The Travelling Architect

Initiated by staff members from the Department of A, this research and design project is a collaboration with the Faculty of Architecture at Politecnico di Torino and the Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE). Designers – whether in architecture, art, industrial design, or civil engineering – have long travelled to gain insights from different cultures, with Italy being one of their favourite destinations. The concept of the travelling architect provides a lens to explore the evolution of design across disciplines and its cultural context. This course aims to deepen knowledge, foster collaboration in multidisciplinary teams, and do research by creating models and using various visual/sculptural means to present findings. As part of the course, students travel to Italy for on-site research.

Assessment will be based on:

1. Quality of Argumentation (20% of assessment)

• Assessing the strength and clarity of arguments presented.

• Evaluating the logical coherence and persuasiveness of the team’s reasoning.

2. Independent Academic Research (20% of assessment)

• Demonstrating the ability to conduct thorough and independent academic research.

• Showcasing depth, accuracy, and relevance in the research process.

3. Ability to Translate Research Outcomes to Research Booklet – Model – Suitcase* (20% of assessment)

• Effectively translating research findings into a cohesive Research Booklet.

• Developing a Model and Suitcase that accurately reflect the research outcomes.

4. Content and Visual Quality of Research Booklet – Model – Suitcase* (20% of assessment)

• Evaluating the substance and visual presentation of the Research Booklet, Model, and Suitcase.

• Ensuring clarity, aesthetics, and coherence in the visual and written content.

5. Quality of Research and Design of Research Booklet – Model – Suitcase* (20% of assessment)

• Assessing the overall quality of research and design demonstrated in the final products.

• Ensuring the research is comprehensive and the design is innovative and well-executed.

*Research Booklet: individual assignment (50%) – Model: individual assignment (25%) + group assignment (15%) – Suitcase: group assignment (10%)

Students pass the course with a 6.0 or higher. With a lower grade, the course can be repaired to change the grade into a pass. The repair is unsupervised and needs to be completed within 2 weeks after the end of the course. When the repair is unsuccessful, the student needs to follow the entire course again, or possibly another Q5 elective in the third education period.