Course - 'The Appreciation of Contemporary Architecture'

Lloyds Registry by Richard Rogers, 2007

High-tech, modernism, post-modernism, de-constructivism, digital design, minimalism - such contemporary architectural ideas are explored and analysed. Covering the period from 1970 to the present day, the course offers an opportunity to study a wide range of recent theories and styles and discover why modern buildings look the way they do. It includes discussion of architectural trends worldwide and especially in the UK. Visits will be made to view relevant buildings in London and to architects' offices, which will give students the opportunity to see what's on the computer drawing board and to discuss current building projects with their designers.

Dates: Spring 2011

  1. Monday 17 January - Post-Modernism [and the vernacular revival]
  2. Monday 24 January - High-Tech
  3. Monday 31 January [walk] - Walk thru the city of London; meet at main entrance to Tower Hill Underground Station at 6.30pm prompt. The walk will take approximately 2 hours terminating near St Pauls.
  4. Monday 7 February - Pragmatic Modernism
  5. Monday 14 February - Purists and Minimilists
  6. Saturday 19 February [walk] - South Bank. Meet inside Southwark Tube Station at the top of the escalator from the platforms at 10.30am prompt. This walk will take approximately 2.5 hours and will finish at the Design Museum at Butlers Wharf where we can have a pizza lunch.
  7. Monday 28 February - Mavericks and De-Constructivists
  8. Monday 7 March - Visit to architects' offices to see live projects
  9. Monday 14 March - The Digital Age; Baroque, Organic and Green tendencies
  10. Saturday 19 March [walk] - Walk tbc. Followed by an end of term pub lunch.


This wide-ranging programme will broaden your knowledge of modern architecture and allow you to see your environment in a new light.

/ note: this programme may be subject to alteration

Bibliography
  • The Architecture of London by Jones and Woodward [Weidenfeld and Nicolson]
  • Modern Architecture-Critical History by Kenneth Frampton [Thames and Hudson]


Bookshops
  • The Architectural Association School Bookshop - 36 Bedford Square, WC1 [10-6,30 m-f; 11-5 s]
  • The RIBA bookshop - 66 Portland Place, W1 [9.30-5.30 m-f; -6.30 t; 10-5 s]


Course Information
To enrol: please contact Tim


Payment: you may pay by cash or by cheque made payable to Tim Bruce-Dick
Please then send it to 114 Albert Street, London NW1 7NE or at the first meeting in person.

Please note: these are essentially the same courses Tim Bruce-Dick taught at City University over the past few years. Unfortunately, owing to the withdrawal of Government funding, City University is no longer able to host these courses; hence the new arrangements. The venue is now to be [by kind permission] the Lecture Room, at the offices of Price & Myers, Consulting Engineers, 30 Newman Street, London W1T 1LT.

Tim Bruce-Dick

Tim Bruce-Dick

Architect, lecturer, tour guide - Tim has the background and knowledge to really open up contemporary architecture for you - More about Tim.