The Department focuses on developing basic technical skills and introducing students to subjects such as Architectural Studio (at various levels), planning and design processes, and the way human and physical contexts influence building forms.
3 semester credits. In the field of architectural design, the thought process and the method of expression are equally important. In this course, students will learn to communicate their design ideas through the use of instrumental and freehand drawings. The goal is to provide students with the tools and vocabulary to analyze, interpret, and discuss the built environment from environmental, social, historical, perceptual and technical aspects. Lectures based on the readings and assignments will introduce students to the elements of architecture from aesthetic, structural, functional and historical perspectives. The course will cover the production of orthographic, multiview, isometric, oblique, and perspective drawings. In addition, this class promotes hands-on experience: through the free exploration of the city, students will have the opportunity to create sketches and understand their architectural inclinations. Having acquired the basic vocabulary and practiced the primary elements, students will begin translating architectural ideas into images, and will later be able to apply their knowledge to all branches – e.g., house design, garden design, interior design, urban planning, landscape architecture, set design, and historic preservation.
3 semester credits. Students will continue to develop skills introduced in Architecture Studio I by drafting 3D explorations of interior and exterior space with the use of technical instruments, freehand drawings, and computer-generated studies. The particular focus of this course is the step-by-step design of residential units, from hand sketching to computer generated design. Particular attention will be devoted to methodologies to develop design house projects with the use of the visual interpretation by using different techniques, assisted drawing, and 3D design software, such as Revit. Students will design rooms, elevations, floor plans, and site plans. Ultimately, they will be able to design a building project, from foundations to the roof. The student’s final project will be the design of a community place: a place for the homeless of Florence. In addition, students will also get an overview on groundbreaking house designs by Le Corbusier, Wright, and Hadid. Prerequisites: Architecture Studio I or equivalent.
3 semester credits. In the third and final level of Architecture Studio, the particular focus is the Urban Design and Landscape Architecture Studio. Advanced communication skills are developed through sketching, delineation, drafting, and rendering techniques specifically geared toward effective design presentations. Various rendering techniques and media are explored with an emphasis placed on the effective graphic and visual communication of design ideas in terms of site plan, section, elevation, and 3D. We will focus on problem solving of micro to macro urban design problems, urban design strategies, human circulation, sustainable and regenerative neighborhoods, communities and participatory planning. Visits and walking tours throughout the city of Florence will inform and enrich the students’ design projects. Key urban architects and planning movements will be discussed and re-visited with new contexts. Prerequisites: Architecture Studio II or equivalent.
3 semester credits. This course combines an architectural and historical approach to explore Florence’s iconic palaces. The course aims to delve deep into the palazzi’s structural conformations, artistic properties, and private and collective uses. Emphasis will be placed on the genealogy of families who have inhabited these palaces, in order to understand how the palaces assumed specific shapes and positions. Starting from the Middle Ages, the course will focus on the Renaissance while also assessing the present-day nature of such structures. Students will acquire an architectural and historical lexicon, and the capacity to critically interlink the two disciplines. The approach of this course is based on experiencing the city of Florence as an academic space for learning and engagement. Classes will not be held in a traditional, frontal-style setting; each lesson is carefully mapped for curricular content and featured locations: lectures, observations, exercises, analysis, and reflections on presented topics are held in relevant sites that are accounted for in the academic planning, syllabus, and related course material. Coursework and submissions will be regularly assessed on the MyAUF platform through daily assignments in addition to exams, papers, and projects. Learning through the on-site classroom approach fosters a deeper understanding of the cultural environment of Florence and how it is related to the subject of study examined by the course, and allows for an overall experience which contributes to the students' academic and personal enrichment.
3 semester credits. This is a design studio course that introduces the processes of design and planning, judgment, and communications involved in the development of architectural form. Through a focused series of individual and group projects, the influences of the human and physical contexts on form are explored.
3 semester credits. This advanced design studio course focuses on the processes of planning and design, judgment, and communications involved in the development of architectural form. Students apply previously learned knowledge and technical approaches to complex projects that take into consideration the influence of human and physical contexts on form. Prerequisites: Architecture Project I or equivalent.
3 semester credits. The internship course allows the student from architecture and interior design backgrounds to gain first-hand experience of professional design contexts. Internship students will practice their creative skills with studio teams or individual professionals. Tasks may include initial observations of the professional environment, working on design samples, drafting by hand or digitally, practice AutoCAD layouts and rending, and assisting the organization with logistical duties. Student involvement will not involve solo project development but require collaborative engagement within the organization's ongoing projects according to the student's skill and competency levels. This internship course aims to prepare students for the professional world and features an unsalaried internship scheduled individually for a minimum of ten hours per week. Students generally serve as part-time interns from Monday through Friday, although some internships may require weekend hours or ongoing research or design-based activities for remote placements. The internship enhances student knowledge through field experience held in a professional environment overseen by a supervisor who regularly monitors the internship progress and development, and guides the student’s preparation of a final analytical report and portfolio. Placements will vary depending on the student’s language and professional skills. Main tasks: Project research, design sampling for layouts and renderings, logistics assistance for organizational processes, final portfolio. Additional materials/Dress code: Business casual attire for dress code. Not applicable to remote option. Remote option students will need their own access to layout/rendering software. Prerequisites: An A2 level of Italian language. Cover letter, CV, portfolio of previous work, and material pertinent to the chosen area, interview.