IN-PERSON MADRID FOCUS ON PEDAGOGY. SECTION A

Abstract

The Culture and Fundamentals of Architectural Technology course in the first year of the Architecture degree program at Politecnico di Torino provides students with their initial opportunity to engage with architectural technology and with the conceptual and practical tools necessary to approach the design process. Recent teaching experiences have highlighted the need to integrate theoretical study with methods that encourage active participation and critical thinking among students. One of the first activities proposed is the ‘reasoned’ assessment of vernacular architecture. These ‘architectures without architects’ represent a significant resource for teaching Architectural Technology, as they exemplify buildings designed to be compatible with the climatic context, employing local materials and reflecting the culture and traditions of the country in which they are located. Examining these buildings in terms of performance requirements allows us to address issues of sustainability, design for disassembly and design for rebuilding with students. They thus become models of innovation that can be used as a reference to inspire the development of new design ideas. So, what type of architecture should we cover in our course? We should focus on the architecture of the students’ own regions, which they can visit, photograph, study, and interview those who have lived in it, as well as investigate the materials used. This hands-on approach allows students to engage directly with the architecture, rather than relying on AI. The analysis of “architecture without architects” has been collected in a shared book. Individual work thus becomes a learning tool created by students for students. The book allows students to develop a common technical language and to familiarise themselves with the topics covered by the discipline.