ArchipTalk Newsletter - November 2017 by Hedy M. Lemus Bird

UNDER THE LOUPE: URBANISM

made by ARCHIP students

Product Design experience

MM Cite workshop Design and collaboration go hand in hand. Collaboration comes in many ways, from small informal working sessions and group critiques to workshops. Workshops are an opportunity for a team to solve a problem together by going through a series of exercises designed to get to a specific outcome. Most recently, the Product Design professor, Jerry Koza, ran a workshop about the vision of the support products at MM Cite International Product Design Company in Bilovice, Czech Republic. Students were given two days to develop ideas of a seating design for three people, through sketches and model making. After the evaluation of individual designs from the company directors, four designs were chosen to be built in 1:1 scale. The building process took part in the big factory whereas materials and time were limited: wooden planks, hand saw, nails, hammer and approximately four hours for each team to build the product. Team leaders were the ones, whose designs were chosen: Kasimir Suter Winter, Isaac Ma Sabido, Kryštof Redčenkov and Margarita Pershina.

STUDENT’S VOICE “Workshop was badly organized: no transport back to the town, poor safety conditions.“ “...we were not able to use machines or other new technologies. So what did we learn? Nothing really. “ “It would be even better if there were more workshops for this class “ “It was really educational. Practice is the way of learning exactly but maybe this process would be longer. We had to design in 2 hours without any background information about product design and production.” “It is crucial for students to experience hands on work through the design process. I feel this format of workshops could play an extremely positive role in engaging students, and providing truly unique and valuable experiences which could not be gained anywhere else.“

ARCHIP research and analyses:

VILLA PETSCHEK The Petschek villa in Prague, built by Otto Petschek, a wealthy banker and industrialist. between 1924 – 1929, is an example of an undergoing renovation, after which it will serve as the home of the Museum of Czech Literature. It was of a great advantage for ARCHIP to take part in the monitoring process, encouraged by the former tutor, Bára Šimonová and Markéta Mráčková. Few students are currently involved in the participatory research approach , whereas every Monday they observe and evaluate construction on site and check that it is coming together as designed and documented. This involvement gives an understanding of building and being practical. In addition, everyone is focused on a more specific topic of restoration and time and space adaptivity which later will serve as necessary collective data for the yearbook of the building’s stages and transformation. To make it more successful, there was an arranged meeting with the architect, Žilka Němec, the author of the newest plan who was explaining villa’s significance to the community. He stated that they tried to preserve the exterior and modify the exterior spaces only, reflecting so on its past presence. On one hand, it is a conservative yet luxurious style villa, primarily inspired by French classical baroque. On the other hand, the villa was filled with the latest technology of the day – an unparalleled achievement which is being applied now. As the design process advances within two years span, information will continue to be collected by the students who want to volunteer in keeping a continuous record on the building construction. This program represents a unique opportunity of the demonstration project to innovate and enhance rehabilitation existing policies and practices. All in all, it is our responsibility to preserve this architectural wonder throughout time and its role as an important civic space.

10 2017

Highlights URBANISM IN ARCHIP results of student survey PRODUCT DESIGN WORKSHOP

VENICE VACATIONS

VILLA PETECKOVA

URBANISM is it worthy? ARE ARCHIP’S URBANISTIC SUBJECT EFFICIENT? During the past years, we have heard many complains regarding the urbanistic subjects at ARCHIP. Therefore, we decided to check if they were reasonable and what can we do to make it better. Such topic is very crucial this semester since the AD project is urbanism related and to not forget - ARCHIP has master degree in Architecture and Urbanism. To help this issue, we created questionnaire about Fundamentals of Urbanism, Master Planning, Urban Design and asked our Master students about their experience with urbanistic subjects. Unfortunately results of the research shows us that there is lack of structure in the FU and MPl, lectures are not properly formulated and the professor does not provide much information regarding the relevant subject. This results in the fact that 95% of students do not think that they learned a lot from these courses and 80% say that exams/submissions do not reflect their knowledge. DO YOU THINK LECTURES SHOULD HAVE BETTER STRUCTURE?

*others 17%

No. 83%

GENERALLY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO INCLUDE MORE READINGS IN OTHER COURSES?

Yes 62%

*gained for LD only, self teaching.

*others 13%

No 87%

DO YOU THINK YOU LEARNED/GAINED A LOT FROM THESE CLASSES?

DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE MORE BENEFICIAL THAT FINAL PROJECTS WOULD BE CONNECTED TO AD PROJECTS?

Yes 73%

No 38%

No 27%

It might be unexpected for professors, but students even agree to have challenging tasks, if they are beneficial, interesting, creative and practical. Because as of now, they just “show how great my wikipedia/Google search skills are and how cool is my poster design “ After analysing the abstract of the courses, class experience and students responses, ARCHIPtalks team came up with a few advices for ARCHIP: 1. Relate the tasks to the current AD project. It would be great if tutors and studio leaders are in track of what is going on each other’s classes. 2. Do not hesitate to provide us with good readings and movies, so we can discuss them in class. 3. Last but not the least: it is important that the professor is well prepared for the lectures and has a thoughtful structure of the subject.

STUDENT’S VOICE “We need more information about urbanism as a subject and additional readings that would strengthen the way we think and resolve the projects (especially AD)” “I think classes are not meant to memorize things that you will forget in one year or so. The teacher is trying to make you think about the city and its functions, to find your own way of understanding, helping with his own comments. I really appreciate this approach, because it makes me think in a way that I never thought I would. “

DO YOU THINK EXAMS/SUBMISSIONS FOR FU AND MPL ARE SHOWING KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU GOT?

No 72%

Yes 28%

“In MP we need to do presentation without any knowledge. We do not have classes, just presentation by students. We need to find everything on internet. He does not give us important information “ “I would say the major problem about these classes (FU and MPl) is the lack of basic teaching. When we start researching for the classes projects, we do not know what to look for or how to understand what we find as we have no explanation from the professor. Maybe it could be useful to have short presentations at the beginning of the classes so we gain that understanding and understand what we are looking for/at. Also the class sometimes repeats itself, maybe due to lack of structure ?” “Have a prepared presentation, but keep the part when the professor reacts to students work “

DO YOU THINK SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE MORE COMPLICATED: HARDER, BUT SMARTER AND MORE USEFUL? Yes 70%

No 30%

“I believe Lucas is great in his profession, but unfortunately he has no skills needed for a professor.”

MASTER’S STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE Master students are describing their urbanism teacher as very organized and participative. They provide good readings each lecture and have discussions during the class. Sometimes have extra lecturers which provide different point of view. It would be good though to have some physical outcome from theoretical knowledge they gain during the class: models, sketches. Architecture and City class makes students look at urban design in more abstract and different way.

NEW URBAN DESIGN PROFESSOR Despite all criticism, ARCHIPtalks is proud that ARCHIP keeps improving the curriculum. Currently, office is working on the new abstract for FU and MPl classes whereas, starting from the next year, Urban Design class will be led by Lynda Zein.

Unfortunately, we did not manage to interview her, but here are few facts from her portfolio: After finishing French lyceum in Prague, Lynda got her Bachelor and Master in Architecture in Edinburgh (2013) and Diplôme d’Urbaniste DESA with distinction in Paris (2015). Last job is the organization of international competitions for public buildings at CCEA MOBA office. She is experienced as a freelance architect, worked on apartment refurbishments in the Parisian North suburbia, and participated in different workshops, events and lectures.

We wish Lynda ARCHIP!

a very productive semester at

Student’s trip

ARCHIP GOES TO VENICE! Recently our students went to Venice Art Biennale in Venice. Trip was fully organized by the second year student, Megi Davitidze, and tickets to the exhibition were provided by ARCHIP. Trip went successfully and Megi says that there might be one more in May, this time already for Architecture Biennale. Check out the impressions from participants:

“Inspirational, artistic, educative. Lots of different feelings left after exploring 57th Venice Art exhibition. The way artists showed their ideas and philosophy is impressive. Important is also the diversity, as artists come from different countries and each of them has specific ideology. Even if this year was an Art exhibition, I still believe it was beneficial for all of us. Looking forward to attend upcoming 2018 Architecture biennale. Megi Davitidze

“I am so glad that an ARCHIP student, Megi, initiated this Venice trip. Not only was it successful and inspiring, but it brought us students closer together. It put us through multiple interesting situations in which we learned to work together and go through the good and the bads. Traveling is a huge enrichment, and I hope there will be more to come!”

“I’ve never been to Venice before and I’m in love with this small piece of beauty. Hope someday we’ll visit this place one more time.Thanks to everyone who shared those days with me. It was such a good experience, and now I have only good memories.”

“Amazing and truly one of the best school trips I had. Biennale was interesting but I think it would be better if it was for architecture because most of the art there I didn’t understand. But if ARCHIP creates a new trip for next year I will definitely be up for it!”

Bachir Benkirane

Nadezhda Semashko

Naida Osmandzikovic

Venezia is a city where culture, architecture and life get combined creating a dream urban feeling. For me this trip was a refreshing weekend surrounded by the italian culture which i love. Talking about Biennale I was amazed by some pavilions while others disappointed me, anyway this reminded me how free and different art is and in how many ways we can express it. Isaac Marquez Really loved this trip, it was cultivating and bonding. It should be an annual eventâ&#x20AC;? Sinan Birsel

BIG THANKS TO THE PLANNING TEAM! Thank you for arranging such a wonderful trip, Megi, Soda, Kasimir & Ewa! This is truly above and beyond the call of duty, and another reason why we are so grateful to you! Please, challenge us again with new places, people and experiences!

Prague events and activities

for December