Urban Studies

Catalog description

ARCH 499C Urban Special Topics (3) (IL)The course is a presentation of the history of Rome through the medium of its maps. The well documented cartographic history of the city is presented along with the morphological changes that are evident in the city today. The material of Rome's physical development is presented in two distinct ways. The first involves slide presentations of Roman maps and engraving images organized by specific routes (vie consolari and others) into and out of the city. The second is by on-site walks through the same routes with the instructor. The approximately twelve routes involve a lecture presentation usually given on Tuesdays, followed by an on-site walk usually given on Thursday. Students are then assigned their own route map of the same study area to generate over the weekend. These are graded and discussed in the following sessions. Framework: * Introduction: The definition of the Urbs through maps * 14th-15th century: Limbourg, Taddeo di Bartolo * 16th century: Bufalini, Duperac * Renaissance planning and the expanding city * 17th century: Maggi, Falda * 18th century: Nolli * 19th century: Catasto Piano * 20th century: Lanciani, Sanjust Themes: * 14th-15th century: Derivation of the iconic map from Mappaemundi and city images in art * 16th century: Images of pre-Sistine in-city and extension planning vs. Sixtus V's city outside the city * 17th century: Illustrating the Baroque point developments: Urban theater * 18th century: The new orientation and precision measurement of the Age of Reason. Nolli and Piranesi: the contemporary vs. the archaeological city *19th century: Stasis and expansion: Nolli retreads and the master Plans for the new Capital city * 20th century: Recapitulation and expansion: Lanciani's new Forma Urbis and images of the boundless city Learning Objectives: * To learn the history of the development of one of the most important cities in the world. * To learn the importance of mapping an way-finding in the understanding of architecture. * To learn the reading of traces of the past morphological development of a city. * To understand how cities are built, change, and grow over time.