Architecture and Mathematics

Fall Term 2001

 

 

Instructor:  Steve Wassell

Office:  Guion 201

Phone:  6214

Office Hours:  MW 2:30-3:20, TR 10:30-11:20 and by appointment

 

 

Description:

 

What makes a work of architecture beautiful, special, moving?   In this course we shall explore answers to this question from a mathematical point of view, emphasizing issues of geometry, proportion, and symmetry.  Building design will be the primary focus, but landscape architecture and urban planning will also be discussed.  (This is not a course in architectural engineering; structure will be studied only as it pertains to the aesthetics of design.)

 

The material will be organized chronologically as much as possible.  Not only does this provide for an understanding of the evolution of architectural theory and practice, it will also help the students appreciate how the history of architecture reflects the history of civilization in general.  The focus of our studies will be primarily on Western cultures, since the vast majority of the literature on our topic has this focus.

 

We will take two fields trips during the semester to study the architecture of Thomas Jefferson: one to Charlottesville to visit the original campus of the University of Virginia as well as Monticello, and one to Lynchburg to visit Poplar Forest.  We are also fortunate enough to take the opportunity to attend the Cram Architectural Symposium at the 2001 SBC Alumnae Council.  Students may wish to draw from these experiences when picking a topic for further study.

 

 

Coursework:

 

Each student will write several short papers and one term paper.  The short papers will be on various topics to be assigned during the first half of the semester.  The term paper will focus on the use of mathematics in architectural design, concentrating on one’s choice of architecture, design themes, and/or theories of architectural composition.  In doing so, the student shall incorporate sufficient use of figures, both in the sense of illustrations and in the sense of mathematical demonstrations.

 

Two types of oral communication skills will be assessed.  Students are expected to participate in class discussions, and each student will be assigned a grade for the entire semester based on her involvement.  Secondly, each student will present an outline or a part of her term paper to the class during the last two weeks of the term.

 

Finally, each student will be expected to learn the general development of (Western) architecture.  This will be tested with a final exam, consisting solely of identifications of important works of architecture; a study list will be provided for convenience.

 

 

Grading:

 

                                    Minor writing assignments:            25%

                                    Major writing assignment:            25%

                                    Oral communication:                     20%

                                    Final presentation:                15%

                                    Final exam:                           15%

 

Since attendance is crucial to class involvement, one tenth of the oral communication grade will be deducted for each absence, except in extraordinary cases, such as documented health concerns.

 

 

Course Outline:

 

Unit

Topics

1

Prehistoric Architecture; Introduction to Geometry

2

Ancient Architecture; Introduction to Symmetry, Proportion

3

Greece

4

Rome

5

Early Christian, Byzantine

6

Islamic

7

Early Medieval and Romanesque

8

Gothic

9

Renaissance, Baroque

10

Proportion 2

11

18th Century

12

19th Century

13

20th Century

14

Project presentations

15

Project presentations