Arc - Urb - Cost (Mag.)(ord. 270) - MI (1217) ARCHITETTURA E DISEGNO URBANO - ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN
AUD
A
ZZZZ
059466 - RESEARCH THEMATIC SEMINAR - THE GLOBAL ARCHITECT 2
Collaborative class
Docente titolare dell'incarico
Ateneo estero
Docente Ateneo estero
Tipo di organizzazione
CFU svolti in collaborazione
SCRIVANO PAOLO
WAGENAAR COR
Ateneo estero viene ospitato
4.0
Le Collaborative Classes costituiscono un modello innovativo di insegnamento curriculare e di apprendimento che prevede la collaborazione on line di un docente del Politecnico di Milano e di un docente di un'università estera, accompagnati dalle rispettive classi.
Obiettivi dell'insegnamento
By investigating issues related to the close relationship between Architecture and Urban Design, the Thematic Research Seminar proposes topics for reflection in direct connection with the cultural contents of the Master Course.
The seminar has the task of stimulating students to define their own and autonomous research topic, helping them to instruct and methodologically structure a themed work path that will become the reference paradigm for the elaboration of their Master Thesis.
Risultati di apprendimento attesi
The student:
- acquires knowledge and comprehension skills that allow him to become aware of the experimental research work and to elaborate complex and interdisciplinary work paths;
- manages to develop those learning skills that allow them to continue studying mostly in a self-directed or autonomous way
- will be able to communicate their conclusions, as well as the knowledge and rationale underlying them, in a clear and unambiguous way
Argomenti trattati
Research Thematic Seminar “The Global Architect 2”
The seminar “The Global Architect 2” participates in the Collaborative Class Program with the class “History of Architecture and Urbanism” at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen’s Expertise Center Architecture, Urbanism and Health (Professor Cor Wagenaar).
The seminar “The Global Architect 2” is run in parallel with the seminar “The Global Architect 1” taught by Professors Gaia Caramellino and Pierre-Alain Croset. Both seminars intend to investigate the global dimension of the contemporary architect, focusing specifically on the mechanisms of knowledge transfer and migration from and to different geographical and cultural realities. They aim to do so by considering both different scales and design cultures. The seminar’s attention is directed to select places, events, objects, actors, and phenomena that have favored the transfer of forms of knowledge and expertise, practices, norms and codes, but also the circulation of people, materials, and financial resources. In particular, the seminars aim to decode the processes of adaptation, hybridization, and resistance that often result from the encounter between the local and international dimensions of the contemporary architect’s practice. They also intend to consider how the action of linguistic and conceptual translation implicit to the transfer might lead to misinterpretation and misunderstanding. Central to both seminars is the definition of the question of cultural distance in its multiple meanings and possible interpretations. The contemporary architect’s global dimension can be investigated by looking at different aspects, such as the construction of professional networks, the role of specific figures of cultural mediation, and the vectors and vehicles that facilitate the transfer and circulation of individuals, resources and ideas.
Among the themes that the seminars take into consideration are: the traditional systems of education and the new forms of knowledge transmission; the role of media, both popular and specialized; the various types of professional mobility; the opening of markets to international practitioners; and the awareness of the transnational nature of most of world problems (addressed for instance by international cooperation). The seminars are organized through lectures intended to provide students with a set of theoretical and methodological references; students are expected to undertake a bibliographical research, to define their own methodological approach, and to frame their research program by writing a critical essay meant to become the basis for their thesis (being it of design, analytical, or historical/theoretical/critical nature).
Theses might address a plurality of research questions and choose different methodological approaches. The research themes explored by the Seminar during the three previous years have been:
1. International competitions. Starting from the analysis of the documents accompanying international competition briefs, students might develop different types of theses. In the case of a design thesis, for example, the focus might be on the “cultural distance” and on the encounter between students’ own background and the “local culture” of the city and country where the competition takes place. In the case of a historical-critical research thesis, students might investigate internationalization as a strategy of self-promotion in the global competition between cities and regions.
2. International cooperation. A research by design carried out within the frame of international cooperation programs for developing countries, with a particular attention to topics related to sustainable urbanism and architecture, and conducted in cooperation with NGOs and other international organizations (such as UN-Habitat, UNWRA, UNHCR, UNESCO, and UNICEF).
3. Transnational design practices. Students can engage in any research theme that implies the encounter and possible dialogue between professional and technical practices, experiences, skills, competences, etc. originating in different cultural and geographical contexts.
4. International education and critical distance. International students are encouraged to develop a research by design in and for their home countries, critically questioning the cultural distance of these settings from the context of their education at the Politecnico di Milano.
5. International events. The phenomena of globalization in architecture are often expressed and emphasized by the proliferation of spectacular events (Biennials, Festivals, Congresses) where architects, students, developers, and politicians foster the debate on contemporary design practices. These events often promote “calls for papers” and “call for projects” that might be used by students as the starting point for their theses.
6. Working at global scale. This last theme focuses on the changed dimension of the problems that the modern architect has to face, both in terms of design scale and geographical spectrums. Among the possible research subjects are the coming to the fore of “world cities” and “megacities”, issues of sustainability and mobility, the resistances to global models of urbanization, and the opposition between “global” and “local”.
Proposals exploring other research themes are equally welcome.
Work phases
1. In the first phase, developed in parallel with the seminar “The Global Architect 1”, instructors and visiting lecturers will deliver lectures introducing different subjects and offering students a broad spectrum of bibliographic resources and methodological approaches. This phase is based on coursework exercises providing students from both seminars the necessary skills in terms of academic writing. In the same time, students start to develop their individual research.
2. In the second phase students, individually or in groups of two or three, will explore select research themes and advance the research questions related with the personal thesis proposal, through interaction with the instructors: this phase will conclude with the drafting of students' research program and a poster session, common to both seminars “The Global Architect 1” and “The Global Architect 2”. Guest discussants and thesis supervisors will be invited to take part in the presentation.
3. In the third phase the students will develop their research programs and work with the instructors on the completion of their Research Reports. The Report’s final submission will consist in the oral presentation and collective discussion for the final exam. Guest discussants and thesis supervisors will be invited to take part in the discussion.
Thesis work, supervisors and co-supervisors
The Research Seminar foresees the involvement of colleagues inside and outside the Politecnico with specific competences on the question of “The Global Architect”. Theses can be supervised by any faculty member of the Politecnico di Milano.
Below is a list of colleagues who expressed their interest in the seminar’s topic, have collaborated to the seminar or have acted as supervisors of theses developed in the seminar:
- Arian Afshari
- Fabrizia Berlingieri
- Silvia Bodei
- Paola Briata
- Alice Buoli
- Andrea Canclini
- Domenico Chizzoniti
- Ivica Covic
- Federico Deambrosis
- Davide del Curto
- Alessandro De Magistris
- Corinna Del Bianco
- Alessandro Frigerio
- Josep-Maria Garcia-Fuentes
- Andrea Gritti
- Stamatina Kousidi
- Fabiano Lemes
- Jacopo Leveratto
- Antonio Longo
- Laura Montedoro
- Carles Muro
- Gabriele Pasqui
- Simona Pierini
- Daniele Pisani
- Davide Ponzini
- Alessandro Rocca
- Giulia Setti
- Luka Skansi
Due to its international dimension, the Seminar also offers the students the possibility to choose a co-supervisor based in other universities, selected from partner institutions; in the past, collaborations have been established with researchers based in the following universities:
- American University of Beirut, Lebanon
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland
More detailed information regarding the past editions of the “The Global Architect” seminars can be found at: https://www.theglobalarchitect.polimi.it/
Students will be evaluated on the basis of the elaboration of their final “Research Report”, whose content must be agreed upon with the instructors during the semester. The report will consist of two parts: the first aimed at providing a “state of the art” of the specific research theme; the second at framing the “research program” that the Degree Thesis intends to develop in the following semester.
The assessment of the learning outcomes and of the students’ knowledge will follow the learning objectives of the Dublin Descriptors. The report will receive a first evaluation as a written essay, with the following skills being considered: knowledge and understanding; applying knowledge and understanding; learning skills; making judgments. The report’s contents will then be presented and discussed during an oral examination, when communication skills will also be assessed. Scholars and academics involved in the Research Seminar and/or chosen by the students as future supervisors of their degree theses will be invited to participate in the oral discussion: while involved in the students’ works, however, they will not participate in the final evaluation of the works.
Student grades will be based on the following scale: A Excellent (29, 30, 30L) – The final research report surpasses expectations in terms of research achievements, conceptual rigor and critical interpretation, quality in writing, and originality. The student pursues excellence in the research and interpretation above and beyond what discussed in class. B Above Average (26, 27, 28) – The report is thorough, well researched, diligently framed, and successfully completed. The student responded in a correct way to the course’s requirements and pursued ideas and suggestions presented in class. The report is complete on all levels (research question, methodology, bibliography) and demonstrates the potential for excellence in its development. C Average (23, 24, 25) – The report meets the minimum requirements. The instructors’ instructions are only partially pursued and the research idea is not deepened. The report is incomplete in one or more aspects but meets minimal course standards. D Poor (20, 21, 22) – The report is incomplete. Basic skills including searching and collecting sources, reading, writing, and presenting are not appropriate. The student does not demonstrate the required conceptual, theoretical, and critical skills and knowledge base. F Failure – The report does not meet the course's requirements. Minimum objectives are not met. The final work is unsatisfactory or incomplete.
Bibliografia
Saskia Sassen, The Global City: New York, London, Tokyo, Editore: Princeton University Press, Anno edizione: 1991, ISBN: 9780691070636 Note:
Second edition in 2001
Donald McNeill, The Global Architect: Firms, Fame and Urban Form, Editore: Routledge, Anno edizione: 2009, ISBN: 9780415956413
Paolo Scrivano, "Architecture", in: Akira Iriye and Pierre-Yves Saunier (eds.), The Palgrave Dictionary of Transnational History, pp. 53-56, Editore: Palgrave MacMillan, Anno edizione: 2009, ISBN: 9781403992956 https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9781403992956Pierre-Yves Saunier, Pierre-Yves Saunier, "Transnational", in Akira Iriye and Pierre-Yves Saunier (eds.), The Palgrave Dictionary of Transnational History, pp. 53-56, Editore: Palgrave MacMillan, Anno edizione: 2009, ISBN: 9781403992956 https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9781403992956Donald McNeill, "In Search of the Global Architect: the Case of Norman Foster (and Partners)", in: International Journal of Urban and Regional Research 3 (September 2005), pp. 501-515, Anno edizione: 2005
Xuefei Ren, Building Globalization: Transnational Architecture in Urban China, Editore: The University of Chicago Press, Anno edizione: 2011, ISBN: 9780226709819 https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/B/bo11110182.htmlMichael K. Jenson, Mapping the Global Architect of Alterity: Practice, Representation and Education, Editore: Routledge, Anno edizione: 2014, ISBN: 9780415818971
Arjun Appadurai, Modernity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization , Editore: University of Minnesota Press, Anno edizione: 1996, ISBN: 9780816627936 https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/modernity-at-largeDavide Ponzini, Transnational Architecture and Urbanism Rethinking How Cities Plan, Transform, and Learn, Editore: Routledge, Anno edizione: 2020, ISBN: 9780415787925 https://www.routledge.com/Transnational-Architecture-and-Urbanism-Rethinking-How-Cities-Plan-Transform/Ponzini/p/book/9780415787925Paolo Scrivano, Building Transatlantic Italy. Architectural Dialogues with Postwar America, Editore: Ashgate, Anno edizione: 2013, ISBN: 9781472414830 https://www.routledge.com/Building-Transatlantic-Italy-Architectural-Dialogues-with-Postwar-America/Scrivano/p/book/9781138246270 Note:
New edition Routledge 2016
Christian Gänshirt, Tools for Ideas - Introduction to Architectural Design, Editore: Birkhäuser, Anno edizione: 2020, ISBN: 9783035621747 https://doi.org/10.1515/9783035622089Tom Spector, Rebecca L. Damron, How Architects Write, Editore: Routledge, Anno edizione: 2013, ISBN: 9781138947276
Iain Borden, Katerina Rüedi Ray, The Dissertation: An Architecture Student's Handbook, Editore: Oxford Architectural Press, Anno edizione: 2006, ISBN: 9780750647694
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