Course title
R1231602
History of Housing　and　Interior　Design

 shimbo akiko
Course description
This course is designed both for international students and for second-year Japanese students to broaden their knowledge of the history of housing and interior design. The course focuses on Japanese and English houses and domestic interiors from the eighteenth century to the present, from various perspectives including custom, identity, gendered spaces and class. It also provides comparative case studies of keeping and using old houses: Japanese kominka and English country houses to encourage students to have discussion.
Purpose of class
This course aims to provide an introduction to the history of housing and interior design, giving several important themes from the field. It also gives students opportunities to compare Japanese with other housing cultures from social and cultural perspectives.
Goals and objectives
  1. Students will learn a basic level of terms, methodology and sources used in the history of housing and interior design.
  2. Students will understand several important themes from the history of housing and interior design and compare Japanese with other housing cultures.
  3. Students will also conduct their own research, develop their ideas through class discussions and give a final presentation.
Language
English
Class schedule

 Class schedule HW assignments (Including preparation and review of the class.) Amount of Time Required
1. Introduction Reading materials will be distributed. 180minutes
2. Japan (1) Japanese houses: from social and cultural perspectives Read assigned course material 180minutes
3. Japan (2) Furniture and domestic interiors in Edo period Read assigned course material 180minutes
4. Japan (3) Culture, custom and identity: the coexistence of Japanese and Western styles in Meiji period Read assigned course material 180minutes
5. Japan (4) Dojunkai and danchi: the culture of apartment blocks in the twentieth century Read assigned course material 180minutes
6. Japan (5) Using houses for centuries: the renovation and reuse of kominka (old houses) Read assigned course material 180minutes
7. Mid-term presentations Prepare a presentation 180minutes
8. England (1) English houses: from social and cultural perspectives Read assigned course material 180minutes
9. England (2) Gendered spaces in 18th- and 19th- century homes Read assigned course material 180minutes
10. England (3) Class and identity in 18th- and 19th- century domestic interiors Read assigned course material 180minutes
11. England (4) Ethnicity in contemporary domestic interiors Read assigned course material 180minutes
12. England (5) Using houses for centuries: repairs, maintenance and openness of country houses Read assigned course material 180minutes
13. Final presentations Prepare a presentation 180minutes
14. Final essay submission, watching visual material and discussion Review all the classes 180minutes
Total. - - 2520minutes
Relationship between 'Goals and Objectives' and 'Course Outcomes'

 A mid-term presentation A final presentation and a short essay In-class discussion Total.
1. 15% 10% 10% 35%
2. 15% 10% 10% 35%
3. 30% 30%
Total. 30% 50% 20% -
Evaluation method and criteria
A mid-term presentation: 30%
A final presentation and a short essay: 50%
In-class discussion: 20%

N.B. Students need to attend more than ten classes.
Textbooks and reference materials
Handouts and selected reading materials will be distributed by the instructor.
Prerequisites
An interest in the history of housing and interior design is essential.
Office hours and How to contact professors for questions
  • Office hours: 12:30-13:10, Wednesdays.
Relation to the environment
Environment education course (30%)
Regionally-oriented
Non-regionally-oriented course
Development of social and professional independence
  • Course that cultivates an ability for utilizing knowledge
  • Course that cultivates a basic interpersonal skills
  • Course that cultivates a basic self-management skills
  • Course that cultivates a basic problem-solving skills
Active-learning course
About half of the classes are interactive
Last modified : Wed Oct 17 06:09:26 JST 2018