Architectural History Thesis

Architecture, understood as the process of projecting, constructing, and maintaining buildings and structures embodies values of the past; diverse actors have used the built environment to achieve political, economic, social, or cultural goals. Over time, the role of architecture has changed extensively. From political demonstration to entrepreneurial intervention, from ideological statement to ecological practice. The memory of these earlier practices is inscribed in the built environment that surrounds us; it is also carried by historians and heritage specialists who choose to study one period over another, who focus on a specific locality, people or relationships. In line with the precursor course AR1A066, the history thesis explores architectural practice as it has evolved to respond to historical paradigms, responding to and shaping global and local societal conditions and frameworks. A history thesis can also study the ways in which historical investigation has shaped the course of architecture and architectural practice in global histories and historiographies, exploring also the ways in which these histories are constructed and narrated.

The history thesis is a required independent research project in the Master 2. The choice of a topic and development of a proposal for the thesis are part of the precursor course AR1A066, in Q2. The history thesis may deal with architecture, urbanism, the visual arts, design and photography, film or literature. It provides students the opportunity to hone their research skills on a historical topic. If the focus is on architecture, the research can also be of a typological kind, for example on a particular type of building, preferably not through the centuries but concentrating on a particular period or aspect. If urbanism is the subject matter, the themes may vary from the regional to the neighborhood scale, design and decision making processes, the role of politics, theories (ranging from functionalism to morphological approaches, from programmatic aspects to ideas about the creative classes and gentrification). It may also be a topographical / territorial topic, where appropriate in combination with other aspects. Finally it can regard also the investigation of an abstract topic: rhythm, scale, theory of proportions, ornamentation, eclecticism and monumentality, etc. in which an historical point of view is dominant.

Using mixed methods from archival research and oral history to close reading of visual and textual analysis students critically examine their topic, producing a substantial research paper based on a clear historical perspective. This analytical and conceptual experience forms an important complement to the design-based education of the master in architecture. Writing a history thesis offers students a unique opportunity to pursue a research on a specific topic and requires students to work independently. Building on historical knowledge and research skills gained in introductory and advanced courses, students focus on primary materials and pursue an original question. They develop a complex argument and grapple with multiple data sets and interpretations.

Collective and individual meetings with tutors provide a framework for the production of an original, well written paper of about 5-6000 words. Students need to be familiar with library catalogues and search engines. The papers are required to demonstrate superior and consistent understanding of scientific writing (i.e. footnotes, bibliography, front and back matter).