– Renaissance to Neoclassicism (2019-20)
FINAL ASSESSMENT
Students will submit a 2500 word illustrated essay on one of the London buildings listed below in chronological order.
As part of the analysis, you are required to investigate:
- Stylistic models and precedents in Continental Europe where appropriate
- Possible relations to theory and treatises
- Structural and constructional aspects
- Key details as bearings on the aesthetics of the building
Remember, sketches MUST BE included in the essay.
As per the assessment criteria highlighted in the brief, a good essay will:[unique_solution]
- Show familiarity with the architectural culture of the period covered by the course, and demonstrate awareness and knowledge of its overall historical, social, and technical context.
- Demonstrate your ability to make connections across different historical periods within different geographical areas, good knowledge of key buildings, and evidence of your wider reading.
- Be well structured and attractively produced, presenting facts and developing an argument in a sophisticated manner, consistent with the conventions of academic writing (see referencing section in the brief).
A description of mark boundaries can be found on Moodle, together with samples of good essays from previous years.
One or several visits of the selected building are essential. Students are to make their own arrangement in accordance to the schedule in the brief. It is important to bear in mind that not all the buildings will be open to the public and may only be visible from outside. This happens frequently when pursing architectural studies and needs to be taken into account when selecting.
Submission dates:
1.Tentative essay structure (about five lines): 25 September 2019, by 5pm (Moodle)
N.B. this is purely an exercise to get you started. The essay structure can change.
- Formative essay Outline (500 words):
- Final essay (2500 words):
4 November 2019, by 3pm (Moodle)
3 January 2020, by 3pm (Moodle)
1
Selected buildings:
- Holland House, Holland Park (1606-7)
- The Queen’s House, Greenwich (by Inigo Jones, from 1616)
- The Banqueting House, Whitehall (by Inigo Jones, 1619-22, refurbished by Sir John Soane)
- The Queen’s Chapel, St James’s Palace (by Inigo Jones, from 1623)
- St Paul’s Church, Covent Garden (by Inigo Jones, from 1631)
- Kensington Palace (by Sir Christopher Wren, Nicholas Hawksmoor, William Kent, 1661-1702)
- St Paul’s Cathedral (by Sir Christopher Wren, from 1675)
- St Mary-le-Bow (by Sir Christopher Wren, 1680)
- St Clement Danes, The Strand (by Sir Christopher Wren, 1680-82)
- Fenton House, Hampstead (1686)
- Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich (by Sir Christopher Wren, 1696-1716)
- St Bride, Fleet Street (by Sir Christopher Wren, 1701-03)
- St Mary-le-Strand (by James Gibbs, 1714-23)
- St George-in-the-East (by Nicholas Hawksmoor, 1714-29)
- Christ Church, Spitalfields (by Nicholas Hawksmoor, 1714-29)
- St Mary Woolnoth (by Nicholas Hawksmoor, 1716-27)
- St Martin-in-the-Fields (by James Gibbs, 1722-24)
- Chiswick House (by Lord Burlington, c.1723-29)
- 44 Berkeley Square (by William Kent, 1744-5)
- Kenwood House (by Robert Adam, from 1754)
- Syon House, London Road, Brentford (originally 17th, refurbished by Robert Adam, 1761-68)
- Osterley Park (by Robert Adam, 1763-67)
- Portland Place (by James Adam, 1776-80)
- Somerset House, The Strand (rebuilt by Sir William Chambers, 1776-96)
- Pitshanger Manor (by Sir John Soane, 1801-3)
- Dulwich Picture Gallery (by Sir John Soane, 1811-14)
- Sir John Soane’s Museum, Lincoln Inn’s Field (by Sir John Soane, 1812-34)
- Cumberland Terrace, Regent’s Park (by John Nash, 1826-27)
- Travellers’ Club (by Sir Charles Barry, 1829-32)
- The Reform Club (by Sir Charles Barry, 1837-41)