Architecture can be enjoyed in the present moment, but to fully understand it, one must closely study the past and the evolution of the discipline. The ARQU 4213 course, which emphasized documentation, argumentation, research and comparisons between architects and their works, helped me understand and further appreciate the processes and changes that shaped design as we know it today. As a student, I found the course to not only follow a gradual sequence between topics, but also to adequately follow the preceding History of Architecture courses.
Being entirely virtual, given COVID-19 restrictions, the course’s material was nonetheless provided efficiently. I found it both new and interesting for the classwork to be in the form of a blog, similar to a formal online publication. While the method cannot be compared to what an in-person session would be like, it’s certainly made the most of a situation that has forced the world to work virtually. As a plus, and besides the information being presented in each session, the students had accompanying content, such as articles and documentaries, to further understand political, social and cultural backgrounds through the evolution of Modernism.
Something that really stood out from other courses, in terms of classwork, was the freedom to choose between themes for our blog posts. Whether it was a Modernist residence, an architecture book on a specific topic, or selecting a designer for a blog entry, these choices were a useful exercise in terms of developing personal views on movements and design philosophies.
Last, but definitely not least, the weekly blog posts led me to improve my critical thinking, research abilities and even writing in English (a personal challenge I had set out to accomplish). After this course, my interest in architectural history has increased, along with a new interest towards investigative research, which I am confident will be beneficial to my future career.
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