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80 309 Architecture in the Welfare State

Credits: 
6
Full course name in Norwegian Bokmål: 
Arkitektur i velferdstaten
Course code: 
80 309
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching semester: 
2017 Autumn
Assessment semester: 
2017 Autumn
Language of instruction: 
English
Year: 
2017
Maximum number of students: 
15
Person in charge
Guttorm Ruud
Course content

In the postwar period between 1945 and 1975, architecture and urban planning were central instruments in the realization of the universalist welfare state policies known as the Nordic Model, built on the idea that welfare should be distributed to everyone. Armed with new rational planning ideas and using modern technology, architects and planners created satellite towns with mass-produced housing, modern urban infrastructure, and new institutions and social centers, transforming city and society.

The satellite towns have been criticized for being poor living environments that foster social problems, while residents say they thrive. Some critics think that this type of post-war urban development was a gigantic social mistake, and that we today fortunately know better. Others mourn a past where collective concerns and needs was the foundation for state politics and urban developments, and see the same post-war urban developments as great achievements by heroic architects. In the course, we will look at the satellite towns in a historical perspective in order to understand past and ongoing relationships between architecture, politics and society.

Learning outcome

The students will gain knowledge of the history of relationship between welfare state and architecture in the post-war period. They will acquire competence in understand historical specificity of planning and architectural design as a result of changing political, economic and social conditions. Trough writing an essay the students will develop skills in critical writing with presentation of evidence, argument and conclusion.

Working and learning activities

The course is built up with foundational lectures on the subject, as well as thematic lectures and workshops to discuss approaches and research questions for project assignments. Students will work with and get feedback on their project in parallel with lectures throughout the semester.

Curriculum

Curriculum will be decided later.

Form of assessmentGroupingGrading scaleComment
Project assignmentIndividualPass / failThe assessment will be based on a project assignment is the form of an scientific essay (3-4000 words) to be handed in at the end of the semester. A passed course requires that the student in the project assignment shows knowledge about the themes that has been presented in lectures and curriculum in use of references, critical reflection over the themes in the selection and development of a research question and arguments, and good skills in structuring and presenting this in writing.
Vurderinger:
Form of assessment:Project assignment
Grouping:Individual
Grading scale:Pass / fail
Comment:The assessment will be based on a project assignment is the form of an scientific essay (3-4000 words) to be handed in at the end of the semester. A passed course requires that the student in the project assignment shows knowledge about the themes that has been presented in lectures and curriculum in use of references, critical reflection over the themes in the selection and development of a research question and arguments, and good skills in structuring and presenting this in writing.
Workload activityComment
LecturesPresence at foundational lectures
Presence at thematic lectures
CurriculumReading curriculum of foundational texts
Participation in discussions on curriculum (books and articles)
Written assignments Participation in writing training
Forventet arbeidsinnsats:
Workload activity:Lectures
Comment:Presence at foundational lectures
Presence at thematic lectures
Workload activity:Curriculum
Comment:Reading curriculum of foundational texts
Participation in discussions on curriculum (books and articles)
Workload activity:Written assignments
Comment: Participation in writing training