pan Am Building by Gropius 1960-63;
Reading: Curtis 395-411; Alice Friedman: People who live in Glass Houses: Edith Farnsworth; Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and
Philip Johnson, in: Alice T. Friedman, Women and the Making of the Modern House (1998). (online)

32) (Monday, November 20, 2017) Modern Architecture in Providence, RI

Skyscraper 1916 by Raymond Hood, State House, McKim, Mead & White 1903, Industrial Trust Building, Warren and
Wetmore 1928, Wriston Quadrangle, Brown University, 1953, Brown University Computer Center 1959 Philip Johnson, List
Art Center 1971 etc. Reading: Mackensie Woodward: Providence, A Guide to Historic Resources (excerpts), AIA Guide to the
Architecture of Providence (excerpts), William H. Jordy, Rhode Island Architecture (excerpts); DN, Johnsons Grid;
Thanksgiving Break Wednesday November 22 noon Sunday November 26

33) (Monday, November 27, 2017) Postwar Modernism in Europe / Le Corbusier

(E: End of the war, division of Germany, resettlement; The reorganization of Berlin. D: Auguste Perret: Le Havre, Amiens
1950s, W. Henselmann: East Berlin, 1950s. Munich, Alte Pinakothek, restoration, 1957 ff.) Nationalgalerie Berlin 1961 by
Mies van der Rohe; Berlin Philharmonic, by Hans Scharoun;) Reading: Conrads: 146-149; website.

34) (Wednesday, November 29, 2017) Le Corbusier and the international dissemination of Modern Architecture
Paris, Salvation Army, 1929-33, Units in Marseilles 1947-53, and Berlin, 1957, "Le Modulor", proportional system, 1948/54,
Notre Dame du Haut in Ronchamp 1950-54, La Tourette near Lyon 1957-60, Government Buildings in Chandigarh 1951ff.,
Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University, Carpenter Center, 1959-63; Rio de Janeiro, Ministry of Education Le Corbusier, Oscar
Niemeyer, Lucio Costa, 1936-48. Reading: Curtis 417-451; 471-489; Conrads, 169-170; website.

35) (Friday, December 1, 2017) Modern Architecture in Latin America

Oscar Niemeyer, Cathedral Brasilia, 1959; Chapel of Sao Francisco de Assis, Pampulha, Brazil 1943; Narvarte, Mexico, Iglesia
de la Virgen Milagrosa, 1954-55, Felix Candela (*1910). House in Mexico City, Louis Barragan, Las Arboledas, Riding Stables
(1958-61), L. Barragan, 1958-61. Reading: Curtis: 453-469; 491-511; website.

35) (Monday, December 4, 2017) Frank Lloyd Wright, Late Works;

(B: The Guggenheim Museum, New York, 1949 ff., etc.) Reading: Curtis: 414-415; website.

36) (Wednesday, December 6, 2017) Conclusions: The continuing legacy of modern architecture
Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, 1951-53; Salk Institute, La Jolla, 1959-65; National Assembly, Dacca, 1962-
75;Reading: Curtis: 513-527; website.