Architecture

CIEE supports qualified students who wish to pursue an academically rigorous independent research project while abroad. In order to enroll, students must submit a research proposal including a clearly defined research topic,
explanation of research plans, description of preparation in the planned area of study, list of resources, tentative outline of a final paper, and suggested schedule of progress. Students complete a total of 100-120 hours of
research and meet regularly with an advisor to complete an academically rigorous, ethically sound, and culturally appropriate research project and final research paper. Approval for participation in Directed Independent Research
must be obtained from CIEE and the student's home institution prior to arrival on the program.

This course examines the relationship between architecture, place and society and explores the meaning of cultural and social sustainability in architectural design. A key aspect of social sustainability is the practice of social responsibility, and the course explores how this may occur, including involving people in the design process. On completion of this course students will be able to demonstrate: an ability to better understand the connections between architecture place and society, and the social, cultural, political and economic factors affecting sustainable environments; skills and knowledge in participatory processes necessary for effective communication about environmental design issues; increased critical awareness about social responsibility in relation to the practice of architecture and the design of the built environment, and an ability to exercise this awareness. 

This is an independent research course with research arranged between the student and faculty member. The specific research topics vary each term and are described on a special project form for each student. A substantial paper is required. The number of units varies with the student’s project, contact hours, and method of assessment, as defined on the student’s special study project form.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale degree program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor. The course's main emphasis is on cultural heritage; it offers a bridge between the past and the future by means of the present. The course investigates the formation of the concept of cultural heritage in historical perspective and the European geographical spectrum. It also dwells on the cases of destruction of cultural heritage occurring throughout history. Starting from the shaping of urban landscapes through the ages, the course also addresses the heritage values of urban space, which are overall values derived from the integration of different components. The course provides: an understanding of the significance of urban environments through the transformations that occurred over time in relation to various political and institutional phases; a comparative view between Italian and European cities through specific examples; an ability to use sources such as aerial photos of urban settlements to identify the stages of their development from antiquity to the present; and recognition of the reasons for the shaping of Europe's cultural heritage and in particular its historical urban landscape.

This course seeks to examine the meaning and significance of “architecture” in one of the most historically marked cities of Europe. Berlin has been subject to many waves of renewal, some gradual, some democratic and some totalitarian. All of these have left their traces on the city’s buildings.

Although we may notice or like the appearance of particular buildings we see everyday or as tourists, their size often makes it seem as though “they have always been there.” Still, these buildings are the result of many individual, social and communal decisions. A building says a lot about the ideas held during the time it was built in. Therefore, the course will include formal and stylistic analysis of the architecture as well as focus on the historical, ideological and individual context of the works through the prism of the following question: What kind of message was this building meant to convey? In this perspective, the course gives a wide overview of the development of public and private architecture in Berlin during the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

Following an introduction to the urban, political and cultural development and architectural history of Berlin since the middle ages, the Neo-Classical period will be surveyed with special reference to the works of Karl Friedrich Schinkel. This will be followed by classes on the developments of the German Reich after 1871, which was characterized by both modern and conservative tendencies and the manifold activities during the time of the Weimar Republic in the 1920s such as the Housing Revolution. The architecture of the Nazi period will be examined, followed by the developments in East and West Berlin after the Second World War and the traces of the Berlin wall, which are partly re-enacted. The course concludes with a detailed review of the city’s more recent and current architectural profiles, including an analysis of the conflicts concerning the re-design of Berlin after the Cold War and the German reunification.

Several walking tours to historically significant buildings and sites are included (Unter den Linden, Gendarmenmarkt, Potsdamer Platz, Holocaust Memorial, Humboldt-Forum etc.). The course aims to offer a deeper understanding of the interdependence of Berlin’s architecture and the city’s social and political structures in its historical development. It considers Berlin as a model for the highways and by-ways of a European capital in modern times.

This course concerns the architectural and urban heritage of Fustat - Cairo from 641 CE to the present. It introduces Islamic architecture and the major architectural works of Cairo from the introduction of Islam to the present day. With reference to the historical and social contexts, the course also considers how and why Islamic architecture changed in Cairo over the centuries, and deepen understanding of the culture in which students live and share with the Islamic world. The assignments provide an opportunity to learn how art historians think and argue with one another, and develop perceptual abilities, research, presentation skills, and critical thinking.

In contemporary building design, sustainability has emerged as a fundamental element. With the growing urgency of climate change and limited resources, the imperative to create buildings that prioritize minimal environmental impact and maximize human comfort has also intensified. Sustainable building can make a crucial contribution in this regard. But what defines a sustainable building and how can a building be designed in a sustainable way? The course provides both theoretical and practical learning materials to address this question. Participants will acquire general knowledge and skills in the fields of sustainable building and building performance simulations. They will be able to gain a deeper understanding of the interactions between various factors when designing or conducting evidence-based analyses of a building's sustainability. Key topics will include: principles of sustainable buildings, future trends, chances, and aims of sustainability by buildings, functional and aesthetical quality of buildings, systems for environment friendly energy supply, thermal comfort and indoor air quality, fundamentals of building performance simulations, and simulative analysis of buildings. The first two weeks cover the theoretical segment and the subsequent two weeks consist of collaborative work on small-scale projects with supervision from lecturers. Furthermore, there will be three excursions in Berlin, where attendees will experience real-life examples of sustainable buildings and plants.

This course is a challenging introductory course and is specifically for non-History of Art students. The specific content changes each year, but the course introduces students to various themes and issues in architectural practice and patronage from the medieval period to the present day, focusing on buildings and sites in London such as Westminster Abbey, St Paul's Cathedral, Chiswick House, the South Bank Centre, the Barbican, and Canary Wharf.

Strong design cultures have proven to be a source of resilience and prosperity for nations, cities and enterprises. As recent AI developments portend disruption of industries, work, and familiar career paths, this course aims to equip students with a solid understanding of design principles and practice. Once associated with the built environment, physical products, and corporate illustration, design principles are widely applied to experiences, systems and processes, places and identities. In contrast to those familiar with humanities and sciences, the course demonstrates how design thinking represents a distinctive way of seeing and thinking yet complements and strengthens a liberal arts education. Design is optimistic, aims to make a difference through problem-finding and solving, and is inherently multi-disciplinary. By exploring the evolution of design practice through historical and contemporary examples, and a group project of design inquiry, students will begin to cultivate a design mindset. 

The focus of the seminar is the concept of reconstruction in the field of architecture and urban development, an essential term when dealing with loss and destruction in historical urban structures. In addition to the decision or debate between monument preservation and new planning, the course also discusses the crucial role of political, social and identity authorities in these design processes. By reading theoretical and official texts, analyzing international case studies and visiting Berlin case studies, students gain insights into the diversity of theories and methodological approaches to reconstruction in modern and contemporary architectural practice and monument preservation.