Design topic and field

The Workshop proposes the design of relational open spaces and architectural objects in a "Re-forming Milan - Design experiments for neglected and decayed spaces and buildings" context through the formulation of a strategic design at the local scale and of an architectural design. The experimental design will focus on morphological, typological, building and design aspects of the architectural design and will be based on descriptions and interpretative analyses that will highlight site potential in connection to the proposed program.

The modifying pressures moved from the project and will relate with a stratified context to investigate its particular character (Genius loci). The evolution of urban morphology will be presented in theoretical and applicative terms, taking into account its effects on the everyday life, urban environment and the territory. We will bring the challenge of re-establishing a new image of contemporary architecture that, in addition to introjecting issues related to environmental sustainability, regains a continuity with the context and that could establish itself as a "symbolic mediator" among different generations in history. We will consider the issue of the form of architecture and, above all, its meaning linked to a culture and a new found environmental knowledge.

The proposed topics introduce the nexus between the different scales of the project, especially the definition of the relationship between architectural object and its context (architectural form and urban morphology), and to the deepening of architectural elements of both open and built-up space.

We’ll take into account both technical aspects such as - influence of design on a complex environment or its feasibility - and expressive aspects, related to the shapes and materials used in architectural design. The architecture will be defined by the articulation of spaces as to the relationship between built and open space, indoor and outdoor spaces, utility contents, typological and technical-constructive issues, up to the scale of the detail. 

Educational objectives

Aims of the course are: to experiment a relationship between design and context, to acquire skills on architectural design and representation, to give proper dimention to architectures and their elements, to evaluate the expressiveness of forms and materials and their spatial relations, image and identity as well as the correct comminication of the design results.

Another objective is to develop the student's ability to teamworking, taking into account the objectives required by the teachers and to develop a critical view of their own role and their own individuality within common objectives (teaching / client, workgroup, individual).

Articulation of the design work and Teaching structure

The activity of Workshop involves defining the design contents at different levels of representation, from the most general to detail, and the formal definition of architecture in relation to materials, techniques, figurative options.

The architectural design, intended as a cognitive process, transformative act and formal synthesis of spatial, utilitarian, technical contents of the inhabited space, operates by switching contexts, shaping places, interpreting and moving forward options on the delicate relationship between new and existing. It will be articulated in three levels of detail, which are interconnected:

- (work group) description, interpretation and analysis of the context;

- (work group) elaboration of design strategies at the scale of the context;

- (individual or work group) definition of design results at the architectural scale (relationship of built-up and open space, interior and exterior spaces, utility and communication contents, technical - buildingconstruction, etc..).

The teaching structure

The project will be carried out individually or in small groups under the supervision of Professors and Tutors. Seminars will be held for discussion and evaluation of the design for each phase (description of thecontext, development of design strategies, design definition to the architectural scale).

It is required to the student to develop in a complete and correct way all the steps and drawings, paying attention to both graphical representation and theoretical and technical argumentation.

The Workshop activity consists of ex-cathedra lectures, classroom exercises and any additional activities proposed by the professors.

Thematic bibliographies will be indicated at the beginning of the Workshopand after the lessons, as well as the detailed program of the project. The basic teaching materials will be published on "Beep".

The Workshop requires regular and continuous attendance in each day of lesson / exercise. There will be seminars. Only the students who will have the number of attendances required by the School of Architecture and Society Regulations and will have completed on time and with a positive evaluation the assigned exercises, the course tests and the various phases of the project will be admitted to the exam. Attendance and revisions of the work will be recorded. 

The evaluation of exercises and project phases, the learning of theoretical and methodological contents developed during the lectures and deepened in the recommended bibliographies will be in workshops held during the course, in the final examination and through any test in progress whose dates and procedures will be indicated by the professors at the beginning of the Workshop.

The final evaluation of the exam will take into account the result of the exercises and the phases of design and tests as well as the in progress commitment put into the design process, the maturation of a critical consciousness and an original vision on the topics handled, the interest shown in the arguments covered in class and in the recommended texts, the communication capacity of the design boards.

Detailed rules for examination (number and composition of the elaborate, bibliography) will be specified at the beginning of the semester and published on "Beep”. Consistency and completeness of the work, awareness and ability to articulate the theoretical and critic findings, ability to develop architectural design will be the focus of the evaluation.