The midterm will generally consist of a three parts:
One: questions on about 5 sets of images drawn from the Study Sets. You will be shown an image of a building or particular urban feature, asked to identify it as closely as possible (type of image, name of what is represented, general date and location) and then explain its general significance in light of the lectures and readings.
Two: You will be shown a pair of images (again, from the Study Sets) and asked to compose a short essay in which you discuss the significance of the two with respect to one another. What traits do they share? How do they differ? What core principles do they both illustrate?
Three: A short essay question based on ideas drawn from readings or lectures that will ask you to discuss an aspect of urban design or history. You will be given a choice of at least two questions. This will be allocated the greatest amount of time.
The Tower of London, built in successive stages, but the early core, the fortified White Tower was built in 1078 by Wm. The Conqueror. 1100-1952 used as a prison, but earlier as Royal Residence, storage/treasury, fort, 12 acres, including a former moat, fortification walls and other structures. 6 acres around the tower area known as the Liberties, actively auxiliary to the territory. Entrance above ground level accessed by removable wooden stairs.
Note the preponderance of ecclesiastical properties in 1300. What was the relationship of the monarchy to the Church? To the other nobles? To the townspeople?
How did the monarch use architecture and urban planning to consolidate his power against rival factions?
How did the natural seRng support a seSlement at this loca:on? What were some of the advantages and disadvantages?
These questions are addressed in the reading assignment by Wolfgang Braunfels.
You should be prepared to discuss these ques:ons and provide examples for the midterm.
Illustration by HJ Brewer.
Builder Magazine, 1884.
What can you say about the relationship of the monarchy to the Church based on the various buildings represented in this sketch?
How did this complex support both royal and civilian governance?
What other kinds of activities were supported here?
Can you determine the source of food and water based on this image?
Again, review the Braunfels reading for basic information.
St. James Palace, ca. 1660, before the Great Fire (1666), the main entrance today. Built by Henry VIII from 1531-6 on the grounds of a disused leper hospital, he drained the swamp in the adjacent area for a royal hunting ground (now St. James Park). The style was consistent with late Gothic buildings of the period and retains a fortress like appearance. Now used mainly for charitable and family functions such as christenings.
Why did Henry (or the monarchy in general) feel the need for so many palaces? How were they used as an adjunct to securing and maintaining power?
City of London, with St. Paul's, the Temple district, and the Bank of England. The Temple references the Knights Templar a militant Catholic order (Temple of King Solomon) who were active in the Crusades, but disbanded in 1312. They morphed into the Knights Hospitalier and retained much of the property, with some given to the Mayor of London by Edward II. Leaseholds to lawyers in this area date to the 1320's. Ader the Crown seized the assets of the Church in the 1540's, taxes once paid to the Church now came into the Royal coffers and the extant buildings became his to use or dispense of as he saw fit. Various legal associations expanded in the area they had traditionally occupied. So the presence of the 4 inns of court, (Inner & Middle Temples; Lincoln's Inn; Gray's Inn) in this area has a long pedigree and these Inns comprise the main professional Barrister associations. The Royal Courts of Justice (in the City of Westminster) and the Bank of England(London) date to the 19th centuries.
You should familiarize yourself with the basic geographical features in each city and be prepared to discuss the lay of the land. What features contributed to the establishment of a city in either place? How did these natural features influence the further development of each? How can you account for the differences that you see in the growth of each? To what extent were these a product of the governing bodies? How did public and private concerns influence these developments? Be prepared to offer particular examples in answering exam questions.
Hans Holbein, d.j. Portrait of Henry VIII (1537-47) Reign 1509-47. In the adermath of his break with the Church of Rome and the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the King oversaw the development of early modern London via a mammoth transfer of property from the Church to the Crown and some, the reader, to private interests for development.
Below: Henri IV, King of Gaul and Navarre (Henry III 1572-1610). Ruler of France (1589-1610). Known as Henri le Bon and Henri le Grand, he inaugurated important real estate developments that served as models of urban design that would temper and direct development in the city for the next several centuries. Today: Pont Neuf (new bridge); Places Royale (des Vosges) and Dauphine; all projects undertaken, and mostly completed during his reign.
How did either monarch use architecture and manipulate urban space to their advantage?
How did their styles of governance influence their interventions in the built environment of their respective capital cities?
How did their need to accommodate rival factions, groups, or powerful institutions influence their behaviors?
You should be prepared to discuss specific projects that each ruler developed in light of the issues listed above.
Place Royale (now Place des Vosges) constructed on the former Hotel des Tournelles near the Porte St. Antoine for Henri IV. 1605-12. Originally intended as a silk manufacturing district with shops and residences, the square soon became an exclusive residential district instead. Only recently did shops and restaurants move back into the ground floor arcades. Henri intended that this new manufacturing center would aSract Italian silk masters who could instruct and establish the crad among Parisian workers. The establishment of Paris as a center for silk production would cut down on imports and increase national income. Shortly ader they were constructed, the plans changed and the workshops were demolished. The square became purely residential. It served as a model for future developments in the city and became an exemplary combination of public and private space.
What is distinctive about this group of houses?
Place Dauphine, ca. 1612. Clockwise from upper right: View west from courtyard, View east from Pont Neuf with two end pavilions, Air view with Pont Neuf, Place Dauphine at the western end of the Ile de la Cité. Below: Pont Neuf (1599-1606) detail looking south.
In your assigned readings for Week I, Wolfgang Braunfels discusses the historical importance of the Ile de la Cité in the development of Paris. You should be familiar with the background of this area.
What sorts of activities took place there? How did the three major players in the development of Paris: Church, Crown, and the masses, intermingle and work together in this crowded space?
How did Henri IV's new plans affect life there?
What, if anything, did the Place Dauphine have in common with the Place Royale?
How did these developments fit into the idea of enlightened governance?
How did the introduction of key infrastructural improvements like the Pont Neuf help to improve the flow of traffic?
Answering all question from study set. No word limit, try to keep it short.
Assignment Files -
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6z9vhonc2j6biqr/Assignment%20Files.rar?dl=0