"CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE IN THE USA -
Characteristics and Trends of Biggest American Cities' Urban Environment"
a free and open course for the students at the Faculty of Architecture
by Dimitar L. Andreytchin, Architect, Associate Professor,
Department of Industrial Buildings’ Design, Faculty of Architecture,
University of Architecture, Construction and Geodesy.
Summary:
The open course "Contemporary American Architecture" was established officially in 1992, after a long reaserch and active lecturing at different institutions ever since 1983. The course is a result of the lecturer's stays, visits and trips in the USA:
1. 9 months in 1982/83 - at the Johns Hopkins University - Baltimore,Md, and a round trip of the US.
2. June and July, 1990 - Baltimore, New York City, Los Angeles.
3. 9 months in 1996/97 - as a Fulbright Grantee and Visiting professor at the California State Polytechnic University at Pomona (Los Angeles), Ca, and a round trip of the US.
The course aims at satisfying students’ and teachers’ interest in leading American architecture, in particular, during the last decades.
The lectures systematically follow the newest trends in the field of Design as well as the implementation of the latest scientific and engineering achievements in Construction in the U.S.A. Over 1800 slides (on two screens) are shown during each term, and so are videos.
Please, note:
As the course is changing every year, the programs following here below are just samples giving its image to the audience.
“THE GREATEST ARCHITECTS OF THE 20th CENTURY“
First in 1998/99, then in 2001/02, also in 2004/05 and 2005/06, each time with new names and topics added.
Annotation:
This long series is trying to resume the achievements and the contribution of the famous American architects to the unique urban image of the 20th century.
Besides, the complete retrospect of the Contemporary Architecture needs ”Bridges over the Ocean” back to the Modern Origins of the European Design. Some lectures are dedicated to German, British, Dutch, and French Architects, so that the two-way links of influence between Europe, America and Asia would be followed in different periods.
At the same time - like a red thread - a thesis is being justified that recently Styles and Schools in Architecture have not been as important as the personal influence and the break-through of prominent tallented architects - inexhaustible and unpredictable in their quest for new ways in Architecture.
1998-99, Fall: THE GREATEST ARCHITECTS OF THE 20th CENTURY - I part
08.10. WASHINGTON, D.C. - THE EUROPEAN STYLE CAPITAL OF THE USA (Introduction)
History and urban development;
The Authors of some important Federal institutions' designs.
15.10. FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT - The Master Teacher
A Genius at the Drawing Desk - his biography in his works.
(Continuation from May 22, 1998.)
22.10. MY FULBRIGHT YEAR IN LOS ANGELES
Teaching at the California State Polytechnic University in Pomona;
The Architectural Education in the USA.
29.10. MIES VAN DER ROHE – “Less Is More”
The ‘Bauhaus’ Teachers at the American Schools of Architecture;
The Era of the International Style.
05.11. RICHARD NEUTRA - “Survival Through Design“ of an European Californian
The unique fascination of his houses;
Living in the Neutra House: My experience climbing the same stairway up.
12.11. 100-STOREYED OR 001-STOREYED AMERICA?
Housing in the USA: Traditions and innovations;
The American architects’ contribution to the contemporary home image.
19.11. PHILLIP JOHNSON - The Metamorphosises of a Long Career
From the International Style Aesthetics to the AT&T ‘Cheependale’ Tower in N.Y.;
“Instant Cities in Texas” (Video from the BBC-serial “Architecture at Crossroads”)
26.11. A WEEKEND DAY AT THE MALL - More on Open and Covered Public Spaces
Shopping as comfortable relaxation - a part of the ‘American Way of Life’.
“New Market Places” (Video from the BBC-serial “Architecture at the Crossroads”)
03.12. IO MING PEI - The Inexhaustible
The Chinese-born American architect and his partners - always on the top;
Museums and Skyscrapers all over the World.
10.12. SIR NORMAN FOSTER - and “All the Queen’s Men”
The British ‘High-tech’ Invasion to World Architecture at the end of 20-th Cent.
“The Bank of Hong Kong and the Dragon’s Tale” - a true “Feng Shui” story.
17.12. WALKING THE STREETS OF BALTIMORE
The successful renovation of the old Downtown by preserving the urban structure,
and the specific atmosphere of the city. The same approach in other old cities.
1998/99, Spring: THE GREATEST ARCHITECTS OF THE 20th CENTURY - II part
19.03. ON THE ROAD AGAIN - THE AUTOMOBILE COUNTRY
Architecture created for people but subordinated to the automobile:
Multi-storey carparks, bus terminals, gaz stations, road junctions, etc.
02.04. THE AIRPORT - ARCHITECTURE AND SYMBOLISM
Architectural concepts of some larger airports:
”J.F.K.”,”Newark”, ”Dulles”, Los Angelis (LAX) Airport, the new Denver Airport.
Parallel with some European airports:
Zurich, London (Hithrow), Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris("Charles De Gaulle”,”Orly”).
09.04. THE SHORT FLIGHT OF A GREAT TALENT - EERO SAARINEN (1910-1961):
The ”Flying” Terminal ”T.W.A.” at the ”J.F.K.” Airport and other important works;
KEVIN ROCHE & JOHN DINKELOO - Saarinen’s daring successors:
The Ford Foundation and Beyond - Skyscraper and Alternatives.
15.04. HOUSING IN THE USA - TRADITIONS AND MODERNISM (II. Part):
The California Home - Living in the Neutra House.
23.04. FROM THE ATLANTIC TO THE PACIFIC
All Aboard! Back to the Railroad Adventure:
The spirit of the Past still living in some renovated stations.
HELMUTH JAHN - his ‘One-way Ticket’ from Munich to Chicago:
Murphy/Jahn’s designs for the North-West Terminal, the State Illinois Center.
30.04. SKIDMORE, OWINGS & MERRILL (S.O.M.) -
“The Heavy Artillery“ of the Post-war American Architecture:
The largest US designing company’s contribution to Architecture and Construction;
“The Battle“ for South-East Asia: the Skyscrapers’ competition moving to Asia.
07.05. RICHARD MEIER AND HIS MUSEUMS - STYLE AND PERSEVERANCE
His works in the USA and Europe;
The construction of the New Paul Getty Center of Arts in Los Angeles, Ca. (+video)
14.05. AT THE NEW MILLENIUM THRESHOLD - THE VANS FROM CALIFORNIA:
The Unpredictable FRANK O. GEHRY and His Predictions for the 21st Century;
Works in California and Europe; The project for the ”Walt Disney” Concert Hall.
The SCI-Arc School and the avant-garde generation of architects in the 90-s.
BRIDGES OVER THE OCEAN:
21.05. CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE IN THE NETHERLANDS
New Architecture in Rotterdam and the Hague; The charm of the Old Amsterdam;
Some of the famous works by REM KOOLHAAS / O.M.A. (+video)
28.05. THE FRENCH ARCHITECTURE AT THE END OF THE 20th CENTURY
“Les Grands Projets“ - the Construction program of the Late President Mitterrand.
The Woks of JEAN NOUVEL - Rebelion and Innovation.
04.06. BARCELONA - THE CITY OF ANTONI GAUDI
The impetuous grouth of the City and its architects’ fantastic dreams come true.
Since 2002-2003 Spring term:
"HISTORY OF THE HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS:
THE VERTICAL CITY – THE SKYSCRAPERS’ IMPACT ON THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT"
An elective course for the students of Architecture in the 4th and 5th year of studies,open to the public.
by Dimitar L. Andreychin, Architect, Associate Professor at the UACG.
2008/09 Spring Term – on Wednesdays, 6:15–8:00 PM, Hall # 230, UACG – the New Wing
18.02. LOOKING FOR THE DESAPPEARED RATIONALISM (a historical survey)
Visions from the Past: The high wonders of the Ancient world – pyramids, obelisks and towers. The verticality in the city environment – dreams and real opportunities.
25.02. THE DISTANT ROOTES OF SKYSCRAPERS
The cathedrals racing for the Heights. The innovations at the 19th Century World Exhibitions. The Eiffel Tower and the Washington Monument in Washington, DC – are they skyscrapers?
04.03. THE CHICAGO SCHOOL: THE BREAK-THROUGH OF RATIONALISM IN ARCHITECTURE
The Home Insurance Building by William LeBaron Jenney – a pigmy or a colossus?
The great partnerships in Chicago: Adler & Sullivan, Burnham & Root, Holabird & Roche.
The role of the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago (1893) for the deferment of Rationalism.
11.03. FROM THE "BEAUX ARTS" STYLE AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY TO THE "JAZZ ERA"
From Chicago to Manhattan – the new New York world records in height.
The New York Zoning Law (1916) and its further impact on the city skyline.
The "Art Decò" Style – the rush of world records to New York in the early 1930s.
18.03. THE NEXT TRY FOR A BREAK-THROUGH OF RATIONALISM – THE INTERNATIONAL STYLE
The International Style and its American ‘reading’. The "Bauhaus" immigrants’ invasion: Walter Gropius and Mies van der Rohe heading most important US schools of Architecture.
25.03. THE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT’S VISION OF SKYSCRAPERS
The American genius Wright – almost alone as a National opposition to the International Style.
The ‘Revolt’ in Mies van der Rohe’s Citadel: "Marina City" in Chicago by Bertrand Goldberg.
01.04. THE SKYSCRAPERS OUT OF THE USA
The high-rise buildings in Moscow or the "Socialist Realism" as a Skyscraper Style.
New skylines in Germany, Brazil, Japan, France, etc. The Sunset of the International Style.
08.04. THE WORLD RECORDS OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER "TWIN TOWERS" IN NEW YORK (1972, 1973)
The story of the WTC, designed by M. Yamasaki. A new high-rise structural concept: "The Bearing Tube".
Organization of the vertical transportation in the super-skyscrapers – the "Sky Lobby System".
15.04. "FROM CHICAGO AND BACK"
The world record in height reached in Chicago after 80 years of break – the Sears Tower (1974)!
New images of the "tubular" skyscrapers developed by the S.O.M. Associate Prof. Dr. Eng. Fazlur Khan: The "John Hancock Center" (1969) and the new World record holder – the Sears Tower (1974) in Chicago.
22.04. "SOCIAL" OR "SOCIABLE" SKYSCRAPERS?
The smooth environment of the glass skyscrapers – arrogance or benevolence?
"The City Oases" – the atriums as a part of the street. Hotels by arch. John Portman.
29.04. "THE LANGUAGE OF POST-MODERN ARCHITECTURE" (a book by Prof. Charles Jencks,1975)
The Post-modernists: Ph. Johnson, H. Jahn, M. Graves, W. Pederson, K. Roche, C. Pelli, R. Stern, etc. The consecutive return to the Gothic in Architecture.
13.05. THE HIGH PROVOCATIONS OF THE PUBLIC OPINION
The fate of the "Unwelcomes": examples from New York, San Francisco, Paris, Berlin, and other cities.
How the "Deconstructivism" was "constructed" as a high-rise concept?
20.05. SKYSCRAPERS IN THE LANDS OF DRAGONS
The British ‘High-Tech’ Style invasion. The "Bank of Hong Kong" by Sir Norman Foster (1985).
The bridge vision, used as an architectural image of buildings.
27.05. THE NEXT RECORDS IN HEIGHT
"Petronas Towers" in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1997) and "Taipei 101" in Taipei, Taiwan (2004).
The European skyscrapers – still at the end of the line!
The irresistible attack of the Near East Skyscrapers: Dubai, Doha (Qatar), Riyadh (S. Arabia), etc.
03.06. THE SKYSCRAPERS AFTER 9/11, 2001. – WHERE THE FUTURE RECORD-BREAKERS ARE RISING?
The challenge of the security problems in the skyscrapers’ design.
"The Millennium Towers" – still in the virtual reality.
Summary: "THE VERTICAL CITY"
STUDENTS, TEACHERS, FULBRIGHTERS AND FRIENDS – ARCHITECTS OR NON-ARCHITECTS –
YOU ARE ALL INVITED TO SHARE THE LECTURER’S AMERICAN AND WORLD EXPERIENCE!
Assoc. Prof. Arch. Dimitar Andreychin
Faculty of Architecture, Department Industrial Buildings - Lecturer (retired)
Office Room | A717 |
---|---|
Phone | УАСГ: 02 9635245 / 477; Дом.02 8661801 |
andry_far@uacg.bg | |
Marital Status | married |
Year Started | 1975 |
Lectures
Language Skills
English, French, Russian, Polish, German.
Professional Skills
Designing and teaching in the fields of Urban Planning and all kinds and types of buildings
Science Interests
History of the 19th - 20th Century Architecture.
History of the High-rise Buildings.
Contemporary Skyscrapers.
History of Urbanism.
Contemporary Urban Development and Urban Planning.
Membership
Union of Architects in Bulgaria.
International Urban Fellows' Association at the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md, USA.
Fulbright Alumni Association in Bulgaria.
Color Group - Bulgaria.
Publications
"Power in 20th Century Architecture” (Властта в архитектурата на ХХ век)
Лекция, публикувана в сборника с доклади и проекти, издаден в Атина, Гърция,
по съвместен проект на програмата “Еразмус – Сократес”.
Books
"Съвременна американска (и световна) архитектура", факултативен (2 кр.), 2009/10 - зимен семестър
Доц. арх. Димитър Андрейчин
Доц. арх. Димитър Андрейчин
"История на високите сгради", избираем курс, 2009/10 - летен семестър
Доц. арх. Димитър Андрейчин
Доц. арх. Димитър Андрейчин
Conspects
Календарен план и конспект за лекциите по "СЪВРЕМЕННА АМЕРИКАНСКА (и световна) АРХИТЕКТУРА. Тенденции и особености в развитието на големите световни градове"
Доц. арх. Димитър Андрейчин
Доц. арх. Димитър Андрейчин
"CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE IN THE USA. Characteristics and Trends of the Biggest American Cities’ Urban Development". This is a kind of a "sample" plan of the lecturer's Fall courses, as they have different tittles and contents fo
Dimitar L. Andreychin, Architect, Associate Professor.
Dimitar L. Andreychin, Architect, Associate Professor.
1. A plan of the course "THE VERTICAL CITY – The Impact of High-rise Buildings on the Urban Environment", ellective for the 5th year students of Architecture at the UACG. The course is held in every academic year Spring term, and it is always op
Dimitar L. Andreychin, Architect, Associate Professor
Dimitar L. Andreychin, Architect, Associate Professor
"CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE IN THE USA. Characteristics and Trends of the Biggest American Cities’ Urban Development", held in the Fall term of 2010-11.
Dimitar L. Andreychin, Architect, Associate Professor
Dimitar L. Andreychin, Architect, Associate Professor
Календарен план за лекциите 2013 - зимен
Програма за отворения факултативен лекционен курс през зимния семестър на 2013-14 / доц.арх. Димитър Андрейчин
Програма за отворения факултативен лекционен курс през зимния семестър на 2013-14 / доц.арх. Димитър Андрейчин
Lec-2018-Fall-Erasmus
A course of lectures
A course of lectures
23-Lec-Fall-Andreychin-Bg - Color.doc
доц. арх. Димитър Андрейчин
доц. арх. Димитър Андрейчин
Study materials
Contemporary American (and World) Architecture
Lectures Program for the Fall Semester 2013-14 by Dimitar Andreychin, Architect, Associate Professor
Lectures Program for the Fall Semester 2013-14 by Dimitar Andreychin, Architect, Associate Professor