Taught by numerous site visits to historic buildings alongside lectures and seminars, this course introduces students to the architecture of London from the nineteenth century to the present day. Through its buildings, we will chart London’s transformation into a modern city and think about how factors such as the industrial revolution, public health, poverty, transport, leisure, war, politics, and immigration have affected the city and its architecture. The course will explore a diverse range of buildings, including the Houses of Parliament, underground stations, theatres, hotels, churches, mosques, housing estates, and skyscrapers. Students will acquire skills in looking at, reading, and understanding buildings and become adept at using them as historical evidence. Students will also learn how to relate architecture to its social, political and intellectual context, and develop insights into the ways that buildings may carry and convey meaning, whether to an expert or to a more general audience. No prior knowledge of architecture or architectural history is required to undertake the course.
