IN-PERSON Prague Research & Teaching Conference

Abstract

This research will investigate and analyze the teaching methodologies and the learning outcomes through two distinct case studies developed by students in the College of Design at the American University in the Emirates, Dubai. The first one concerns the complete renovation of an existing townhouse in the Borneo Sporenburg district of Amsterdam. The aim was to define spaces that, in their dimensional articulation, in synergy with materials and natural light, could be characterized by a specific “atmosphere” (Zumthor, 2007). This design-lead investigation is framed within the broader concept of “Liquid Modernity”, theorized by Bauman (2011), which involves contemporary living in all its forms. The second case, instead, involves the development of a boutique hotel in Al Quoz industrial area in Dubai as a potential extension of the Alserkal Avenue cultural hub. The conceptual attempt to determine the architectural space and its relation to the urban fabric puts forth Kahn’s interest in defining and inhabiting the limit and Zevi’s interpretation of spatial evolution (2018). The two designs are part of a broader framework of academic teaching based on cultural sustainability, focused on the context, habits and customs, as well as different lifestyles. The two experiences lead back to one of the main objectives of the UAE National Innovation Strategy (2015) which defines new development paradigms including “innovation in the education sector by introducing creative teaching methods and techniques”. Furthermore, this research is also contextualized within globally recognized academic standards, NASAD, National Association of Schools of Arts and Design.