This course consists of 4 lessons in a Standard Language Course plus 2 private tutorials on the language of architecture, each day.

The course is designed for students who are already experts in the field of architecture and who are interested in Italian architectural language for reasons of work or study. The program focuses on various aspects of architecture, aiming at providing students with the basic vocabulary and professional expressions that are most often used. Since it is held that a dry presentation of vocabulary on the subject matter would be of little practical use, each of the fields will be covered through the analysis of “texts” that are presented on video tapes and in written form. Through the study and discussion of texts, the basic vocabulary of the specific topic is laid out. After identifying the basic technical vocabulary and expressions, the student is helped to assimilate them through targeted exercises and discussions. Site visits to monuments and other buildings in the city are generally included in the course.

Topics that may be discussed during the course:

1. A general outline of the History of Architecture

2. Roman and Byzantine architecture

3. Romanesque and Gothic

4. Renaissance architecture

5. Baroque

6. Neo-Classical

7. 20th-century architecture

8. Contemporary architecture

9. The Physics, Science and Technique of building: light intensity and illumination; building material; loads and beams; traditional building materials; reinforced concrete

10. Vaults and arches

11. Perspective

12. The cupola

13. Architectural types

14. Architectural restoration

Since the field of architecture is extremely broad and cannot be covered in a thorough manner in the few available lessons, students may begin the course by planning with the instructor a program with a narrower focus on the basis of their needs, with a concentration on only several topics. In particular, if a student needs to increase his expertise in a specific area for professional reasons, we recommend that he inform us before arriving in order to give the instructor sufficient time to prepare a specific program with selected texts. For example, if a student works in the field of architectural restoration, the focus of the course could fall on traditional building materials, the quality of the materials and on the building sciences. If a student is instead interested in the History of Architecture, topics could include the styles and evolution of architectural elements through time, etc.