Understanding changes in how buildings were built, what was used to build them, and the traditions and cultures that formed around those practices is not only useful for studying architectural history. It is also crucial for managing the historic built environment as it exists today. Furthermore, it can reveal deeper cultural and climatic changes, teaching us about the growth and decline of economies, and society’s relationship with the environment.
This course will cover developments in the use of building material in Britain from prehistory up to the 20th century. It will include lectures on the technologies and practices that emerged for using stone, earth, brick, timber, and other materials, the building elements and forms that emerged in response to geography and climate, and the dynamic relationships of material and culture that these informed. Together we will explore traditional construction techniques and how they evolved from vernacular to standardised methods. We will learn about the origins of the materials and their journey into the built fabric. We will see how Britain’s rich history is linked to a diverse tapestry of regional variation, and learn to understand the interplay of material culture and environment. We will follow these developments into the modern era, and consider how we can learn from the past to sustain the future. This will improve our understanding of materiality in the historic environment and our ability to ‘read’ buildings and cities.
The course will begin with a general overview of regional variation across Britain. Then, each week we will explore a particular building material or construction technique and its associated vernacular building traditions. We will discover how distinct cultures formed around materials or practices at various geographic scales. As well as recorded lectures, the course will include virtual site visits, lab tours, and interviews with academic and professional experts.