Studio BA4 (Gay et Menzel)

AR-202(r) / 10 credits

Teacher(s): Gay Menzel Catherine Odile, Menzel Götz

Language: English

Withdrawal: It is not allowed to withdraw from this subject after the registration deadline.

Remark: Inscription faite par la section

Summary

The studio focusses on contextual imaginary. Developing narratives, inspired both by the site and by the student's imagination leads to a theme sustaining the project. The narrative helps the student to develop an architectural project in a given context.

Content

Urban Legends - Genova

The Gay Menzel Studio addresses the context as a source of development of a narrative linked to the site itself. This highlighting tool reveals the inherent qualities of the place and integrates projections or personal aspirations into it, with the broad ambition of reconnection to the environment. Students through a series of exercises spanning in both semesters will develop an outdoor public space and a mixed-use building in the form of a social club in Genova.

 

The making of sense

In this time of crisis a reassessment of our way of life is essential. The quality of our relationship with the city, with pubic space and nature, our way of living is questioned. Maybe a solution would be "resonance", of which the German sociologist Hartmut Rosa speaks, proposing to us to redefine our rela­tionship with the world, to create what he calls the axes of resonance? In this time of crisis, and in the post-confinement, a reassessment of our way of life is essential. The quality of our relationship with nature, with the territory, with our way of living is questioned. Maybe a solution would be "resonance", of which the German sociologist Hartmut Rosa speaks, proposing to us to redefine our relationship with the world, to create what he calls the axes of resonance?

 

Unveiling narratives

The development of a project strategy is addressed through the narrative, as a crystallization of a specific understanding of the site and personal imagination. How does the architect, as a person, as a user, influence and generate anchor points to make places legible, porous and appropriable in order to give them meaning?

 

Social Spaces

Genoa, nestled on the Ligurian coast, commands the namesake gulf and occupies a slender expanse between the Apennine Mountains and the sea. Its strategic location has fostered a tapestry of cultures, both local and foreign, making it a historical hub of great significance. From the XI century onwards, Genoa thrived as a major port, serving as the principal gateway to the maritime commerce of the Republic of Genoa. This flourishing era cultivated a vibrant milieu, nurturing the growth of commerce and the arts.

 

Genoa will give us the opportunity to discuss the plural languages of architecture. During this spring semester the theme of the social club will be examined in relationship to the densly different topographic and urban conditions of the city. These hybrid buildings with multiple programs are an opportunity to discuss contemporary challenges while offering us an opportunity to crystalize the rich and heterogenous culture of Genoa.This will lead us to the development of different social spaces answering the current needs of the Genovese society while tackling universal architectural problematics.

Keywords

Urban Legends, contextual imaginary, narrative, transposition, survey, double exposure, Genova, outdoor public space, mixed-use, hybrid buildings, the city as a common project, evocation, making of sense, reconnection, collective, social,  periphery, productive landscape, infrastructure, identity, architectural languages, ecology, sustainability, film, models, words.

 

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • develop and verbalise own needs
  • develop a narrative from contextual elements and personal imagination
  • Use a narrative as main guideline through all scales of the project
  • Analyze a site with a survey and documentation
  • Define a desire through the project and make transmittable to others
  • Present the project adequately
  • Demonstrate consistency throughout the project
  • Reason a coherent discourse
  • Acquire first proficiencies in developing a mixed-use project
  • Understand architecture as a cultural activity

Transversal skills

  • Continue to work through difficulties or initial failure to find optimal solutions.
  • Manage priorities.
  • Take feedback (critique) and respond in an appropriate manner.
  • Access and evaluate appropriate sources of information.
  • Use a work methodology appropriate to the task.

Teaching methods

The second semester will start with the site(s) visit. Groups of two will receive one of the selected public spaces in Genoa. These will be heterogenous of various characters and will be surveyed during the visit using diverse mediums, with each group researching one specific theme of each site. Then each group will develop a social club, on a site in relation to the public spaces already surveyed, destined for a specific social group.

The average cost for the whole year will be roughly 2000.- swiss francs. (Study trip 1 : 800.- / Printings : 200.- / Models : 200.- / Study trip 2 : 800.-)

Assessment methods

During intermediate and final reviews, a guest jury will be appointed.

Table critics will take place at the Studio GayMenzel.

Continuous control, 100%

Supervision

Office hours Yes
Assistants Yes
Forum No

Resources

Notes/Handbook

Each student will receive a course booklet.

In the programs

  • Semester: Spring
  • Exam form: During the semester (summer session)
  • Subject examined: Studio BA3, BA4 (Gay et Menzel)
  • Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Project: 4 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: mandatory

Reference week

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