Course Syllabus

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20th and 21st Century Danish Architecture

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Semester & Location:

Spring - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:

Elective 3 credits
Major Disciplines:

Architecture, Design
Faculty:

Sine Lindholm, sinelindholm@gmail.com
Program Director:

Henning Martin-Thomsen, ht@dis.dk
Time & Place:

Tue and Fri 8:30-9:50 in V10A-32

Description of course

Danish Architecture as seen in a political, social and economic context, and in relation to general Nordic and global architectural developments.

The course introduces key developments and influences within the built environment in Denmark with a special emphasis on the relation between the development of the welfare state and Danish architecture. Danish architects and works of architecture from the 20th and 21st century are introduced and studied. Throughout the course, the focus changes between chronological and thematic narratives and analysis; the learning environment between lectures and field studies, developing the ability to identify, analyse and discuss qualities of architecture.

We discuss the impact of architecture history itself as a means to shape our understanding of architecture by going through various mainstream and critical explanations of the same developments, placing the same works of architecture in changing contexts. 

A central element in the course is to develop a holistic method of analyzing the built environment based on Erik Nygaard's proposed model of understanding architecture based on its conception, its form and its reception within a framework of socio-cultural factors.

Learning objectives of the course

At the end of the course you will be able to:

  • Demonstrate an understanding of Danish and Nordic architecture and the historical context of its development.
  • Demonstrate an enhanced ability to contribute your own informed analyses and criticism, based on discussions in class as well as readings, assignments, field trips, and case studies.
  • Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the relation between key developments in the Danish welfare state model and Danish architecture in the 20th and 21st century

Faculty

Sine Lindholm: Architect MAA (Aarhus School of Architecture, 2014). Own practice since 2014 working with a phenomenological focus and experimental approach in architectural assignments, competitions, and artistic work from stay at artist residencies. Former employed at SLETH, AVPD, BriqGroup. With DIS since 2016..

Readings

  • Bendsen, Jannie Rosenberg. “The Value of Values” Arkitektur DK 2010: 53–54.
  • de Neergaard, Maja, and Jesper Pagh. “Welfare’s Space as Architecture-Historical Construction.” Forming Welfare. Ed. Jannie Rosenberg Bendsen et al. Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press, 2017. 252–263.
  • Dirckinck-Holmfeld, Kim. "Welfare for Everyone" Danish Architecture Since 1754. Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press, 2007. 237-310.
  • Dirckinck-Holmfeld, Kim. "The Modern Breakdown" Danish Architecture Since 1754. Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press, 2007. 311-395.
  • Fisker, Kay. "The Moral of Functionalism" Nordic Architects Write. Abingdon: Routledge, 2008. 35-39
  • Harlang, Christoffer. “Danish Introduction.” Nordic Architects Write. Ed. Michael Asgaard Andersen. Abingdon: Routledge, 2008. 9–17.
  • Jensen, Boris Brorman, and Kristoffer Lindhardt Weiss. “Liberation, the Death of Utopia and the Big Community Machine.” Art of Many. Ed. Boris Brorman Jensen and Kristoffer Lindhardt Weiss. Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press, 2016. 196–205.
  • Jensen, Boris Brorman. “The Prelude to the Breakthrough.” Arkitektur DK, vol. 56, no. 2, 2012, pp. 90–93.
  • Kjeldsen, Kjeld et al., eds.: New Nordic. Architecture & Identity. Humlebæk: Louisiana Museum, 2012.
  • Lund, Nils-Ole. “The Nordic” Nordic Architecture. Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press, 2008. 22–34.
  • Lund, Nils-Ole. “The Danish Tradition” Nordic Architecture. Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press, 2008. 56-85
  • Lund, Nils-Ole. “The Requirement of Authenticity” Nordic Architecture. Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press, 2008. 124-155.
  • Nielsen, Tom. “Ethics, Aesthetics and Contemporary Urbanism.” Nordisk Arkitekturforskning, no. 2, 2004, pp. 23–46.
  • Nygaard, Erik. “Introduktion.” Arkitektur Forstået. Transl. Henning Thomsen. Copenhagen: Bogværket, 2011. 8–11.
  • Pagh, Jesper. “Follow the Food: How Eating and Drinking Shape Our Cities.” Sustainable Consumption and the Good Life, edited by Karen Lykke Syse and Martin Lee Mueller, Routledge, 2015.
  • Pagh, Jesper, ed. Arkitektur DK 2. Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press, 2013. Arkitektur DK 02-2013.pdf 
  • Pagh, Jesper, ed. Arkitektur DK 3. Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press, 2013. Arkitektur DK 03-2013.pdf
  • Pagh, Jesper. “From the Common Good to the Common Market.” Forming Welfare, edited by Katrine Lotz et al., The Danish Architectural Press, 2017, pp. 28–41.Preview the document
  • Rasmussen, Steen Eiler. “Basic Observations.” Nordic Architects Write. Ed. Michael Asgaard Andersen. Abingdon: Routledge, 2008.41-49.
  • Swenarton, Mark, Tom Avermaete, and Dirk van den Heuvel. “Introduction.” Architecture and the Welfare State. Abingdon: Routledge, 2015. 1–23.
  • Sørensen, Erik Christian “On Form, In Space” Nordic Architects Write. Ed. Michael Asgaard Andersen. Abingdon: Routledge, 2008. 50-59.
  • Thomsen, Henning. “The Rise of the Welfare Society” Arkitektur DK 57.2 (2013): 4–13
  • Vindum, Kjeld, and Kristoffer Lindhardt Weiss. “A Conversation About the Architecture of the New Wave.” The New Wave in Danish Architecture. Ed. Kjeld Vindum and Kristoffer Lindhardt Weiss. Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press, 2012. 364–376.
  • Weiss, Kristoffer Lindhardt. “The Pragmatic Turn.” The New Wave in Danish Architecture. Ed. Kjeld Vindum and Kristoffer Lindhardt Weiss. Copenhagen: The Danish Architectural Press, 2012. 14–21.

Approach to Teaching

The class is based on lectures, dialogues and in-class discussions of the topics in the required readings and exemplary case studies. Field trips and guest lectures are also included. Assigned texts must be read in advance of the class. Reading should be focused on acquiring an in-depth understanding of the text, based on the reading guide, supplied in the course litterature.

Expectations of the students

Active participation, individual research, and personal reflection are required for this course, which offers various ways of approaching architecture as well as various ways of achieving knowledge within the field of society and the built environment.

Field studies

The field studies are the primary experiential learning components of the course. These activities should be viewed as an integrated component of the lecture course. The visits will illustrate and expand directly upon the content of the lectures and readings. 

Assignments

THE ASSIGNMENTS BELOW HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED TO ACCOMMODATE REMOTE LEARNING - SEE ASSIGNMENTS FOLDER FOR UPDATED INFO.

During the course, you will be given three assignments each serving to practice and demonstrate your skills within the learning goals of the course:

Essay

In the essay assignment you will contrast and compare two different buildings, that we have visited together on our first longer field study. Drawing on texts by Rasmussen and Nygaard, you will exercise your own personal impressions and reflections and how to convey this in writing. Max. 3,000 characters.

Reflection

Halfway through the course, a lecture is replaced by a "quiz" requiring you to write a series of 3 short, critical reflections (chosen out of 5 possible ones) on our lectures, discussions, field studies and readings so far. A good answer is usually between 200 and 400 words.

Presentation

This assignment is a group effort – a presentation focusing on a case study of your own choice, covering the political, social and economic context of a project as well as a description of the actual work. The assignment is presented in the beginning of the course, and guidelines for the presentation will be discussed during the course.

 

Grading

Assignment

Percent
Adjusted for remote learning: Participation (active individual participation in class and on field studies)

30%

Essay

20%

Adjusted for remote learning: Case Study Presentation

 50%

 

Academic Regulations

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org

Course Summary:

Date Details Due