
FACS 445
History of Interiors
HISTORIC HOME PROJECT
The Historic Home Research Project is an assignment which provides students the latitude to research and document a house museum of our own choosing. Students research our topics, write a research paper, and create a video tour of our chosen historic property. For my Historic Home Project, I toured and researched The Breakers Mansion located in Newport, Rhode Island.
The Breakers Mansion: Newport, Rhode Island
For this assignment, students were instructed to complete a research paper and video tour of the selected historic home. The research paper was to be no less than 6 pages long and APA formatted. At least 6 scholarly sources were to be used, including the docent from our tours and the house's website. The paper needed to show a thorough understanding of the subject matter.
For the video tour portion of the assignment, students were instructed to compose a 8-10 minute in length video of a tour of the property. The video tour should demonstrate thorough knowledge of the subject as well as it will connect to the research paper. The video should also be executed in a professional manner, and graphics and music should be congruent with the subject. The video tour needed to include:
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Introduction that provides an overview of the home, location, construction type, architectural movement, architect/designer, and owner(s)
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Highlights of the home's features, including architectural elements, furnishings, and decorative arts
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Historical overview of the home and its context within the community at large
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Importance of the home with respect to its owners, architect, construction technique, or any other key aspect of the structure
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Highlights of the home's grounds with key features noted
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Conclusion that provides a recap of key features and historical aspects of the structure
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Credits at the end of the video
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
Roman Orders
For this assignment, students were instructed to draw free hand, using appropriate line weights, a Roman Doric, Ionic, and Corithian Order. Sketches were to include labels of each applicable element within each of the categories.


Gothic Nave
For this assignment, students were instructed to replicate the two images of the Chartres Cathedral nave from drawing 9.15 in the textbook, Buildings Across Time: An Introduction to World Architecture (6th Edition). The elevations of Laon Cathedral were not included in this assignment. These replications were to be done by hand, using appropriate line weights. Both elevations were to be labeled.

