Architecture in Ticino, 1945-2000

"A Historical-Critical Itinerary Between Resistance and Disenchantment" The course seeks to investigate the premises and the reasons that led to international critical acclaim of Ticinese architecture (and ultimately the foundation of the Mendrisio Academy itself). The lectures will be organized around transversal issues that will compare the experiences that unfolded in Ticino from the post-war years down to the present and set them in a broader context. These issues will include: the legacy of Le Corbusier in the second generation of the Moderns; the notion of “Functionalism”, embodied in the various senses that it gradually acquired in the post-war years; the relation with the site and the desire to give the Modern roots; the emergence of a territorial conception of architecture; the modern building and its “expressive” values.

The course aims to investigate the architecture of the Canton of Ticino in the second half of the 20th century, starting from the study of the main works and offering students "critical tools" to refine their analytical skills, to form rational criteria of judgement and, ultimately, to give reasons for their own way of designing. The lessons will be held in Italian, but students will have access to teaching materials in English (and partly in French). The exam may be taken in Italian or English (in special cases, by agreement with the lecturer, also in German or French).

In presence

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Oral during the examination session: the examination is oral and focuses on the work submitted by the student ("paper"). The exam may be taken in Italian or English (in special cases, by agreement with the lecturer, also in German or French).