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Modern World Architecture

By Prof. P.S. Chani   |   IIT Roorkee
Learners enrolled: 92
ABOUT THE COURSE:

The course is designed for undergraduate students of architecture. Its intent is to help them comprehend the evolution of modern architecture across the world, beginning from its foundation in the 18th century and the impact of industrialization. The focus of this course is the radical evolution of architecture in the 20th century beginning with Modernism and the tremendous developments that have followed onwards into the 21st century. The course concludes by looking at some new concepts that are vital for our understanding of current and future issues vis-à-vis architecture.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Students of B.Arch. Programme

PREREQUISITES: Should have completed B.Arch. I Year

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Architectural Firms, practicing architects and academic institutions
Summary
Course Status : Upcoming
Course Type : Core
Language for course content : English
Duration : 12 weeks
Category :
  • Architecture and Planning
Credit Points : 3
Level : Undergraduate
Start Date : 19 Jan 2026
End Date : 10 Apr 2026
Enrollment Ends : 26 Jan 2026
Exam Registration Ends : 13 Feb 2026
Exam Date : 17 Apr 2026 IST
NCrF Level   : 4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

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Course layout

Week 1: 
  • Introduction
  • Beginning: Part-I
  • Beginning: Part-II
  • 19th Century Industrial Revolution & Later Developments - I
  • 19th Century Industrial Revolution & Later Developments - II

Week 2: 
  • 19th Century – Impact of the Crystal Palace
  • Art Nouveau and related developments
  • 19th Century – Antoni Gaudi and Form Finding
  • Late 19th Century: C.R. Mackintosh and the Rise of Modernism
  • Late 19th Century: Chicago School and The Tall Office Building - I

Week 3: 
  • Late 19th Century: Chicago School and The Tall Office Building - II
  • Evolution of Skyscrapers - I
  • Evolution of Skyscrapers - II
  • Evolution of Skyscrapers - III
  • Evolution of Skyscrapers - IV

Week 4: 
  • Structural System of Skyscrapers - I
  • Structural System of Skyscrapers - II
  • F.L. Wright - I
  • F.L. Wright - II
  • F.L. Wright - III

Week 5: 
  • F.L. Wright - IV
  • Le Corbusier - I
  • Le Corbusier - II
  • Le Corbusier - III
  • Le Corbusier - IV

Week 6: 
  • Mies van der Rohe - I
  • Mies van der Rohe - II
  • Mies van der Rohe - III
  • Mies van der Rohe - IV
  • Bauhaus & Walter Gropius - I

Week 7: 
  • Bauhaus & Walter Gropius - II
  • Bauhaus & Walter Gropius - III
  • Styles and Movements - I
  • Styles and Movements - II
  • Styles and Movements - III

Week 8: 
  • Styles and Movements - IV
  • Styles and Movements - V
  • Styles and Movements - VI
  • Styles and Movements - VII
  • Styles and Movements - VIII

Week 9: 
  • Styles and Movements - IX
  • High Tech: Introduction - I
  • High Tech: Introduction - II
  • High Tech: Introduction - III
  • High Tech: Aesthetics - I

Week 10: 
  • High Tech: Aesthetics - II
  • Places to Work - I
  • Places to Work - II
  • Places to Gather
  • Places to Move - I

Week 11: 
  • Places to Move - II
  • Places to Live - I
  • Places to Live - II
  • Places to Live - III
  • Green Buildings & Energy Efficient - I

Week 12: 
  • Green Buildings & Energy Efficient - II
  • Contemporary Projects - I
  • Contemporary Projects - II
  • Architects of 20th & 21st century
  • In Conclusion: The Way Ahead

Books and references

Books:
  1. "Modern Architecture: A Critical History" by Kenneth Frampton
  2. "The Story of Architecture" by Jonathan Glancey
  3. "Modern Architecture Since 1900" by William J.R. Curtis
  4. "Building Construction Illustrated" by Francis D.K. Ching
  5. "Towards a New Architecture" by Le Corbusier
  6. "Modern Architecture: A Very Short Introduction" by Adam Sharr
  7. "Modern Architecture: The Structures That Shaped the Modern World" by Dominic Bradbury
  8. "The Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture" by Phaidon Editors
Journals and Periodicals:
  1. Architectural Review
  2. Architectural Record
  3. The Journal of Architecture
  4. Architectural Theory Review
  5. Architectural Science Review
  6. ARQ - Architectural Research Quarterly

Instructor bio

Prof. P.S. Chani

IIT Roorkee
Dr. P.S. Chani is a professor at the Department of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee and was also heading the department for 4 years upto June 2021. He has completed his education in architecture from IIT Roorkee, right from his UG programme and he has been in teaching for more than 20 years. His area of research is embodied energy and carbon emissions through building construction. Over the years, he has taught a range of subjects in both UG and PG programmes. But his chief interest is in the study and teaching of modern architecture. He has also taught specific subjects related to modern architecture like High Tech Buildings, Futuristic Architecture and Structures & Architecture. He has also been shortlisted amongst the top teachers in IIT Roorkee for 4 years

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.
The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).
Date and Time of Exams: April 17, 2026 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.
Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.
Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Roorkee .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team
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