For mankind, architecture is an essential act to "live".
On this assumption a continuous reflection on the concept of "living" according to contemporary issues will be proposed and developed. From the simple need of shelter to a project of everyday use products, the architect's acting through the project is reflected in all aspects of life.
The course aims to provide theories and methods to manage the building process, particularly analysing the stages of design and control. The student will acquire the competencies necessary for:
• evaluating the Building System, to understand the role of the technical elements, through the study of technologies and materials;
• managing relations between design solutions and building performance, depending on performance requirements;
• assessing the compatibility of design solutions with the built and the natural environment, in the design, execution and maintenance phases.
The classroom practices include the analysis of a building in the study area. The assessment of relationships between materials, constructive systems and performance, in relation to the performance requirements of the function, will enable the development of design hypotheses, to improve and integrate the building’s performance.
The course will be held with lectures on the topic of living, taking inspiration from the reading of selected texts and examples from the work of contemporary and non-contemporary architects, as well as by the teacher's research project work.
The Noto valley offers valuable insights for the proposed study. The basic operation of a small town and its close relationship with geographic factors, climate, territorial structure - made up of natural and artificial elements - as well as the economic and social conditions, simply and directly express the phenomena of the settlement process of the territory.
The lessons will interchange with design exercises, both individual and in group, contextualized in the Iblean territory.
The course includes lectures aimed at providing the basic knowledge required for architectural project management and classroom practice concerning the analysis of the case study and the development of design solutions.
The course is complemented by the Urban and Architectural Composition 2A course. The final examination consists of the discussion of student outcomes in classroom practice, aimed at verifying the knowledge of the topics dealt with in the lessons and the ability to manage design choices, based on the expected quality levels.
Le Corbusier, Towards a new architecture, Martino Fine Books, 2014