Short assessment 5 Periodising Architecture

As in the previous assessment, this assessment asks you categorise objects and justify your choices.
In this case, though, things matters are more straightforward. Look at the five buildings on the
following pages. For each, say whether you think it’s early modern (i.e. Renaissance or Baroque),
modern or postmodern. Once you’ve made your choice, give three reasons to support it. For
buildings that are modern, you don’t need to say if they’re modernist or not, just say why you think
they date from the modern period and not the other two periods.

Guidelines [the same as for the previous assessment]

• Write a few words and certainly no more than a sentence for each reason.
• To help you with your answers feel free to look online (or elsewhere) for information and more
photos of each building. You don’t have to do this (or list any sources you consult) but are
allowed to if you want.
• Be attentive to any aspect of a building you think is relevant — materials, construction methods,
stylistic features, etc.
• Refer to lecture slides, readings and tutorial discussions to help you with your answers.
• This is an interpretive exercise. There is no single, correct answer for each building, so it’s up to
you to give convincing responses.
• I am again deliberately showing you things that weren’t shown in lectures.
• Your answers to each question are worth up to 1% of your final grade: .25% for a convincing
classification and .25% for each reason you use to do justify it.
• Please note: Naming the style or movement with which a building is connected isn’t a valid
reason for saying what period it belongs in. Neither is its date. You must describe specific
features of the building.

• Since you’re now familiar with this assessment format, I haven’t given you a sample answer

Submitting the assessment

Add your answers to this Word document, convert it to a PDF, then submit it via the drop box on
Moodle. You don’t need a cover sheet for this assessment.
 Horace Walpole

Strawberry Hill House, Twickenham, London, ca. 1749–1776

Early Modern
- The building incorporates a gothic style which was commonly seen during the
early modern period in Europe
- Lots of almost arched windows, something which was used lots during the
renaissance and baroque period
- Has tall towers which was seen during the period
 Allan Greenberg

Immaculate Conception Church, Annandale, New Jersey, 1992-96

Modern and Early Modern

- The use of the large column – like structures give the building a bit of a baroque or
renaissance feel, while it is still a more modern design which has incorporated a few
aspects of the early modern era
- The design is quite simple and only uses a few colours which give the impression of
a more modern design
- The design isn’t hiding any ‘special features’ or anything different from what is
shown on the right side on the side that isn’t showing
 Andrea Palladio

Villa Capra ‘La Rotonda,’ Vicenza, 1567-92

Early Modern
- Uses columns around the side, something which was commonly seen during the
baroque and renaissance periods
- Very symmetrical design that is reflected all around the design
- There are statues on the design, something that was often used during the period
of the baroque and renaissance
 Eileen Grey

E-1027, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France, 1926-29

[white house in the foreground, not the structures in the background]

Modern
- Very clean design that is working on the idea that ‘less is more’
- There are no ‘surprises’ to the building; what you see is what’s there and there is
nothing around the back
- Very simple colour palette that comprises of only a few colours
 Venturi and Scott Brown Architects & David Singer Architect

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, 1996

Postmodern
- Design uses a sculpture of sorts to create a more complex design
- There are hidden parts behind the building; you couldn’t guess what is on the sides
or the back
- The design incorporates many different colours to create the design