European Watercities

Instructors: Mona El Khafif, Ila Berman
CCA SF campus: MTW, May 14-16, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Europe: June 3–22, 2012

Description

Watercities focuses on four different cities, each of which has undergone substantial urban and architectural redevelopment over the last century, in particular over the last three decades, where cultural and economic changes have re-purposed older port-related industrial zones with new waterfront projects and landscapes dedicated to living, leisure and tourism. In this studio, students experience significant works of architecture in their European context and gain first-hand knowledge of foreign cultures. Focusing on the architecture and urbanism of four cities in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Spain, the class also contextualizes these cities within the larger territory of European watercities. To live with water, wrest your livelihood from water, and be ever vigilant against its life-threatening potential is an economic and physical reality for many cities situated along European coastlines and river fronts. Participants investigate the ways in which these cities have reconstructed and expanded their public space by redeveloping waterfront territories while offering new multilayered forms of urban programming to meet the demands of the 21st century environment. The contemporary architectural landscape of Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Barcelona are studied within the context of their deeper histories, enabling student access to a large array of exemplary works of architecture in addition to office visits to some of the most significant architectural practices operating within these urban environments.

The studio begins with a three-day intensive preliminary seminar and design workshop at CCA that introduces students to the program and preliminary skills in GIS mapping. In the main project for this studio, students focus on a range of methods for visually documenting and analyzing the urban, infrastructural, architectural, and environmental evolutionary patterns of the cities, as well as studying important individual works of architecture through drawings, diagrams, and photographic montages. A digital reader is also provided as background to the course, and students contribute to on site lectures by presenting their own research and analysis of the architectural works visited.

Prerequisites

Undergraduates: successful completion of Architecture Studio 4 and instructor approval.
Graduates: successful completion of Architecture Studio 2 and instructor approval

In addition all students must be in good academic, conduct, and financial standing for the 2011–12 academic year.

Course Satisfies:

For undergraduates, this course satisfies 3 units equivalent to half of an Advanced Architecture Studio or one 3 unit Architecture or Studio Elective.

For graduates, this course satisfies one 3 unit open architecture elective.

Program Fee

$4,750 + $50 registration fee
Program fee includes:
3 units, housing, museum entrance fees, local transportation, and field trips.

Program fee does not include:
Airfare to and from Europe, class reader, meals, travel insurance, medical or personal insurance (students MUST provide their own insurance).

Please make sure you read the related links in full:
Registration
Financial Aid
Passport, Visa, and Insurance
Code of Conduct

In-person registration begins on Thursday, March 1, for all summer study abroad courses. Students should register no later than Friday, March 30.

Enrollment is limited. Interested students should contact Mona El Khafif, right away to start the approval process for registration.

Questions

Office of Special Programs
Oakland campus, Ralls 201

Nina Sadek
Dean of Special Programs
510.594.3773
nsadek@cca.edu

Carol Pitts
Assistant to the Dean of Special Programs
510.594.3732
cpitts@cca.edu