Brief
Relevance of the Action As part of the ADU_2020 activities, workshops are proposed to refine “common” and “regional specific”, as well as “transdisciplinary” competences in relation to the renewed professional areas, and also test new teaching methods. The design workshop will be carried out in 10 days and, in this case, consider students and visiting professors of all partners who will interact in a design-studio methodology on what has been called UrbanBrandScapes and on four working sites in San José. Design workshop students will be confronted face-to-face by teachers and students of different countries,
backgrounds and methodologies for period.
teaching a short
On this occasions, the design methodology is tested in an interactively way in the presence of a diversity of international students and staff. Students are divided in smaller groups with two or three guiding tutors of different countries. Within those small groups comparative design research is performed. The participating professors give lectures on the related topic. In this way the student can see how design and research questions and methodologies area tackled in the different countries. Very important is the fact that students are guided by an interdisciplinary and intercultural team of lecturers. 2
Interdisciplinary and intercultural thinking is induced. Here in presence of all partners the research by design problems will be carried out by students.
The Subject Achieve consistency between the image with which a country is known worldwide and the urban dynamics of its cities is not always an easy task. In some cases, cities have a higher potential that is not being exploited, while in others, their qualities are out of proportion to what is known of them internationally. San Jose (capital of Costa Rica) is no exception to this reality and, at least in its citizens, there is a perception that not enough
is being done to achieve the image that the country sells abroad. On the other hand, in very few cases San Jose is known as a destination; instead, it is considered a pass-thru city that does not has an attractive to be visited in a period longer than a couple of days; it just works normally as a hub between airports and touristic spots located on the rural area, which are richer in landscape and biodiversity. This problem leads to the unreliability of the visitor, whom can easily appreciate the differences between touristic spots and the metropolitan area, through out the use of urban space, it’s dynamic, landscape and also architecture. By
this 3
reason,
the
UrbanBrandScape workshop has been planned as an opportunity to approach different problems from different disciplines and different points of view, to achieve a coherence between Costa Rica’s international image and life in the metropolitan area. It will be focused on open assignments to avoid predefined projects. It also strives to encourage open methodologies and the confrontation with own processes, in order to claim for multiple options towards a research oriented process.
Universities. It will be attended by approximately 100 students from fourth year at Veritas Architecture School, divided in 8 Units, each one with 13 students, guided by an International professor and a local professor. The Schedule of the event is planned as follows, by this meaning that minor changes may occur depending on the development of the activities.
The Schedule The workshop will be carried out by 8 local professors plus 8 international ones, coming from ADU_2020 Partner 4
T R A N S P O R T T O V E R I TA S
ADU Aims Discussion Methodology Tune Up
Lecture Lecture
Lecture Workshop
Workshop
Lecture
Technical Visit [Professors only]
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop Exhibition Assembly
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Final Review
Workshop
LUNCH Welcome & intro [students]
Site Visit
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
TRANSPORT TO HOTEL
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D E PA R T U R E
Welcome & intro [professors]
A R R I VA L
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE 2013
8:30 9:00 10:00 11:00 12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00 16:00 17:00 18:00
The Activities The workshop is intended to be a sum of activities that will give input to students and professor in order to achieve their goals. Some of the activities will be attended only by professors, such as Technical Visit and Aims Discussion. A brief description of any of these activities is given in below. Welcome & Intro: The UrbanBrandScape workshop will be presented to local and visiting students (professors may know it by this time). Working Site area will be described and assigned to each Unit, and two videos will be shown to students and discussed briefly by professors, in order to get the idea of how Costa Rica is sold to visitors.
Aims Discussion: Professors will have small sessions for the discussion of ADU Aims and other relevant subjects the ADU_2020 and local or visiting professors might consider important. Methodology Tune Up: Each Unit Professors will have the chance to tune up the methodology to be used, in order to set things up for the beginning of the workshop. Site Visit: Two buses will take all Units to their respective working site. Students and professors will be able to walk around and make notes, take pictures and feel the atmosphere of San JosĂŠ. Lunch will be taken somewhere around for students and professors as well, in order to start breaking the ice.
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Lectures: Local and Visiting Professors will be able to have a lecture on any subject that might be considered helpful for students on their proposals. In case an International Professor is interested in give some lecture, do not hesitate to make the organizer know it in advance. Technical Visit: Will be carried out only by professors while students will work on their proposals. A city tour guided by University authorities will be the best way to have a brief notion of Costa Rican architecture. Workshop Exhibition Assembly: A panel for the exhibition will be assigned to each unit. These will be placed on the first floor of the main building. All projects must comply with the format of the exhibition and will be
prepared for printing the night before the assembly. Please take this on count! Final Review: The final review will be carried out on the Roberto Sasso Auditorium during the afternoon. It will be open to all the Veritas University Community and Special Guests. A brief discussion about each Unit’s research will be carried out.
Research Methodology We suggest to approach different problems from different disciplines or points of view, as well as to encourage open assignments instead of predefined objects; to allow confrontation with students own process; to claim for multiple 7
options and to push towards research oriented process. Professors of each Unit will set the methodology to be followed by their students, before the workshop begins. This will be delivered as a printed document in Letter format, as well as a digital document on any editable text format and a PDF file. Both, English and Spanish languages are required for documents. Communication between professors must begin as soon as possible in order to set the methodology, and inform the organizers in case they need additional information for the good development of research. A map with working area will be delivered as a PDF file for this phase. Editable multilayer
pdf and CAD files with this information will be given by the beginning of the workshop to each unit. The number of students and their names will be delivered to professors in both, digital and printed format as well. Please make sure to also set the workshop grades and evaluation aspects before the beginning. The workshop will be assigned with a 20% over the final grade of the term.
Working Units Attendant professors will be divided in working units as described above. A previous coordination is required to establish research aims and methodology for each Unit. 8
UNIT_1
UNIT_6
Arq. Carlos Azofeifa / CR Arq. Ignacio de Teresa / EC
Arq. Fernando Ríos / CR Arq. Beatriz Heyn / PG
UNIT_2
UNIT_7
Arq. Koky Loría / CR Arq. Diana Ríos / PA Arq. William Lievens / BE
Arq. Héctor Rodríguez / CR Arq. Juan Carlos Aguilera / CO
UNIT_3 Arq. Edgardo Mora / CR Arq. Carlos Rivera / ES
UNIT_8 Arq. Max Terán / CR Arq. Victor Sánchez Taffur / VE Arq. Macarena Cortés / CH
UNIT_4 Arq. Alberto Negrini / CR Arq. Adriana Sansão / BR UNIT_5 Arq. José Alí Porras / CR Arq. Derek Hill / UK
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The Results Results may vary from urban to small scale intervention projects, from conceptual to more architectural ones, it will depend of the stablished methodology by each unit. Since this is a research by design on a eight day workshop, aims must be very clear and consistent.
order to fit into exhibition panels and a future publication of the workshop.
Logistic For the good development of the workshop, the logistic will be as described:
We recommend to send by email or bring with you bibliography and tools required for the workshop according to proposed methodologies; to prepare lectures regarding the subject of the research or methodology and to focus on research by design and design thinking.
Arrival: Shuttle from Airport to Hotel can be arranged for each professor if requested. It will cost $30 and has to be paid directly at your arrival to the Hotel. In case you may need this service, please send an email to aaguilar@veritas.cr or cataborda@uveritas.ac.cr with your arrival date, time and flight number.
Deliverables will be set by the beginning of the workshop in
Transport to VERITAS University: Professors will be picked up 10
at Hotel’s lobby by 8:15 am. The bus will be departing at 8:30 am. In case any professor miss the bus, transport to the University will be by his/her responsibility and has to cover its cost. Lunches: Visiting professors will be picked up for lunch by 12:45 each day to a booked restaurant, and will come back to the workshop by 14:00. Transport to Hotel: Professors will be picked up at Veritas Plaza by 6:15 pm. The bus will be departing at 6:30 pm. In case any professor miss the bus, transport to the Hotel will be by his/her responsibility and has to cover its cost. Dinners: Dinner will be by professors own initiative and paid directly by each person.
Departure. Shuttle from Hotel to Airport can be arranged for each professor if requested. It will cost $30 and has to be paid directly at your arrival to the Hotel. In case you may need this service, please send an email to aaguilar@veritas.cr or cataborda@uveritas.ac.cr with your departure date, time and flight number.
Important Information It is important to now a few aspects you may take on count during your visit to Costa Rica. Weather: By September we will be on the rainy season or green season. Temperature may vary between 24 ËšC at noon and 16 ËšC at night. Fresh clothes might be considered as well as an 11
umbrella and a light jacket. Don’t say we didn’t advice: your shoes will get wet, so, bring at least two pairs. Security: San José is a touristic city, but please be careful with your belongings. There are some areas in downtown which are not good for walking. Please ask the organizers or you hotel’s front desk before went out for a walk, specially at night. Language: Our official language is Spanish, but you can easily find people who speak english. Exchange: Costa Rica’s official currency is Colones. It is safe to exchange money in banks, but we recommend you to do it on State Banks such as Banco de Costa Rica or Banco Nacional, as well as Private Banks such as BAC San José
or ScotiaBank. The official exchange might change from one bank to another and from day to day, but it will be around: Please verify the exchange rates at your bank before change currency. Credit cards such as Visa, Master Card and American Express, are allowed in most of the stores, but you might need cash if going to small restaurants or the Central Market. In Case of Emergency: If you have an urgent situation you can call 9-1-1 from any public or private phone. Some other important contacts are: VERITAS University: +506 2246 4660 (Susana / Architecture School) 12
Address: Av. 20 Calle 31. 1km al este de Casa Presidencial. Antiguo ITAN. Organizers: + (506) 88 20 70 07 aaguilar@veritas.cr (Adrián Aguilar) + (506) 88 48 23 87 cataborda@uveritas.ac.cr (Carolina Taborda) Aurola Holiday Inn: + (506) 25 23 10 00 (Front Desk)