ARK-E1021 - Studio Spring, Humanitarian Architecture, Lecture, 11.1.2024-6.6.2024
This course space end date is set to 06.06.2024 Search Courses: ARK-E1021
Topic outline
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ARK-E1021 - Studio Spring, Humanitarian Architecture, Interplay of Cultures 2024 (18 cr) operates on the thematic area of global sustainability and cultural locality, encompassing all scales of architectural design.
This year, the Interplay of Cultures studio offers two locations for the field trip in Sub-Saharan Africa: 1) Kumasi in Ghana, and 2) Nyamata in Rwanda.
The aim is to learn about our cultural differences and similarities, and to enhance understanding of the living environment and conditions of 1) Ashante culture in Ghana and 2) hospital design in the context of Rwanda. The course includes visiting lectures, readings and analysis tasks on insurgent architecture and urban planning, cultural heritage, sustainable building materials, ethnographic research tools as well as decolonizing planning theories. The focus of the course is on knowledge building on sustainable design solutions and culturally knowledgeable architecture. The course includes studies on local building traditions and materials, as well as social, economic, and climatic characteristics of the local culture. The course aims at providing the students with a wider perspective and understanding of the processes and opportunities of architectural practice when working in various cultural contexts. It also aims at developing the students’ value system and sense of responsibility. Language of the course is English.
Collaborators: Interplay of Cultures Studio is organized as a collaboration with Aalto & Tampere University, with partners from
1) Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and Building and Road Research Institute (BRRI) in Kumasi, Ghana
2) University of Rwanda (UR) and Nyamata Hospital in Rwanda.
Studio assignments / CASES:
1) GHANA: Public Urban Spaces (with KNUST & KMA).
The case investigates possibilities for reviving the green areas of Kumasi and initiates the recreation of “the Garden City of West Africa” – the name Kumasi hold in the history – while studying walkability and aspects of public life.
2) RWANDA: Nyamata Hospital Improvement Plan (with UR and Nyamata Hospital)
The case includes analysis and master planning of the Nyamata Hospital area, leading to an incremental development plan and building design for the hospital facilities. (NOTE: design portfolio is required, with emphasis on building design)
The outcome of the studio will be a jointly produced exhibition and publications. The applicants are requested to indicate their preferred case in their motivation letter.
Timetable:
• spring 2024, periods III-V, 11.1.2024-6.6.2024
• Studio teaching takes place on Thursdays 13 - 17, Konetekniikka 1 -building, room 201, address: Otakaari 4
Field trip (mandatory to all participants)
• Dates February 25 – March 15, 2024
• Travel costs are to be covered by the students themselves. Grants are available to Aalto degree students:
- 300 € for Ghana
- 600 € for Rwanda (supported by Elsa Miller Foundation)
Prerequisites:
- Bachelor’s degree
- One of the following courses or tasks:
- State of the World and Development (WAT-E3020, Period I)
- UNIPid courses https://www.unipid.fi/
- UN-Habitat Global Urban lectures -task, https://unhabitat.org/knowledge/global-urban-lectures (UN-Habitat Global Urban lectures task can replace the State of the World and Development course or UNIPid course, it is done independently online during the time period October 1st to December 12th, 2023) Find more instructions from MyCourses Assignments section.
- Proficiency in English language is mandatory.
Supporting studies:
- Interplay of Cultures Research & Theory (ARK-E2021, periods III-V, 6 cr)
Applying for the Course:
• Applying for Rwanda? Send your PORTFOLIO, motivation letter, CV and study transcript by email to: taru.niskanen@aalto.fi
• Applying for Ghana? Send your motivation letter, CV and study transcript by email to: taru.niskanen@aalto.fi
• Application deadline is 16.10.2023 at 23:59h.
• A motivation letter. In your motivation letter express your interest on the Interplay of Cultures studio and its thematic areas. Which of the cases (Rwanda, Ghana, or both) you are applying for. If you are applying to both cases, state which one is your priority choice. Let us know which perquisites are covered or will be covered by the end of year 2023. Do you have previous experience travelling to Global South. Let us know which other courses you are going to take during the spring term 2024. Please, indicate if you can travel and cover the costs of the field trip as the field trip mandatory to all participants. Field trip costs and grant applications are the students’ own responsibility.
Submit all your documents as ONE pdf-file.
Name your pdf-file: Application_IoC_lastname_firstname.pdf
• open to Master´s Program in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Interior Architecture with Major in Architecture, as well as students from Creative Sustainability Master’s Program and students in Master’s Program in engineering or business are also considered.
• Maximum number of students accepted is 22 (max. 8 for Rwanda, 14 for Ghana).
• The approved students will be informed personally by November 3rd as well as given further information about the course practicalities and enrollment in SISU.
Teachers at Aalto
Saija Hollmén, Professor of Practice in Humanitarian Architecture
Taru Niskanen, PhD Candidate, Architect, University Teacher
Claudia Auer, PhD Candidate, Architect, Researcher
Meeri Pitkänen, Landscape Architect, Assisting teacher
Anna Koskinen, Architect, Assisting teacher
Where to find information about our previous projects?
Go to: https://www.aalto.fi/en/witlab/interplay-of-cultures-studio-aalto-arts
For more information, please contact: Taru Niskanen, taru.niskanen@aalto.fi
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Course readings Folder
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IoC studio - MIRO link URL
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The Project / Design (Group or individual task)
Submit your project/design final review presentation here as a pdf.
Submit to MyCourses, by April 25th for Ghana team, and May 16th for Rwanda team, 23:00 hours
Submit as one PDF-file
Name the file: Project_lastname/s.pdf
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INDIVIDUAL TASK
Briefly tell what you think worked best in your design/s. (your personal or your group) What part/s of the design/s are you particularly proud of? What was the design process like, what seemed easy or especially challenging?
Video record your reflection - max 2 mins
Submit to MyCourses, by April 26th for Ghana team, and May 17th for Rwanda team, 16:00 hours
Submit as one MP4 file
Name the file: Sprint_3_reflection_lastname.mp4
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Please, submit here the final layouts of the exhibition panels and the publication as pdfs. Submit separate files for exhibition material and publication material for teams from Ghana and Rwanda.
If the files exceed 400 MB, please send them by using Wetransfer or similar and inform teachers about it.
Submit the pdf-files to MyCourses latest by May 30th, 13:00 hours
Name the files:
Sprint_4_exhibition_"group name".pdf
Sprint_4_publication_"group name".pdf
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INDIVIDUAL TASK
Self-assessment & Feedback
Self-assessment
Please, reflect here what were the biggest learnings for you individually during the whole spring.
What kind of new skills did you learn?
How did your thinking develop during the spring?
What was surprising or something you did not anticipate?
If your project was done in a group, please describe what was your part of your team’s work. How was the workload divided?
Were you able to use your strengths?
Feedback
Please, we would like to hear your feedback about the course. Every year the studio is a bit different, but we would appreciate your feedback and take it into consideration when planning the studio for the next years.
Submit as one pdf-file by May 31th, 16:00 hours
Name the file: sprint_4_reflection_lastname.pdf -
Väre plans for exhibition in May Folder
Please, find the the floor plan and images of Väre, FK Lobby 206 for teh exhibition