Syllabus Information

5.1. Methodological overview

The development of the design exercises is weekly guided  by teachers. The learning process is based on a continued training.  The teaching methodology is based on experimentation and personal research, logically guided and nourished with the resources provided by teachers. The creative process is not understood as a copy, it is rather thought as the continuation of exemplary projects. The student is provided with a specific bibliography directly related to the proposed topics. Each student must analyze these projects performing interpretive sketches in his personal notebook.

5.2. Learning tasks

Theory lectures, one hour per week. The lesson, addressed to all students, will be based on issues related to the proposed exercise. These classes are intended to illustrate and form the visual intelligence of the student.

Design reviews in the Workshops, individualizad on the work of each student. These critics will be conducted in small groups of 15 students, so that the student may participate in the comments, not only about his/her project, but on the other classmates.

Design critics. For the whole class these sessions are conducted referring to selected projects that can enlighten all students.

Intermediate and final jurys, involving external professors.

Visit to external centres.

5.3. Syllabus

The course program incluyes the development of two exercises with similar duration, seven weeks each. The first of the exercises will host a program of a public equipment developed in an area of unique natural presence. The second one introduces a residential program and is located in a built area with significant historical value.

The program includes the following subjects:

- Environment and archtitecture: from continuity to site construction

- Organicism and mimetic impossibility

- Fusion of traditions and essentialization in landscape construction

- Awareness of the environment in modern architecture

- Contemporary performances: from sculpture references to the manipulation of place

- Architectural responses in historic urban environments

5.4. Course planning and calendar

Each of the two exercises is publicly presented to all students in the first week. The presentation includes the reference to the main objectives.

Each project is developed in seven weeks, with weekly theory lessons for the whole group.

Students are divided in groups, as many as necessary, being optimal a maximum of fifteen students per professor. Design critics are coducted weekly.

Each exercise will have an intermediate presentation.

Final presentations will be evaluated following common criteria developed by the professor in charge of the subject.

A final jury will be conducted for the whole class.

5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

Aalto, Alvar. Alvar Aalto: obras, 1963-1970, Gustavo Gili, Barcelona, 1971.

Bachelard, Gaston. La poética del espacio. Fondo de Cultura, México, 1970.

Piñón, Helio. Curso básico de proyectos. Ediciones UPC, Barcelona, 2000.

Gastón, Cristina. Mies: el proyecto como revelación del lugar. Colección Arquithesis, num. 19, Fundación Caja de Arquitectos, Barcelona, 2005.