Taught In English

There is no language prerequisite for courses at this language level.

ARCH 3112 HISTORY of LATIN AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE

Course: History of Latin American Architecture

FUNDAMENTALS FOR THE COURSE
This course will be offered in English to overseas students taking Spanish intensive
courses with the Language Department, as an opportunity to expand the
knowledge of the Latin American culture and learn about its architecture and art,
adding credits to their university syllabus.

OBJECTIVES
Main objective:
To travel through time in Latin America, in order to grasp the main events and
influences that contributed to the making of past and present architecture,
analyzing the artistic manifestations and achieving a better understanding of the
culture. Through guided theoretical classes assisted by visual images, and the
visits to museums and specific sectors of San José, this course offers the
opportunity to expand the knowledge of the Latin American culture through the
history of its architecture and the richness of its art, with a closer look to the
diversity of the Latin American society and a general view of the land.
Instructive objective:
To broaden the experience of learning and challenge the analysis capacity through
exposure, individual investigation, on site observation, group analysis and general
discussions.

Specific objectives:
- To learn about pre-Columbian art and architecture in Latin America.
- To grasp the importance of the discovery and conquest of Latin America
and its consequences reflected in its art and architecture.
- To understand the colonial society and culture of Latin America.
- To analyze the various external influences in Latin American art and
architecture.
- To explore Latin American Art and Architecture today and its influence upon
the rest of the world.

CONTENTS
I. Introduction to Latin America
A. Brief History of Latin America: summary of historical events from the
discovery and conquest to this date.
B. Latin American Culture
1. Geography, Natural Environment and Resources
2. Ethnic groups
3. Politics and Economics
4. Social Organization and Religion
5. Artistic Manifestations
II. Pre-columbian Art and Architecture in Latin America
A. The Mayans
1. Social structure and economy
2. Religion
3. Arts and crafts
4. Architecture and cities
B. The Aztecs
1. Social structure and economy
2. Religion
3. The conquest of Mexico
4. Art and Architecture
C. The Incas
1. Social structure and economy
2. Religion
3. Conquest of Peru
4. Art and Architecture
III. Colonial Art and Architecture in Latin America
A. When America completed the World
B. Colonial culture
1. Social structure, economics and religion
2. Architecture: colonial settlements, religious architecture, the
courtyard house
3. Art: painting and sculpture
C. Independence Movements
IV. Baroque Art and Architecture
A. Painting and Sculpture
B. Religious Architecture

METHODOLOGY
- Theory presented with plenty of visual images and examples.
- Practice based on active participation of students in class discussions, on
site analysis and observation during the field trips.
- Individual exercise of applied art for group evaluation. Any form of art may
be suggested by the student, around the theme of pre-Columbian art.
- Individual investigation on a particular aspect of Latin American architecture
in the last century (of student’s choice)
- Three field trips
1. Visit to the Jade Museum and walk through Barrio Amon.
2. Visit to the Gold Museum, Central Park and San Jose Cathedral.
3. Visit to the National Museum.

EVALUATION SYSTEM
Class assistance, participation, individual and group class work………………30%
Pre-Columbian art assignment……………………………………………………..20%
Individual Investigation on Contemporary Latin American Architecture………..35%
Field trips………………………………………………………………………………15%

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Altezor, Carlos Arquitectura Urbana en Costa Rica exploración histórica 1900-
1950 Editorial Tecnológica de Costa Rica, 1986
Ancient Civilizations â€"Encyclopedia Edited by Athur Cotterell, Rainbard
Publishing Group Limited U.K., 1980
Arciniegas, German Cuando América completó la Tierra Villegas editores
Bogotá, Colombia, 2001
Barahona, L.D. Arquitectura Contemporanea Costarricense: reflexiones y
proyectos Grupo Pujol-Marti Costa Rica, 2000
Bayón, D. Sociedad y Arquitectura Colonial Sudamericana. Editorial Gustavo
Gili, S. A. España, 1974
Curtis, William Modern Architecture since 1900 Phaidon U.S.A. 1987
Dias Comas C. E. Latin American Architecture: a new generation. Spain, 1977
Fernandez, A. Un país, tres arquitecturas: art nouveau, neocolonial
hispanoamericano y art deco en Costa Rica 1900-1950. Editorial Tecnológica de
Costa Rica, 2003
Fonseca, E. Y Garnnier, J.E. Historia de la Arquitectura en Costa Rica Centro
Investigación Historica, UCR, 1998
Goessel, P. y Leuthauser, G. Arquitectura del Siglo XX Taschen Connecticut,
1973
Instituto Gallach Historia del Arte : Barroco Océano Barcelona, España.
Norberg-Schultz, C. Meaning in Western Architecture Cassell Limited London,
1980
Roett, Riordan Latin America: The Emerging Lands Charles E. Merrill Publishing
Co. Ohio, 1972
Steele, J. Architeecture Today Phaidon Press Limited London, 1996
Stierlin, H. Los Mayas: Palacios y Pirámides de la Selva Virgen Editorial Taschen
Londres, 1998
Tapia, R. Leyenda y Misterio de los Aztecas Olimpo Barcelona, 1997
Wiltzer, E. Aspectos de la Arquitectura Contemporánea en Colombia.
Trigrama Bogota, 1979