Architectural history, building knowledge and conservation theory - Kurs - EVU
Architectural history, building knowledge and conservation theory
Photo: Finn Rindahl
In the years ahead, there will be major investment in the restoration of Norwegian church buildings and the dissemination of their cultural heritage. This course provides a basic introduction to Norwegian churches, with particular emphasis on medieval churches. You will gain knowledge about architecture, use of materials, and building techniques, and about how the churches have developed throughout history. The course also provides an introduction to conservation theory and preservation, and gives a solid basis for understanding church buildings as both cultural heritage monuments and historical sources.
Emnet inngår i en emnepakke med totalt tre emner som gir en fordypning i antikvarisk forvaltning av norske kirkebygg. De to øvrige emnene, Kirkerommets ritualer, inventar og utsmykning og Antikvarisk feltarbeid: Sommerskole, vil bli publisert senere. Emnene kan tas samlet eller enkeltvis, men for å være med på sommerskolen må de to andre emnene være gjennomført.
The course is aimed particularly at people who work with church buildings and who are facing, or are involved in, restoration or dissemination projects in the church.
It is also relevant as continuing education for architects, engineers, art historians, historians, and cultural heritage managers.
The target group includes, among others, employees of the Church of Norway, the Church Employers' Organisation (KA), municipalities, consultancy environments, and cultural heritage management.
If study places are available, the course may be included in bachelor's and master's degree pathways for students enrolled in relevant programmes.
The course provides an introduction to conservation theories and key principles within contemporary architectural conservation. The teaching in architectural history and building knowledge is particularly directed toward medieval churches, in line with the main focus of the Church Preservation Programme up to 2030. It includes analysis of architectural elements and building structures, as well as an introduction to building sculpture on churches and its function and significance in its own time.
Furthermore, the course provides a shorter overview of the other churches included in the preservation strategy (the periods 1537–1850 and 1850–2024).
The course is relevant for those who will work with the restoration of churches, preliminary projects related to restoration projects, and those who want to work with the dissemination of ecclesiastical cultural heritage.
The course is at master's level, and these are the admission requirements that must be documented in the application:
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent completed and passed education from a college/university (minimum 180 credits).
- Applicants with at least 120 credits from a college/university and a minimum of three years of relevant work experience may be considered for admission on the basis of prior learning and experience. Relevant work experience includes, for example, work in the Church of Norway, the Church Employers' Organisation (KA), or consultancy experience from a restoration project.
- Applicants who do not meet the educational requirement for the master's-level course, but who have general university admissions certification/prior learning and experience, are also welcome to apply for admission here. Applicants admitted on this basis may participate in all learning activities and will be registered for the exam in an equivalent bachelor's-level course.
See the procedure for uploading documentation here.
In the event of high application volume, applicants are prioritised in the following order:
- Applicants who are employed in a church, municipality, or organisation that in the coming years has concrete plans for restoration or dissemination programmes for church buildings (to be stated in the application).
- Employees of the Church of Norway, KA, church owners, or employees of consultancy firms working with church preservation.
- Other applicants.
Within each group, applicants are prioritised according to the "first come, first served" principle.
Tid og sted for undervisning
Teaching is offered jointly with students taking the equivalent course at the University of Oslo. The course is organised as an excursion to a medieval church as well as 10 digital sessions. The digital sessions last two hours each and take place during the daytime, and participation in at least 7 of the 10 sessions is required. Participation in the excursion is mandatory.
The teaching format combines short lectures, digital group work, and dialogue-based seminars with guest lecturers from relevant academic environments. Each session is linked to updated and relevant academic literature that forms the basis for teaching and reflection. Participants are expected to prepare for each session by working with the associated material.
Eksamensbeskrivelse
During the course, participants must prepare a written examination assignment of 4000–5000 words based on a self-selected topic related to churches. The assignment may also address a specific building if the student wishes. The topic is determined in consultation with the course instructor and must reflect the student's own academic interests and learning goals for the programme.
Throughout the semester, the student is expected to work independently on the assignment. A preliminary version must be submitted midway through the semester, and individual feedback will be provided on it. Based on the feedback, the assignment must be further developed and revised before final submission at the end of the semester.
For students who wish to develop competence in preliminary project work, the assignment may be designed with this as its academic orientation, or the assignment may be designed on the basis of a student/church owner's wish to create a dissemination plan.
The assessment form is pass / fail.
Pensumlitteratur/kursmateriell
The syllabus consists of:
- an introduction to medieval church building through works by, among others, Øystein Ekroll, Morten Stige, Kjartan Hauglid, Margrete Syrstad Andås, Leif Anker, and Linn Borgen. The literature includes both general overview works and more recent in-depth studies of selected cases.
- in-depth studies that in several cases are based on interdisciplinary reflection seminars as a method for fieldwork at churches.
- an introduction to basic conservation theory, with particular emphasis on Norwegian church restorations, through texts by, among others, Kristin B. Aavitsland, Anne Eriksen, Mari Hvattum, and Aloïs Riegl.
A complete syllabus list will be made available closer to the start of the course.
UiO and the Department of Philosophy, History of Ideas and Art, and Classical Languages.
E-post: margrete.syrstad.andas@ntnu.no