American Regions & Regionalism: An Architectural History of People, Place, and Period

This architectural history course examines the ways in which the interactions of people, place, and period have created distinctive regional patterns in the USA. Despite the homogenizing forces of mass culture and globalization, distinctive regional mosaics of landscape and architecture are still evident across the country.  We will investigate how and why different regions’ architectural identities evolved in the ways that they did. Our primary focus is pre-20th century when the forces of vernacular traditions were strongest, but we will also make forays into more recent trends of regionalism as an aesthetic choice, a theoretical stance, and an intentional place-making device. Students will complete several essay exams and an independent research project. Non-majors are welcome.