Architecture and the Built Environment

 

World Fair New York 1964

This week our guest presenter is my friend and colleague, Dr. Christopher Wilson who is an architect and an architectural historian. In order for us to spend the maximum time on helping you with the concept and design of your Worlds Fair Pavilion, Dr. Wilson has asked you to watch two presentations he has on the basics of building and architecture.  Those presentation are linked on the Activity Page for this week.  Dr. Wilson wants to focus on the way architecture reflects ideas and ideology and to that end has asked you to look at portions of a well known film, a propaganda film for Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich,  This film is also linked to the Activity Page along with the list of the specific minutes in the film Dr. Wilson would like you to watch. We are asking to watch this film because it is very clear in how it uses architecture to advance its political ideals and cultural ideals. This is even more dangerous and disturbing because the film is very well crafted by its director, Leni Reifenstahl.

There are number of additional videos to help you with the concept and design of your Pavilion.  Dr. Wilson will spend some time in class on Tuesday morning discussing World's Fairs and the history of Themed Architecture. 

Dr. Wilson has added some questions you should ask your partner to be clear about before you start planning the building of the Pavilion representing their planet. Those questions are also on the Activity Page and have been added to the Worldbuilding Questionnaire.

Here is the Link to this Week's Activity Page.