The laboratory deals with the architectural project from the point of view of the internal space. As a founding phenomenon, independent of the scale to which it is applied, it is characterized by particular attention to its users and their gestures of relationship and openness to others and to the world; it is captured and determined as a concrete body built, in dynamics, verified down to the scale of detail, between its built-in margins, the light that animates it, the furnishings that equip it, the materials and the decorative elements that qualify it; aims to define a precise identity of each place, in the dialectic between space plant, figuration, sizing, structural aspects, environmental control, energy performance. The Studio pays particular attention to the recovery of the existing and often fragile building and architectural heritage, interpreting the themes of contemporary living, from those of the residence to those of complex and multifunctional organisms for culture, museum systems and social life, up to those of the redevelopment and equipment of the open spaces.

The disciplinary integrations that characterize each section (Architectural design, Architectural technology, Landscape architecture, Restoration, Urban design) allow, in the intertwining of the theoretical contents of each discipline, different thematic angles and design variations explained in the individual programs.

According to the Dublin Descriptors (DD), passing the exam certifies the acquisition of the following results:

DD 1, knowledge and understanding:

- knowledge of the fundamental elements of interior architecture and its methods of application in the design process for the purpose of transforming inhabited places and spaces.

DD 2, ability to apply knowledge and understanding:

- ability to control the compositional aspects of the project and its typological and functional features, which regulate the qualitative relationships of the architectural forms of the space.

DD 3 (autonomy of judgment), 4 (communication skills) and 5 (learning ability):

- ability to operate and communicate independently the design choices made (DD 3, 4 and 5).

UAH! - Unconventional Affordable Housing for Unconventional Households

The profound socio-demographic transformations that have taken place in Europe and Italy over the last few decades have led to major changes in household composition and in what constitutes what is typically referred to as the “family.” These transformations have resulted in increasing numbers of single people, divorced couples with children, single parents and the elderly, as well as the spread of the phenomenon of cohabitation not only among students but also among young couples and adult workers. At the same time, changes in the labour market, namely a significant rise in temporary employment and delocalization, have frequently forced people to organise their lives between more than one dwelling. In addition to these phenomena, worsening employment and economic conditions due to the lasting recession have reduced housing affordability, and set constraints on access to housing, even for middle-income groups. The situation is compounded by a significant increase in cases of rent and mortgage arrears and as consequence evictions. In a context characterised by economic transformation and changes in family patterns, new lifestyles have emerged (such as couples living apart together - LAT - in long-distance relationships, made possible by low-cost air travel and, to a certain extent, digital communication, factors which have significantly shortened physical distances and changed our sense and understanding of what constitutes proximity).

Altogether, these phenomena have challenged the meaning of “home” as inherited from the Modern Movement, and the housing programs implemented under the welfare states of many countries during the twentieth century, imposing the need for a thorough revision of both the understanding of the idea of family, the concept of residence (that is slowly taking over that of home), as well as the idea of home-lessness.

The objective of the studio is to stimulate students to go beyond the paradigm of a nuclear family structure coinciding with the corresponding housing design.

Starting from the work of mapping different categories of case studies (unconventional households practices and unconventional housing design), students are invited to define the potential households of their projects and, consequently, to develop the design solution for new Affordable Housing Typology (interior, exterior and the relationship between interior and exterior, also considering the urban context).

Given the vast existing building stock that has been decommissioned or is inadequate to meet new needs and those imposed by environmental emergencies, the work will be developed starting from an existing building (whatever its current use), respecting the values and qualities that the building expresses and/or that are recognized through the study of its spatial, material and conformational characteristics.

• SDG11 - SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES

Unconventional dwelling practices can be interpreted both as indicators of unaffordable housing markets and a lack of effective public housing policies, but also as a means of adaptation to pressing conditions. In line with the continuous withdrawal of the public sector in the provision of affordable housing, the notion of affordability today encompasses a wide range of bottom-up, public, public/private/third-sector practices, interacting with one another.

While from an architectural point of view, exclusive and high-priced unconventional housing has been investigated, the analysis of inclusive and affordable unconventional housing solutions (intended as practices, policies and projects) is rather rare. The studio aims at reducing this research gap, and at the same time developing possible design strategies to tackle the high need for affordable housing for unconventional households.

Students will be evaluated based on both group and individual work. There will be tutoring, extempore, midterm reviews and a final presentation accompanied by the final Exhibition, which will experiment and test the tools and knowledge acquired.

The course will be strongly based on an open interaction between the teaching staff and the students. Active participation and interaction of students in the class will be welcomed, encouraged and evaluated.

Students’ work should comply with The New European Bauhaus framework: to create a design movement integrating three dimensions: Sustainability (including circularity), Quality of experience (including aesthetics) and Social inclusion (including affordability). Showing that creativity is in finding affordable, inclusive and attractive solutions for our climate challenges. 

A detailed list of documents to be delivered and their format will be supplied in due course. For example, we invite you to consult the archive of previous years' works: http://www.lablog.org.uk/category/02_year-books/