Course Update Advanced English

“International Architectural Practice”

An advanced level lecture course conducted entirely in English by Architect Tom Rankin (BA, Princeton, MArch Harvard), for students of architectural engineering and any other engineering students interested in the topic.

Schedule

Class meets Saturdays 10-12

Via Eudossiana, 18 Roma Aula 15

starting 1 Oct 2024

Enroll at
or follow link at https://classroom.google.com/c/NzIzNzA4MTgzODkz?cjc=mmmwkoy

Course Programme

The course is aimed at perfecting students’ English language skills through lessons of interest to the field of architecture. The course introduces students to the challenges of contemporary global architectural practice, specifically issues of climate change and increasing urbanization. It serves as preparation for general English needs but does not relate specifically to a faculty exam for CFU.

The course is structured thematically in three phases:

historic and theoretical background of 20th century architecture
case studies of contemporary architectural practices and projects
student presentations

Each lesson will introduce concepts and solutions from global architectural theory and practice. Students will also be expected to read short texts on architectural and urban theory from the bibliography below. Readings will be made available digitally.

During the third phase of the course students will share their research on case studies in illustrated oral presentations made in English to the class.

Each student, individually or in groups of maximum three, must choose one architect from the list of Firms below to prepare as the subject of their presentation. A Google Form to make your choice will be available on Classroom in Week 5.

Your presentation should last 3 minutes plus 1 minute per group member (so if you are alone 4 minutes, if in group of two, 5 minutes, etc.). You should include the following:

biographical information about founders and/or partners
history of the firm, its location, size, etc.
a review of important projects
what makes this firm special in terms of working method or approach to design? For example, do they do pro-bono projects, do they win competitions, do they use BIM, do they work globally?

Your presentation should be made with images in powerpoint, keynote, prezi, or other similar software and you should be prepared to present it orally in class or remotely in Google Meet.

A final written exam will test students understanding of the course material and ability to write in English. (Students with a B2 or higher certificate may be granted exemption from the written exam).

Bibliography

The revised bibliography below remains as recommended reading for students interested in learning more about architecture today.

Banham Reyner, Theory and Design in the First Machine Age. New York: Princeton Architectural Press. 1960. extracts

Frampton, Kenneth; 1998. "Towards a critical regionalism: six points for an Architecture of Resistance" in Foster, Hal ed. The Anti-Aesthetic: essays on postmodern culture. The New Press: New York; 17-34. extracts

McDonough, William and Michael Braungart. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. New York: North Point Press, 2002. extracts

Ratti, Carlo and Matthew Claudel. The City of Tomorrow: Sensors, Networks, Hackers, and the Future of Urban Life. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2016 extracts

Firms

LARGE GLOBAL FIRMS

Gensler (USA)
Nikken Sekkei (Japan)
Perkins+Will (USA)
HOK (USA)
HKS (USA)
Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates PC; New York, NY (Architect)
DP Architects (Singapore)
Foster + Partners (UK)
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP; New York, NY (Architect-Engineer)
Perkins Eastman; New York, NY (Architect)
Elkus Manfredi Architects; Boston, MA (Architect)

CONTEMPORARY “STARCHITECTS” or “ARCHISTARS” and INDY FIRMS

Rem Koolhaas
MVRDV
Jean Nouvel
UN Studio
Bjarke Ingels Group: BIG
Stephen Hall
Peter Eisenman
Peter Zumpthor
Herzog and De Meuron
Charles Rose Architect
David Chipperfield
Rafael Moneo
Kazuyo Sejima
Snøhetta

Calendar

DISCUSSION: Week 1
Historic and theoretical background of 20th century architecture: Early Modernism
Wright, Frank Lloyd. An Organic Architecture.
Walter Gropius, The Scope of Total Architecture

Week 2
DISCUSSION: Historic and theoretical background of 20th century architecture: Late Modernism, New York Five, Post-modernism and Deconstructivism
Read: Johnson on Deconstructivism

Week 3
DISCUSSION: Historic and theoretical background of 20th century architecture: Practice Today, Parametric Design, High Tech Sustainability, Smart Cities, Global Culture.
Reading: Frampton
Practices: Norman Foster, Richard Rodgers, Renzo Piano, Nicholas Grimshaw

Week 4
DISCUSSION: First online course (beta testing)
READ: Bill Mitchell, Connecting Creatures

WATCH: video

Week 5

DISCUSSION: The Architects Collaborative

READ: THE ARCHITECTS COLLABORATIVE (TAC)

WATCH: Tour of Boston Area Mid-century Modern History

Week 6

DISCUSSION: British architect Richard Rogers, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, UK

READ: Read five of the ten “principles” listed on https://www.rsh-p.com/principles/

WATCH: video on https://www.rsh-p.com

Week 7

DISCUSSION: Zaha Hadid

READ: https://www.archdaily.com/288566/happy-birthday-zaha-hadid

WATCH: video https://youtu.be/GW3CDwcv-X8

DEADLINE to choose your topic.

Week 8

DISCUSSION: Cino Zucchi and Stefano Boeri

READ: About CZA http://www.zucchiarchitetti.com/about/studio/

About SBA https://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/en/about/

WATCH: video Urban Forestry/ manifesto https://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/en/urban-forestry/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiSN31y8S_4&feature=emb_logo

DEADLINE to prepare outline and notes for presentation. After the lesson we will begin to meet in small groups on Google Meet to review your progress.

Friday 10

Week 9

DISCUSSION: Jeanne Gang

READ: Architecture’s Great Injustice https://studiogang.com/publication/fast-company-architectures-great-injustice-according-to-jeanne-gang

WATCH: TED talk with Jeanne Gang https://youtu.be/E_fB_s_TC5k

After the lesson we will begin to meet in small groups on Google Meet to review your progress.

Week 10

DISCUSSION: Student Presentations

Week 11

DISCUSSION: Student Presentations

Week 12

DISCUSSION: Student Presentations

Language English