Amsterdam: A Design Capital Over the Canals
Amsterdam’s relationship with water has been an ongoing theme in the establishment of its civic image, urban structure, and architectural character. Its singular radial plan combed with canals confers a distinct spatial flavor nowhere to be found in the Northern longitudes. Commerce and finance provided the social framework where the Dutch upper class commissioned the physical settings largely accessible through navigation. The city’s inherent openness to the sea made it a primary point of trade, promoting a built-in fluidity in absorbing cultural influences from faraway places. These factors determined a unique spatiality this course will examine.
Faculty Bio
Pierluigi Serraino is a practicing architect and educator. He is the author of many books on architecture, including TASCHEN's Modernism Rediscovered. His latest book is The Modern Garden: The Outdoor Architecture of Mid-century America (Rizzoli, 2024).
This is a Livestreamed + Recorded Course
- Classes will stream live on the scheduled day and time
- Classes will also be video recorded
- You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program
Schedule Highlights
- Course starts on Wednesday, Feb. 19, and ends on Wednesday, Mar. 12
- Classes meet for 4 weeks, 1.5 hours per session (10:30–noon)
- Videos will post on Fridays in Member Dashboards
- All course materials, including videos, will remain available to view and enjoy through Mar. 30
Member Praise for Pierluigi Serraino
Pierluigi is a wonderful instructor--I always learn something new from him, as well as something to think about. He always opens my eyes.
Course materials, organization, Pierluigi's deep knowledge of the specific area and ability to fit it into larger context of regional traditions and international design trends, and receptivity to participant questions & observations ... all great! Highly recommend!
Faculty Q&A
- Read an interview with Pierluigi Serraino from our archive.