Architectural History (ARLH)

The study of architectural history in Savannah informs how we understand and value the significance of the built world and our home environments. In this course, students study Savannah and the surrounding region which offer a case study for broader themes of urban renewal and historic preservation. Through observation, analysis, and readings, students identify local characteristics and broad historical frameworks that create built environments.

Before 1900, rapidly changing cultural, social, and economic forces transformed the development of the built environment. Students examine how enlightenment philosophy, industrialization, urbanization, nationalism, social and political revolution, stylistic experimentation, and technological innovation influenced the evolution of architectural theory and practice.

Competing concepts of modernity influenced the theory, practice, and production of architecture and urbanism from the late 19th century to the present day. Students examine the work of celebrated architects and avant-garde movements, while exploring the social, economic, and environmental factors that shaped architecture and architectural discourse.

The history of architecture and urbanism must consider how cultural, religious, and philosophical values and physical and social contexts greatly affect built form. Using a comparative approach, this course surveys the diverse architecture and urban habitations of China, Japan, Africa, India, the Muslim world, and the native cultures of the Americas from the origins of human settlements to the emergence of modern colonialism.

Sir Christopher Wren once remarked that architecture aims at the eternal. Renaissance architects pursued this goal through the vehicle of an ancient and compelling language of architecture known as the classical. This course examines the development of that language in buildings, designs, city plans and architectural theories from 15th-century Florence to 18th-century England. Social, political and religious contexts of Renaissance and Baroque architecture are given special consideration.

This course explores the evolution of modern architecture through the lens of global practices, from the late nineteenth century to today. Students will examine how socio-cultural, technological, and political forces shaped architectural movements, balancing global influences with local traditions. Topics include industrialization, colonialism, post-colonial development, and the impact of digital technologies. Through case studies and comparative analysis, students will engage with both iconic and regional works, developing a critical understanding of how architecture reflects and responds to diverse cultural and environmental contexts.

The ancient Greeks and Romans developed a range of building types to accommodate their religious, political, and social practices. In this course, students approach ancient Greek and Roman architecture by examining the intended use of these structures as related to architectural form, decoration, and location. Emphasis is placed on the value of primary sources and archaeological material in enriching the understanding of built form during these eras.

The architecture of the medieval period resulted from diverse cultural forces within the Latin Christian West, the Byzantine Christian East, and the Islamic Mediterranean. In this course, students explore themes such as the role of classical inspiration, cross-cultural influence and regionalism, function and audience, integral architectural decoration, and construction methods and structure.

The art and architecture of the medieval Islamic world reflects a thousand years of evolution. In this course, students explore a range of cultures and architecture regionally and chronologically from the large empires of the Umayyads and Abbasids to the smaller successor states in Islamic Spain, sub-Saharan Africa, and Mughal India. Students examine differences and continuities across diverse built environments, with attention to the origins and nature of Islamic religion and the development of a unique Arab-Muslim civilization.

Journey through the architectural heritage and urban development across Asia, exploring how religion, politics, and cultural values have shaped diverse built environments throughout history. In this course, students analyze distinctive architectural styles, urban planning approaches, and living patterns while developing research skills to interpret these spaces.

What is a city? This basic yet baffling question necessarily underlies all attempts to build cities. Students in this course survey the history of urban form as it relates to changing ideas about the nature and purpose of the city from its earliest manifestations in ancient Mesopotamia to the globalized cities of today.

In its totality, the continent of Africa encompasses a diverse, yet interconnected geographical, cultural, and historical context which is expressed through its indigenous arts, architectural traditions, and cities. A global and critical perspective leads students to consider how this continuity begins in the ancient world with the development of the civilizations of Egypt, Kush, and Aksum, continuing throughout the medieval period with the rise of kingdoms and trading empires in both East and West Africa, and enduring into colonial times.

Taught at SCAD Lacoste, this course explores the many ways in which different cultures have approached built form over the centuries in this region of France. Through research and on-site analysis at various locations, students cultivate a comprehensive understanding of the history, style, building materials and construction methods associated with the built environment of Provence.

Tied to the rise of cities in Western Europe, the art and architecture of the late Middle Ages ushered in new directions for the arts. In this course, students focus on the development of Gothic architecture, sculpture, and stained glass from the early 12th to the late 14th centuries as well as manuscript illumination, metal work, and ivory carving. Students explore selected readings from original sources with an emphasis placed on social context.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Alhambra, Versailles, Monticello, and Fallingwater are all products of a restless longing for a peaceful and contemplative life in the country where art and nature coexist in ideal harmony. In this course, students explore the architectural and social history of country houses, villas, and gardens from antiquity to the 21st century. Students focus on garden literature, landscape theory, the rise of public parks, and the development of suburbia.

Building traditions from around the world reveal the connection between architectural forms and the societies that created them. In this course, students explore vernacular architectural traditions from a global perspective through the broad ranging, yet selective, study of specific cultures and regions. Students focus on domestic architecture and settlement forms while also addressing non-residential vernacular structures as well.

Virtual environments have been used to transport, educate, and entertain for millennia. Students explore a variety of historical precedents, philosophical discourses, and scientific studies on virtual environments to understand the contextual significance and rich potential they offer designers today. Students utilize digital tools, such as online databases and image resources, to demonstrate advanced research techniques in the field of architectural history.

Architecture does not exist apart from theory; that is, the act of building is necessarily preceded by thinking about building. Architectural criticism, likewise, depends on theoretical discourse. In this course, students focus on the theory and criticism of architecture from antiquity to the present.

Whether it is the Hearst Castle, the Theme Building at Los Angeles International Airport, or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the contributions of architects from marginalized groups have largely been overlooked in the canon of architectural history. In this seminar, students examine and discuss the achievements of women and minority architects within their social and historical contexts.

This course introduces students to a wide range of research resources and the issues they raise. Attention is given to differing versions of each type of historical documentation and how that type has evolved over time. Textual accounts, maps, architectural drawings, field study, photographs, legal documents are among the forms of documentation examined. As much as possible, attention is given to actual documents through discussions and field workshops in libraries and archives.

Built environments help construct, maintain and even destroy many aspects of human identity, including gender. This seminar course examines how issues of gender have shaped built environments in the West from early historical times to the present. It focuses primarily on the manner in which architecture and space have contributed to social, cultural and political relations predicated on gender. This course challenges students to strengthen their research, critical thinking and leadership skills.

Cities of the Muslim world are an urban phenomenon whose development, planning principles, morphology and institutions reflect fundamental principles related to Islamic religious beliefs and practices. This seminar explores the influence of local cultural developments on Islamic urban forms throughout the medieval Muslim world, from Spain to India and sub-Saharan Africa. Any 200-level ARLH course or 300-level ARTH course or ARLH 301.

Throughout history, social, political and economic power relations have shaped the built environment. This seminar explores how power impacts the human experience of architecture and urbanism within a range of scales, building types, and social and cultural contexts. Extensive readings, class discussions and presentations challenge students to develop critical thinking and communication skills.

Cultural traditions in geographic regions across the continent gave form to the diverse American landscapes of everyday homes, businesses, places of recreation, and transportation that shape our daily lives. In this course, students consider these "ordinary" places, the methods used in recognizing and defining them, and how such landscapes represent the culture of ordinary people in all their diversity of ethnicity, age, gender, and economic standing.

Native American architectural traditions across the Americas reveal sophisticated responses to landscape, climate, and cultural needs. In this course, students analyze settlement patterns, building techniques, and ritual spaces while developing critical research skills. Through comparative study of different regions and periods, students gain a deeper understanding of Native American architectural traditions and their enduring significance.

The explosive growth and transformation of the modern city has inspired its frequent representation in photography, cinema, television, and other media, influencing how we view and understand modern urban life. In this seminar, students examine and discuss the different facets of the city over time, including industrialization and development, suburbanization, race, poverty, and even dreams of future cities as they are seen through a variety of modern media.

Students participate in on-location study of the built environment, investigating historical processes in their physical context. Through a synthesis of analysis, research and field study, students examine urban form, landscapes and building culture from historical, theoretical, aesthetic and practical points of view.

Shakespeare's famous observation about the world being a stage rings true for all who study the history of architecture and urbanism. Buildings, streets and squares are sets for the history of the theater, not just plays, but civic and religious ceremonies, festivals and political demonstrations. This course examines the history of theatricality by exploring the city as a stage and the stage as a city.

Students in this course undertake a field assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

Architectural history seniors are required to complete a thesis document that demonstrates extensive research, historical awareness, clear organization and effective writing skills. Under the guidance of a faculty member and involving peer critique, students hone their ability to complete an advanced research paper.

This course traces the evolution of modern architectural design from the mid-18th century to the present, addressing major works of architecture, urban design, landscape design and architectural theory. Attention is given to the emergence of new building typologies, the phases of historicism, the impact of new technology and materials, and the changing concepts of modernity.

Involving detective work, problem solving, and critical analysis, research relies on multiple resources and evaluating the issues they raise. This seminar focuses on diverse types of primary and secondary sources that inform our understanding of built environments. Attention is given to how historical documentation evolved over time and the historical contexts that defined their creation.

Since the ancient world, architects and theorists have attempted to conceptualize the essence of architecture. In this course, students focus on significant theoretical texts in the history of architecture from antiquity to the present. Students assess the critical tradition while analyzing and conceptualizing architectural principles.

Students in this course are introduced to methods of research and analysis and to key texts that have shaped the discipline of architectural history over time. Specific topics addressed include the nature of history, the nature of architectural history, style, formal analysis, iconography and symbolism, and a variety of approaches embracing technological, political, economic and social aspects of the built environment.

Within histories of modern architecture, the designs of women and minority architects have largely been overlooked, yet their contributions are impressive. Students in this course investigate the achievements of notable architects within social, historical, and theoretical contexts in order to understand the gendered or racial biases that have framed architectural production. Students demonstrate an advanced understanding of diversity in architecture through scholarly presentations and professional course projects.

Medieval architecture was shaped by diverse cultural forces in the Latin Christian West, the Byzantine Christian East and the Islamic Mediterranean. Emphasizing a contextual approach, themes addressed include the role of classical inspiration, cross-cultural influence and regionalism, function and audience, integral architectural decoration and construction methods and structure.

The ancient cultures of the Mediterranean basin developed a range of building types and urban plans to frame different aspects of public and private life. This course explores how the cultures of the ancient Near East, Egypt, Greece and Rome used built form to serve religious, social and political ideologies. Significant focus is placed on identifying, understanding and analyzing the various components of context.

Students delve into analysis of the Gothic period, from the early 12th century to the later 13th century. The course focuses on the development of Gothic architecture, sculpture and stained glass and also encompasses manuscript illumination, metal work and ivory carving. The social context of the monuments is explored through selected readings from original sources.

Without financial support, built environments could not exist. This seminar analyzes the often-hidden economic conditions that shape the creation of architecture and the ever-changing needs of the building cultures of the built environment. Students critique issues relating to the global economy and their impact on architecture and the urban conditions of the modern world.

From the oldest cities of ancient Mesopotamia to contemporary urban landscapes, the history of urban form reflects remarkable continuities and dramatic innovations. Students explore how architecture, public space, city planning, and public works are considered in relation to the social, political, economic, and religious contexts of urban form. Students use advanced research methods to build critical awareness of the historic and cultural impacts on urban design.

This course examines the evolution of art and architecture in the medieval Islamic world using a chronological and regional approach, ranging from the large unified empires of the Umayyads and Abbasids to the smaller successor states in Islamic Spain, sub-Saharan Africa and Mughal India. The course investigates the origins and nature of Islamic religion and culture and introduces students to the development of a unique Arab-Muslim civilization.

This course explores the indigenous art, architecture and cities of Africa, following a chronological and regional approach, which introduces the geography, cultures and history of the African continent as a whole. The goal is to consider Africa not as a region of cultural unity, but rather as an interconnected territory with a long and varied history that has given birth to a variety of creative expressions and artistic achievements. These expressions and achievements begin in the ancient world with the development of urban civilizations in Egypt, Nubia, Kush and Aksum; continue into medieval times with the rise of kingdoms and trading empires in both East and West Africa; and continue into colonial times.

The region of Provence possesses the physical remains of thousands of years of human habitation. Taught at SCAD Lacoste, this course explores the many ways in which different cultures have approached built form over the centuries. Students study the processes of history and use on-site analysis at various locations in order to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of the evolving sequence of styles, building materials and construction methods associated with the built environment of Provence.

The Islamic city is a unique urban phenomenon within the medieval world, with a distinctive development, morphology, and institutions. This seminar explores the connection between the religion of Islam and the creation of fundamental urban planning principles found throughout the Islamic world. Attention is given to the relationship of regionalism and local cultural influences on the development of specific building types and forms, from Islamic Spain to India to sub-Saharan Africa.

The age-old impulse to build a villa--a home away from home set in a garden--is a fundamentally paradoxical one. In this course, students seek to discover why we seek such places, what ideals these garden villas represent, and how designers, architects, and landscape architects have addressed these constructed experiences for centuries. Students consider historic villas, gardens, and literary texts as ideas and spaces in their contexts.

Social, political, and economic power relations have shaped the built environment and the experience of it throughout history. This seminar explores the many ways that power operates within a range of scales, building types, and social contexts including urban design, public institutions, commemorative monuments, and corporate buildings.

The American landscapes of everyday homes, businesses, places of recreation, and transportation represent deep cultural and regional traditions that shape our daily lives. In this course, students analyze these seemingly ordinary places, question the methods used in recognizing and defining them, and interpret how such landscapes shape the culture of ordinary people in all their diversity of ethnicity, age, gender, and economic standing.

Students explore vernacular architectural traditions from a global perspective as a broad-ranging, yet selective study of specific cultures and regions. The primary focus of the course is on domestic architecture and settlement forms, and also includes some vernacular religious and ceremonial structures. Through this course, students acquire an appreciation of the range of building traditions found around the world, and explore the connection between vernacular architectural forms and the societies that created them.

Native American architectural traditions across the Americas reveal sophisticated responses to landscape, climate, and cultural needs. In this course, students examine how agricultural practices, cosmological beliefs, and ritual traditions shaped diverse built environments throughout history. Through advanced research methodologies, students analyze architectural and urban patterns while developing critical perspectives on indigenous spatial practices and cultural landscapes.

The parallel development of the modern city and contemporary media technologies has inspired representations of the city in photography, cinema, television, and associated media, profoundly impacting our understanding of the ever-changing nature of urban form and urban life. In this course, students focus on the cultural forces that shaped the relationship between cities and media. Students also analyze the psychological and sociological effects that media has on our perceptions and understanding of the city.

Students participate in on-location study of the built environment, investigating historical processes in their physical context. Through a synthesis of analysis, critique, research and field study, students explore urban form, landscapes and building culture from historical, theoretical, aesthetic and practical points of view.

Shaped by immigration, inherited traditions, and homegrown innovations, the built environment of America is a diverse cultural landscape. In this course, students analyze how settlement patterns, domesticity, industrialization, urbanization, and modernization affected the development and evolution of uniquely American architectural and urban forms, from the pre-Colonial era to the present.

The city has been and continues to be a literal and metaphorical stage for theatrical performance in its many guises: festivals; processions; ritualized acts of justice, inauguration and triumph; games; impromptu street performance; and political demonstrations. This course examines forms of theatricality in the life and design of cities as well as the architecture of purpose-built theaters from antiquity to the present day.

Savannah’s urban plan and its rich architectural fabric offer an incomparable laboratory for the study of architectural and urban history. This course explores and analyzes Savannah’s urban plan, buildings and landscape features in the context of the social, political, religious and environmental factors that shaped them. Certain aspects of Savannah’s history will be chosen for close investigation each quarter.

Since Ancient Egypt, virtual spaces have been used to transport, educate and entertain. Philosophical discourses and scientific studies of virtual environments provide the framework for analyzing a broad range of historical precedents. Emphasis is placed on understanding the contextual significance of virtual spaces and evaluating the rich potential they offer designers today.

Students in this course undertake a field assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

Students in this course undertake a teaching assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

Architectural history graduate students are required to complete a thesis and produce an in-depth research paper under the guidance of a faculty member. Peer critique, strong methodological skills, original ideas, clear organization and thorough research are emphasized with attention on developing the thesis for professional presentation and publication.