A4351 Formal Structure in Central Asian Architecture
History/Theory SeminarKlaus Herdeg
INTRODUCTION
This research seminar is the seventh in a series going back to 1980 conducted at this school. By dint of varying interests of instructor and students each of the previous six have taken on a different coloration. this is why this course is variously listed as Formal Structure in Central Asian Architecture and Formal Structure in Islamic Architecture. For instance, in the second seminar the Silk Route all the way from Venice to Peking became an important element of discussion. Being by definition a research seminar, I hope this year s work will be equally open-ended, yet, in hindsight coherent for all participants.
It is not so much the presentation or explication of Central Asian architecture in a historical sense which this seminar offers, but the examination, study and interpretation of what are popularly thought to be exotic artifacts, buildings and cities with acute vision and the mind of a detective. Images and drawings are our text.
Suffice it for now to draw your attention to the work done in the first seminars at Columbia (for your perusal on reserve with Karla in 404 Avery) and to emphasize the comparative method in which all seminar work will be conducted.
WORK FORMAT
1. A series of presentations by the instructor and selected guests as well as group discussions.
2. A presentation by each student to the seminar, in primarily GRAPHIC FORM, of research topic of particular interest to that student. The topic is to be defined in consultation with the instructor. Usually one particular condition is compared to another in order to reveal contrast and similarity. For instance, they may both be houses, one in 17th century Iran and the other in 17th cen tury Turkistan, China or France; or you may want to compare two varying urban fabrics, public institutions, gardens or miniatures/paintings, etc. If the topic warrants, two students might want to collaborated. The topic may also be thematic if visual presentation is possible.
3. Incorporating the discussion among the seminar participants and cogent criticism at the time of class presentation, is then written up and illustrated to yield the final result: a paper which may be gathered with others into a seminar report.
SAMPLE PRESENTATION TOPICS
- The Taj Mahal vs. Katsura Palace: A Comparison of a Mughal and a Japanese Garden
- Discreet Spaces vs. an all-encompassing space: Hagia Sophia vs. Sultan Ahmet Mosque, Istanbul
- The Architectural Qualities of Two Complexes of Buildings at Chengde, China
- Reality and Image of the Garden Idea in Built Form and as a Carpet
- Bazaars in Bukhara and Isfahan: What do they have in common; what is different between them?
- City making in South India: The influence of Religious Rituals
- A Comparison of Traditional Islamic and Hindu Kitchens: The respective role of women
- Comparative Study of an Iranian and a Chinese House; particularly its open Spaces
- Early Cairo Architecture Contrasted to its Counterpart in Bukhara
- A Formal Structural Study Comparing Korean Characters and Architecture to their Chinese Counterparts