I. Select one building that interests you and that you can view in person (at least from the exterior). It should not be a building discussed in lecture, and it need not be a structure of “historic significance.” It can be your home, a house that you pass on the street, a business, library or fast-food stand. Carefully observe its exterior.
II. Research that structure, using resources available in the library (see list below) and on the internet. You probably will not be able to find material specific to your structure, but to related structures and styles.
III. Write a five to six pages double-spaced type-written paper, that addresses each of the following topics. You may address them in any order that makes sense and creates a cohesive essay. You will have to be extremely concise in order to cover all topics well within the five page format.
Location: Briefly, when did the neighborhood around the building develop? What was its relationship to transportation? (i.e. How did people get to this area when it was first built? Is it near former trolley lines? Modern freeways?)
Setting: Briefly describe the physical setting of the property. Does the site affect the building? What is the building’s relationship to the street, surrounding structures, and the landscape? Does the building fit in with surrounding structures, or is it differentiated from them by style, period, materials or in other ways?
Scale: How large is the structure in relation to surrounding elements and to the human viewer?
Patron and Architect (only if known): Who commissioned and designed the structure?
Style: (This is the most important section of your paper.) Consider the groundplan, roof shape, windows and doors, porches and decorative details. To what architectural period or style does the building belong? What characteristics of the style are evident? Are there elements that are not typical of the style? (Often, buildings combine characteristics of several styles, so what is most important is how you explain and justify your conclusions with specific analysis.)
Materials and Workmanship: What materials do you think were used for construction? (You may need to make an educated guess here.) Do the materials employed affect the structure and its appearance?
Texture and Color: Do these elements affect the visitor’s perception of the building?
Interior Spaces: (Only if you have access to the interior.) Is the arrangement of rooms significant?
Function: How is the building used? Is it suited to its purpose? Has its use changed over time?
Historical Context: Place the structure in a broader historical context. What was occuring in San Diego (or its location) at the time of construction? Is your building typical or exceptional for the period in which it was built? Helpful in this regard are: “San Diego History and Context Statement” pp. 15-51, in San Diego Modernism Context Statement (on Canvas, under Pages)
Photograph: Please include an image of the building that you have selected.
Footnotes and Bibliography: Information derived from your sources must be attributed in footnotes (not in-text citations) and the sources listed together in a bibliography. Chicago Style is required for art history courses. For help with citations, please go the SDSU library webpage: https://libguides.sdsu.edu/art using the Chicago/Turabian link at the left. The site includes links to the online Manual of Style, information on citations and examples of notes and bibliography. For an easy introduction to Chicago footnotes: https://www.easybib.com/guides/citation-guides/chi…
shows how to format a Chicago style document and add citations using Word’s citation machine.
Resources: Books on two-hour Reserve in the library:
Dirk Sutro, San Diego Architecture From Missions to Modern, (San Diego: Architectural
Foundation, 2002). A short neighborhood by neighborhood survey. Good background on the
history of each neighborhood.
Virginia and Lee McAlester, A Field Guide to American Houses, (New York: Knopf, 1984).
An invaluable source of information on housing styles and architectural terminology.
Other sources:
San Diego Modernism Context Statement available on Canvas (Pages)
www.sandiegohistory.org
www.modernsandiego.com
Please use extreme caution when employing non-academic websites, especially those of real estate agents and building contractors. They routinely misuse architectural terms and misidentify styles.
Please be clear, concise and organized. Standard English and neatness are important components in effective communication. Please do not hesitate to make an appointment to talk about your topic or for help in researching and organizing your paper. Assistance in paper writing is available at the SDSU Writing Center: https://writingcenter.sdsu.edue submitted. Do not email me your paper unless you experience printer failure. In that case, you must turn in a hard copy as soon as possible.
– Your paper must also be submitted on Canvas, under our course as a Turnitin Assignment.Requirements: 5 to 6 pages