Students will be taken through the history and variety of classical architecture through the ages and shown how it is based on ancient principles that have evolved over centuries, up to the present day. This will include an expert tour of classical buildings in Oxford dissecting the way classical principles have been used in their design. Students will have a chance to learn to draw some of the key assemblies of columns and beams that provide the aesthetic framework to all classical design and well-known practitioners will explain how they have used these to create their own designs. Students will have a chance to try their hand under expert supervision and take away their own designs.
Classical Architecture: A Design Workshop
This is an In-person course which requires your attendance to the weekly meetings which take place in Oxford.
Overview
Programme details
Courses starts: 28 Apr 2025
* There will be no class on 5th or 26th May due to the BH *
Week 1: Introduction to Classical Architecture (28th April)
Week 2: Introducing the Classical Orders (12th May)
Week 3: Tour of classical buildings in Oxford (19th May)
Week 4: Finding the Orders and how to draw the Orders (2nd June)
Week 5: Drawing the Orders, tutoring (9th June)
Week 6: Tour of new classical building with the architect (16th June)
Week 7: Tour of new classical building with the architect (23rd June)
Week 8: Tour of new classical building with the architect (30th June)
Week 9: Design project, tutoring (7th July)
Week 10: Review design project. (14th July)
Recommended reading
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Continuing Education Library for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are welcome to use the Library for reference. More information can be found on the Library website.
There is a Guide for Weekly Class students which will give you further information.
Certification
To complete the course and receive a certificate, you will be required to attend at least 80% of the classes on the course and pass your final assignment. Upon successful completion, you will receive a link to download a University of Oxford digital certificate. Information on how to access this digital certificate will be emailed to you after the end of the course. The certificate will show your name, the course title and the dates of the course you attended. You will be able to download your certificate or share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course Fee | £285.00 |
| Take this course for CATS points | £30.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, you are a full-time student in the UK or a student on a low income, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Tutor
Prof Robert Adam
Professor Robert Adam has practiced architecture for 45 years and has an international reputation as one of the leading exponents of contextual urbanism and modern traditional design. In 1992 he founded ADAM Architecture, now the largest architecture practice specialising in traditional design in Europe. He has written six books, including a textbook on classical architecture and an analysis of how globalisation has affected world architecture, and is a regular contributor of papers, articles and chapters to books, journals and newspapers. He has won numerous prizes including the prestigious Richard H. Driehaus Prize, for “the highest ideals of traditional and classical architecture in contemporary society”. Adam holds a bachelors degree from the University of Westminster and a doctorate from Oxford Brookes University.
Course aims
To give a practical and historical knowledge and understanding of the classical design in architecture.
Course objectives:
To develop a working knowledge the main components of classical design, to be able to understand the composition of classical buildings, and obtain some elementary practical experience of designing a classical building.
Teaching methods
Lecturing, discussion and one-to-one personal instruction.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students will be expected to:
1. Understand the essential principles of classical architecture
2. Understand the principal compositional methodologies of classical architecture
3. Have some working knowledge of the design of classical architecture
Assessment methods
Students will be assessed on their three course work projects all in drawn form. This will not be an assessment of drawing skills (assistance with drawing skills will be given where necessary) but a demonstration of an understanding of principles of classical architecture and design. Full allowance will be made for the relative skill and knowledge level of students.
Coursework is an integral part of all weekly classes and everyone enrolled will be expected to do coursework in order to benefit fully from the course. Only those who have registered for credit will be awarded CATS points for completing work the required standard.
Students must submit a completed Declaration of Authorship form at the end of term when submitting your final piece of work. CATS points cannot be awarded without the aforementioned form - Declaration of Authorship form
Application
To earn credit (CATS points) for your course you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online.
Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an Enrolment Form (Word) or Enrolment Form (Pdf)
Level and demands
No special background required.
The Department's Weekly Classes are taught at FHEQ Level 4, i.e. first year undergraduate level, and you will be expected to engage in a significant amount of private study in preparation for the classes. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class.
Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS)
To earn credit (CATS points) you will need to register and pay an additional £30 fee per course. You can do this by ticking the relevant box at the bottom of the enrolment form or when enrolling online. Students who register for CATS points will receive a Record of CATS points on successful completion of their course assessment.
Students who do not register for CATS points during the enrolment process can either register for CATS points prior to the start of their course or retrospectively from the January 1st after the current full academic year has been completed. If you are enrolled on the Certificate of Higher Education you need to indicate this on the enrolment form but there is no additional registration fee.