The Story of Modern Architecture

London skyline

At a Glance:

  • Classroom course (South Kensington)
  • 10 weeks | November - February
  • Wednesdays 18:00 - 20:00
  • Fees from £135
  • Tutor: Dr David McKinstry

 

Booking link

Enrolment deadline

Courses starting in November 2023

  • 1 November 2023

Although the phenomenon we still call Modern Architecture emerged over a hundred years ago, it is a style that still stirs strong emotions, pitting those who love modern buildings against those who loathe them. But whether you love or hate modern architecture, it is a style that is all around us, and which has come to define the look of the past century.

On this course we are invited to join eminent architectural historian, Dr David McKinstry, on an exploration into the history of modern architecture.

Starting with the origins of modern architecture in late nineteenth-century industrial and commercial buildings, we will journey through its transformation, first through the anti-industrial arts and crafts movement, and then into the rationalist philosophy of the Bauhaus School of Art, ending with the styles of architecture we see around us today.

Focussing on a number of key architects, such as Adolf Loos, Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe, as well as major movements in architecture, we will discover not only influential examples of modern architecture but the philosophy that underpinned this historical and contemporary form of building.

Class Recordings

These classes are not recorded

 

Attendance Certificate

 

Successful completion of this course leads to the award of an Imperial College attendance certificate

 

Terms and conditions apply to all enrolments to this course. Please read them before enrolment

Course Information

Course Programme (may be subject to modification)

Autumn Term:

  1. Architecture and the Industrial Revolution
  2. Back to Nature: Arts and Crafts
  3. Art Nouveau and Secessionism
  4. Adolf Loos and Le Corbusier
  5. An American Revolution: Frank Lloyd Wright

** Christmas break **

Spring Term:

  1. Less is More: Bauhaus and Aesthetic Functionalism
  2. Moderne and Art Deco: Popular Modernism?
  3. The ‘International Style’
  4. Brutalist but brutal?
  5. More is More - Post-Modernism

David McKinstry is a renowned specialist in design history, formerly secretary to the Georgian Society and adviser to London local government on development applications for historical buildings in the city. He works as a freelance urban design and conservation professional within local government and recently completed a DPhil on metropolitan Italianate architecture at the University of Oxford. His research interests are broad and include urban design and civic and commercial architecture, particularity in relation to 19th-century Europe.

WeeksStandard RateInternal RateAssociate Rate
10 Early Bird: £226
Full price: £252
 Early Bird: £135
Full price: £150		 Early Bird: £178
Full price: £198
All fee rates quoted are for the whole course. Early Bird rates available 1 August to 30 September 2023 only. Part-payments are not possible.

 

Rate Categories and Discounts


Standard Rate

  • Available to all except those who fall under the Internal Rate or Associate Rate category.

Internal Rate

  • Current Imperial College students and staff (incl. Imperial NHS Trust, Imperial Innovations, ancillary & service staff employed on long-term contracts at Imperial College by third-party contractors)
  • People enrolling under our Friends & Family scheme
  • Alumni of Imperial College and predecessor colleges and institutes, including City & Guilds College Association members
  • Students, staff and alumni of the Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music and City, UAL and the City and Guilds of London Art School
  • Students, staff and Governors of Woodhouse College and the IC Mathematics School

Associate Rate

  • Austrian Cultural Forum staff
  • Co-operative College members
  • Francis Crick Institute staff, researchers and students
  • Friends and Patrons of the English Chamber Orchestra
  • Friends of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens
  • Friends of Leighton House/ Sambourne House
  • Friends of the Royal College of Music
  • Harrods staff
  • Historic Royal Palaces staff
  • Lycee Charles de Gaulle staff
  • Members of the Friends of Imperial College
  • Members of the Kennel Club
  • Members of the London Zoological Society
  • Members of the South London Botanical Institute (SLBI)
  • Members of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
  • National Health Service (NHS) employees
  • Natural History Museum staff
  • Residents of postcodes SW3, SW5, SW7, SW10 and W8
  • Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council staff
  • Royal Geographical Society staff
  • Science Museum staff
  • Staff of Exhibition Road Cultural Group (Discover South Kensington) organisations
  • Students (non-Imperial College)
  • Teachers and other staff of UK schools
  • Tutors and other staff of institution members of the Association of Colleges
  • Tutors and other staff of other universities and higher education institutions
  • Victoria and Albert Museum staff

Late enrolment

It is possible to enrol on many of our adult education courses after the course has already started. For non-language courses this is subject entirely to agreement by the tutor. For language courses it is subject to agreement by the language coordinator conducting level assessment. If you want to join a course late do bear in mind there might be work you will need to catch up on, particularly in language courses.

Friends and Family Scheme

This course is eligible for allowing Imperial College students and staff to share their discount with their friends and family.

WeeksAutumn termSpring termSummer term
 10 Week commencing 13 November to week ending 16 December 2023 (5 weeks) Week commencing 8 January to week ending 10 February 2024 (5 weeks) n/a
Term 1 and 2 are separated by the Christmas break

Web enrolment starts 1 August 2023. Early bird discounts are available from 1 August to 30 September 2023

Enrolment and payment run through the Imperial College eStore. When enrolling:

  • Do check on the drop down menu above called "Course Fees and Rate Categories" to see if you are eligible for a discounted rate and also do make sure you select that rate when enrolling on the eStore
  • If you are a first-time eStore user you will need to create an account before enrolling. You can do this by entering an email address and password. This account can then be used for any future enrolments via the eStore.

When you have enrolled you will be sent the following email notifications:

What is sentWhen is it sentWhat does it contain
1. Payment confirmation Is sent straight away following submission of your online application
  • This is a receipt for your payment and includes payment date, order number and course title
  • Confirmation of your place on your chosen course will follow later as long as the course recruits enough students to run. If not you will receive a refund of your payment.
2. Enrolment confirmation Is usually sent within 10 working days. Please treat your payment confirmation as confirmation that your applicant details and payment have been received
  • Confirms your course choice
  • Shows your course's term dates
  • Confirms the day and time of your course
3. Programme information Is usually sent on Friday late afternoon the week before term starts
  • Contains joining instructions for your course, either online or in the classroom, depending on the course
 
  • If you need further help with the above information please ring 020 7594 8756 / +44 20 7594 8756.
  • All enrolments are provisional until the course is confirmed to run. This will be dependent on the course reaching the minimum number of enrolments.
  • All enrolments are subject to our Terms and Conditions. It is not possible to join one of our courses without agreeing to be bound by our Terms and Conditions.

If you have any questions about the academic content or teaching of this course please contact the Course Tutor, Dr David McKinstry, dfmckinstry@gmail.com

If you have any questions about your enrolment or payment processes please contact the Programme Administrator, Christian Jacobi, eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk