San Gemini Preservation Studies 2009

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

Preliminary Syllabus & Schedule 

JCU Summer 1 ( May 24 – June 28 )

Course 1:

Surveying and Analyzing Historic Buildings  

(3 credits ) Course #: HA 212 or (HA 312)

Prof. Max Cardillo  

PREREQUISITES: none

OFFICE HOURS: by appointment

E-MAIL: mcardillo@johncabot.edu

CELL PHONE:

COURSE AIMS:

This course teaches students to perform complex, multidisciplinary surveys of historic buildings that record and document both the physical aspects of a building as well as the historic and cultural context in which it has evolved. The course is aimed at students who are interested in understanding, and in participating in the implementation of, the overall structure of a historic building survey. Though some students may not have all the technical skills to work on all aspects of the field survey, they will gain a good in-depth understanding of the whole process. The course is aimed primarily at students of architecture, art, history, art, restoration, anthropology and management of cultural heritage.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

• Forms and media used in documenting the physical nature of a built structure

• Traditional and modern tools for physical surveying

• Methods of surveying buildings

• Analyzing and documenting the state of building conservation

• Historical and cultural survey of buildings

• The contextual setting of a historic building:

               Historical structure of the Italian city

               Italian building types

               Traditional structural systems

               Traditional building technology in Italy

COURSE STRUCTURE

Daily lectures

Daily fieldwork surveying of the church of Santo Gemine

Site visits to ongoing preservation work in Italy

Assigned reading

Written assignment

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

We hope to impart to students specific skills in surveying, but most importantly to give them a good overview of the entire process. Different teams of surveyors with diverse skills often do this type of work and preservationists are often called to organize and manage the process. In such a situation, a good understanding of the whole process is just as important as the specific survey elements.

GRADING POLICY:

Mid-term exam 15%

Fieldwork 50%

Final exam 15%

Term Paper 20%

List of Lectures

The fieldwork includes further instruction into the use of survey tools and various recording and documentation methods.

In this class we will not teach students to draft either by hand or using computers. Since most non-architecture students do not possess this training, we organize the work teams with mixed educational background and assign tasks to each member based on the skills they possess or are interested in learning during the course.

Useful skills in this program:

Drafting with AutoCAD, Digital Photography, Photoshop

Useful tools:

Laptop computers, digital camera, AutoCAD and Photoshop software

READINGS:

Hearder, H & Waley, D.P., A Short History of Italy. Cambridge University Press

Peter Connolly & Hazel Dodge, The Ancient City. Oxford University Press

Stafford Holmes & Michael Wingate, Building with Lime ,ITDG Publishing (Chapters 1-10)

Jean-Pierr Adam, Roman Building : Materials and Techniques ,Taylor & Francis, Inc.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENTS:

Field work: Complete various assignments that are given as part of field project

Term paper #1:  8 page paper on a topic to be assigned

Term paper #2:  8 page paper on a topic to be assigned (only HA312)

Exam: Will have mixed format as a quiz and essay questions

ACADEMIC HONESTY. As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.

Course 2:

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

San Gemini Preservation Program – Summer 2009

Introduction to Art and Architectural Restoration in Italy   

(3 credits ) Course #: HA 211 or (HA 311)  

Instructor: Prof. Nikos Vakalis  

course number to be posted so on

PREREQUISITES: none

OFFICE HOURS: by appointment

E-MAIL:

CELL PHONE:

COURSE AIMS:

This course introduces students to restoration. It explores the traditional materials and techniques used by Italian artists and architects, the causes of deterioration of these materials over time and the different approaches to their restoration and conservation. The emphasis is on masonry buildings building restoration however restoration of sculpture and painting is extensively explored. The course is aimed primarily at students of architecture, art, history, art, restoration, anthropology and management of cultural heritage.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

• Introduction to the nature of traditional materials and methods used by artists (stone, cements, mortars and plasters, mural painting, wood, ceramics, glass, stained, glass, mosaic)

• The causes of material deterioration both natural and anthropic

• Traditional methods of restoration

• Modern methods of restoration and preservation

• Understanding modern approaches to restoration

• Hands on experience working on the façade restoration of the church of Santo Gemine

COURSE STRUCTURE:

Daily lectures

Daily fieldwork on the stonework on the façade of the church of Santo Gemine

Site visits to ongoing preservation work in Italy

Assigned reading

Written assignment

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The objective of this course is to introduce students to the physical nature of traditional materials used by architects and artists and how they deteriorate over time from the impact of use and natural weathering. Students will also be introduced to the different approaches to the restoration and conservation of the materials. The theoretical learning will be complemented by hands on experience in the field project restoring the façade of the church of Santo Gemine.

GRADING POLICY:    

Mid-term exam 15%

Final exam 15%

Field Work 50%

Written Assignment 20%

 List of Lectures

READINGS: 

To be announced

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENTS:

Field work: Complete various assignments that are given as part of field project

Term paper #1:  8 page paper on a topic to be assigned

Term paper #2:  8 page paper on a topic to be assigned (only HA311)

Exam: Will have mixed format as a quiz and essay questions

ACADEMIC HONESTY. As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.