Course Syllabus

The triangle of productivity: American, Swedish and Danish modes of architectural production (1947-91)

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Semester & Location:

Spring/Fall - DIS Copenhagen

Type & Credits:

Elective Course - 3 credits

Major Disciplines:

Architecture, History

Faculty:

Angela Gigliotti, angela@office-u67.net

Program Director:

Tina Mangieri, tma@disstockholm.se

Coordinator:

Kenzie Zimmer, mz@dis.dk

Time & Place:

Thu 12:45-14:15 in V7-DIS Lounge

Short description of the Research: 

This project investigates a supranational ‘triangle’ of influences among Denmark, Sweden, and United States in regards to a shift that occurred in the organization of architectural practices during the Cold War (1947-91).

The focus is on the nature of this triangle. How was it shaped? What was its geometry (e.g. equilateral triangle or was it unbalanced through one or the other nations)? Which were the paradigmatic documents (e.g. manuals, guidelines, handbooks) that reified this supranational economic and cultural ‘triangle’? Who were the actors (e.g. architectural firms, building companies, associations)? Which were the outcomes (e.g. architectural projects, advertising campaigns) in the implementation of such specific modes of architectural production towards productivity?

This project aims thus to investigate precisely this import-export of knowledge flourished under the ‘Pax Americana’, beyond the traditional narrative of US as an exporter of knowledge but also as an importer and recipient.

This project is meant as a collective, progressive project where samarbejde (i.e. working collectively) is strongly encouraged among the participants, from data collection until research dissemination. The research assistant(s) are introduced to and instructed in quantitative data collection (e.g. literature and archive review based on Arkitekten (DK) and Arkitektur (SE), specialized architectural magazines as the main media for architectural critiques at that time); qualitative data (case studies through fieldworks); as well as performing initial data analysis through inscriptive architectural and design tools (e.g. drawings and infographics). The expected result is the production of a series of progressive physical outcomes, combining in the form of a collective final architectural exhibition.

Some knowledge of history and international studies concerning the Cold War and implications of the Marshall Plan on the European post-war condition is an advantage to understand the research framework, but not a requirement.

Researcher Bio:

Angela Gigliotti: Architect, Co-Founder and Director U67, a research-based practice. U67 works in scales from urban to exhibition design (among others, La Biennale of Venice, 2014) and architectural visualization working on private assignments, competitions and publications (Lars Müller Publishers, Abitare Magazine, Domus Magazine, San Rocco Magazine). Assistant Professor, Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy (2010-13) and NMBU University in Ås, Norway (2014-15); Mentor, Alta Scuola Politecnica, Italy (since 2015); PhD Fellow, Aarhus School of Architecture, Denmark (since 2016); Visiting PhD Candidate, Architectural Association School of Architecture, London, UK (Spring 2018). With DIS since 2016. 

Description of role and responsibilities of the Research Assistant

You are expected to spend a minimum of 10 hrs per week on the project. The workload may vary over the semester. If you are travelling to do field research in a different location, additional time may be required.

As research assistant you will:

  • Participate in weekly meetings with your research mentor at a time set collectively at the beginning of the semester.

  • Participate in a research orientation at the beginning of the semester with your fellow Research Assistant students from other projects

  • Participate in two workshops during the semester:

  1. A workshop at beginning of the semester: orientation and strategies for successful international research work
  2. A workshop discussing strategies and best practices for effective communication of research, especially to those not in the field
  • Write an assessment of your own strengths and weaknesses in the research process at the beginning of the semester. Revisit at the end of the semester as part of an evaluation of your own participation in, and learning from, the research project.
  • Keep a research journal and submit it in person or via email every week (or another specified interval) to your research mentor, describing the activities of the week, and outlining goals for the following week.
  • Conduct literature reviews.
  • Participate in carrying out the research project. This may include: data collection and analysis, material curation, learning and using architectural and design tools, etc. The specific responsibilities in a given semester vary depending on the phase of the project and will be set by the research mentor at the beginning of the semester. Be prepared to contribute to tasks that may come up during the semester. Research processes are not always predictable.
  • Present the relevance of the research and/or findings to peer(s) from other disciplines at the End of Semester Showcase.
  • Make a final oral and/or written presentation of the research you are involved in, depending on what is agreed with your research mentor.

Important Dates - the following are mandatory to attend as part of the course

January 13th, 16.30-17.30 Research Orientation in Studiestræde 3 room 21 Slides

WORKSHOP 1: February 19th, 17.15-18.45 in Vestergade 10 A22

WORKSHOP 2: April 15th, 17.15-18.45 in Vestergade 10 A22

May 6th, 15.00-17.00, END OF SEMESTER SHOWCASE

Learning objectives of the course: 

The primary objective is for you to experience the world of research and gain experience that will prepare you for any future career you choose to pursue. By the end of the semester, you will grasp the complexities of the research project and have made your own contribution to the project. You will also have learned to communicate ideas and findings, both orally and in writing, to members from your particular discipline as well as peers from other disciplines.

The Learning Outcomes are developed to allow a learning progression throughout the semester.

Additional objectives include:

On Research in Architecture:

  • To recognize research thinking and design in architecture
  • To collect and organize inductive data towards an understanding of how to manage architectural research data

On the Specific Content of this Research Project.

  • To acknowledge how societal and economic dynamics locally and globally impact the production of architecture 4) To achieve an understanding of Scandinavian architectural production in connection to Cold War (1945-91)

On the Development of the Research Outcomes:

  • To develop analytical and technical drawing knowledge towards the preparation of research outputs
  • To develop a curatorial ability to select materials to be displayed in an architectural exhibition

On Research in Architecture:

  • To reflect on the research experience and through which method one might pursue future research in an architectural field

Readings 

The readings will be agreed on with the mentor at the beginning of the semester, and the exact content will differ depending on your background. You will receive guidance concerning the basics of relevant concepts, study designs, methods of analysis, data collection, etc.

DIS Research Resources

More information can be found on this page.

History of  Architecture 

  • Gigliotti, Angela. "The Labourification of Work: The Contemporary Modes of Architectural Production under the Danish Welfare State". PhD Manuscript. Aarhus Arkitektskolen, 2019: Part II.  

  • Creagh, Lucy. From acceptera to Vällingby: The Discourse on Individuality and Community in Sweden (1931-54)
. FOOTPRINT, [S.l.], p. 5-24, june 2011. ISSN 1875-1490. Available at: <https://journals.open.tudelft.nl/index.php/footprint/article/view/737>. Date accessed: 04 dec. 2019. 

  • Joan Ockman, “Architecture and the Consumer Paradigm in the Mid-Twentieth Century,” in Swedish Modernism: Architecture, Consumption and the Welfare State (black dog publishing, 2010), 170–87.
  • Helena Mattson, “Designing the Reasonable Consumer: Standardisation and Personalisation in Swedish Functionalism,” in Swedish Modernism: Architecture, Consumption and the Welfare State (black dog publishing, 2010), 74–99.

Data Representation

  • Klanten, Robert. Data Flow, Visualising Information in Graphic Design. Gestalten Verlag, 2008.

  • Klanten, Robert. Data Flow 2, Visualizing Information in Graphic Design. Gestalten Verlag, 2010.

In addition to the following articles, pertinent readings will be uploaded to DIS Canvas during the semester.

Research details:

Research purpose and context: 

The relationship between architecture and power has been widely investigated within the field of research of History of Practices. The focus, in particular, has been on the Cold War and the circulation of knowledge from the two main “knowledge-exporters” across the iron curtain, USA and Russia (Franch, Kubo, Miljački, Schafer, 2015).

However, the repercussions on its importers have rarely been discussed; and Scandinavia is undeniably one of those, whose internal exchanges have not yet been discussed. When looking at the field, the first stream of interest in regards to Scandinavia is undeniably the “Architecture and Welfare State”. This has been widely addressed by scholars but only focusing on the architecture’s outcomes, the projects considered as an outcome of Welfare States seen as peculiar European economic systems (Avermaete, Heuvel, Swenarton, 2014).

When focusing on Scandinavia: on one side Denmark have been mainly considered with a main focus on architectural projects, giving a research priority to forms and spaces, or the so-called Forming Welfare (Raauge, Lotz, Vindum et al., 2017). On the other, Sweden has been framed not only considering projects but even considering the repercussion of the economic system on architectural modes of production (Mattson, Wallenstein, 2010; Sigge, 2017). Scholars, in regards to Sweden, bridged, in fact, another stream of research, the “Architecture and Labor” (Deamer, Aureli, 2015).

I have operated for the last three years in this gap of knowledge in regards to Danish case investigating this second stream of research focusing on architectural labor, both in regards to the taking off of the Welfare State (1945-75) and neo-liberalism (1993-2016). In continuation with that, this DIS research project is a spin-off from my former research "The Labourification of Work" and, while building on the developed outcomes, it aims to go back and expand some of the initial intuitions and pieces of evidence collected in one of the parts related to the first time span of investigation.

While working on it in fact, I noticed another research niche worth to be investigated: a supranational “triangle” of influence among Sweden-Denmark-US in regards to the architectural modes of production that flourished under the Cold War (1947-91). The research purpose is to investigate this niche in the next two years (Fall 2019-Summer 2021) focusing on the nature of this triangle and how it was shaped itself: which was its geometry; was it an equilateral triangle or was it unbalanced through one or the other nations? Through which architectural projects, manuals and tools has been based upon; by whom (e.g. architectural firms, building companies, associations,…) and which were the outcomes in the implementation of specific modes of architectural production.

The field of research thus is both streams above mentioned within History of Practice: the “Architecture and Labor” and the “Architecture and Welfare State”.

Research questions: 

Primary:
Which is the nature of the influences among US, Sweden and Denmark in regards to architectural modes of production under the Cold War (1947-91)?

Secondary:
Which are the paradigmatic documents that worked as reification of this supranational economic, cultural and architectural “triangle”?
Which were the means used to enhance those influences?
Which were the architectural projects, who were the architects and which were the modes of production that shaped this “triangle”?

Research Methodology: 

This research project combines qualitative and quantitative methods.
Mainly the methods will be archive review, literature review, fieldworks to selected case studies, re-elaboration of data, generation of outcomes.

The archive review will be based mainly on the specialized architectural magazine. In regards to the focus on Denmark, it will be based on Arkitekten (1945-91) and in regards to focus on Sweden it will be based on Arkitektur (1945-91). Specific considerations will be made on the limits of these two as primary sources, but in general I regard to these two as wide sources that, even though are a specific selection of materials related to the curatorial choice of their editors, are also reporting widely on exhibitions, publications, interviews or columns connected to the supranational influences that I am planning to research, being at that time the main media of dissemination of architectural debate. The archive review will inquiry on those and on the new digitalized archive of the above-mentioned magazines a number of keywords to collect fruitful data (e.g. Sweden, United States, productivity, rationalization, optimization, prefabrication, standardization, etc.).

The literature review will be based mainly on article extracted from primary sources and on secondary sources. Repository and library physical and digital will be preferred to conduct literature research, so all the books needed will be openly accessed in the national libraries in Copenhagen area or digitally online.

The fieldworks will be selected from the archive review and according to the criteria of the selection of case studies both in Denmark and in Sweden, a field study per semester will be conducted together with the students to visit the case studies. Inductive materials as sketched, written reports and photos will be collected from the site visit and are necessary for the re-elaboration of data. (Flyvbjerg, 2011)

The re-elaboration of data will happen using the cataloguing of big amount of data collected through the digital and analogic method and also using the inscriptive tools of the architectural design practice (drawings, sketching, physical models,…).

The generation of outcomes will happen through the analysis of data inducted and developing a design of the research outcomes necessary for the display in the exhibition. A design which embodies the data and serves as a vector for the transmission of knowledge.

Overall Frame Progress Tracking: (related to the first year of implementation)

In relation to the progress tracking the research project will be dealt with a specific focus in each semester, the idea is to build from the knowledge, the method acquired each semester ensuring a progression of the research project.

Fall 2019

The first semester of the research is focused on Denmark and its role as a recipient of the Swedish influences. Crucial it would be to identify the keywords and who are those Swedish actors and body of knowledge that was disseminated in Danish specialized architectural publication. The analysis will touch on Swedish projects, architects and modes of organizing an office or anything in relation to building construction that directly influenced Danish architecture.
The outcome will report on this showing elaboration of data, images and drawings in connection to the materials researched. 
Source: Primary Source – Arkitekten, the Danish oldest architectural magazine (1947-91)

Spring 2020

The second semester of the research will be focused on Denmark and its role as a recipient of the US´ influences. Deploying effectively the keywords identified in the first semester, the identification of who are those US actors and body of knowledge that was disseminated in Danish specialized architectural publication, it will be crucial. The analysis will first touch on US projects, architects and modes of organizing an office or anything in relation to building construction that directly influenced Danish architecture.  A number of Danish case studies that directly connect to the US and Swedish shreds of evidence (arriving also the previous semester) will be addressed and re-elaborated through drawings.
Source: Primary Source – Arkitekten, the Danish oldest architectural magazine (1947-91)

Summer 2020

The plan is to dedicate each summer to the investigation of the “triangle” focusing on the US and its role as a recipient of the Danish and Swedish´ influences. Deploying effectively the keywords identified in the first two semesters, the identification of how Scandinavian architecture and why it was disseminated within US specialized architectural publication, it will be crucial.
The analysis will be based on literature review held at the Getty Research Library in Los Angeles and it´s finalized on the writing of a paper that could also take in consideration the outcomes of the two previous semesters focused on Denmark. 

Field research: 

According to the data coding elaborated by the research assistants, a field study in the Copenhagen area might be organised in accordance with the availability of the research team to visit one or more projects found in the archive review.

In addition to that, two team meet-up with representatives from OFFICE U67 ApS will be held: one related to data coding in which U67 will introduce to the research assistants the work developed in the Fall 2019 and the other together with the director and a designer assistant to discuss with the research assistants possible communication strategies in relation to the outcomes before the DIS End-of-Semester Research Symposium.

Approach to Mentoring:

All DIS research mentors have been trained in mentoring students but their approach to mentoring may differ. Mentoring is about engaging at a different - and often deeper - level than what is typical in the class room. However, mentoring also comes with some degree of ambiguity, which is important for you to be prepared for. The research mentor will work closely with you throughout the semester but part of the training is also for you to use your own judgement, to make assessments and decisions. As part of planning your tasks and responsibilities for the semester together, the research mentor will talk to you about her/his approach to mentoring.

Expectations of the Research Assistants: 

The specific expectations of the individual research assistant are agreed upon at the beginning of the semester. In general, a research assistant is expected to take initiative, take ownership of the project and work independently. You must also be prepared for meetings and be willing to part take in relevant discussions. In cases where more research assistants are involved in the same project, you will be expected to engage in some teamwork. Carrying out a research project is not a straight forward and predictable process. This is part of what makes it exciting. It also means that communication is crucial. You are expected to take responsibility for communicating about problems or issues that arise.

Data

The research does not involve human subjects

Evaluation and Grading

All research assistants are assessed on their participation in the seminar on responsible research practices, weekly status reports to the research mentor, self-evaluation and presentation to peers from other disciplines. Additional evaluation and grading depends on the individual research project and project phase and is outlined by the research mentor at semester start. It may include literature reviews, a poster presentation for an expert panel, a working paper, etc.

 

Percent

Archive Review - Data Coding (Asn 1) / Each research assistant will be assigned a part of the data collected and will be responsible of coding the data according to some shared team-based categories.

30%

Presentation Preliminary Outcomes (Asn 2) / The research assistants are asked to introduce some of the preliminary outcomes (people, projects, theoretical themes) at the DIS End-of-Semester Symposium.

30%

Research Journal (Asn 3) / Each research assistant is requested to have a logbook of the research process (minutes meetings, weekly process, self-evaluation and reflection of the research work)

15%

Participation /Demonstrating active individual participation both during independent work and during weekly research meetings

25%

 


Ongoing Research Colophon: 

Commissioner: DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia
Curator and Research Coordinator: Angela Gigliotti
Research Assistants: Meghan Timmons and Amy Suzuki (Spring 2020)
Exhibition Designer: OFFICE U67 ApS (Angela Gigliotti, Fabio Gigone)
Assistant Designers: Silvia Carrara (Fall 2019); Matilde Accademia Del Pio, Nicholas Delle Donne, Clémence Goix (Spring 2020)
Additional Sponsor: Statens Kunstfond Rejselegat (Summer 2020) 

Disability and Resource Statement

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Academic Support (acadsupp@dis.dk) to coordinate this. In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.

Policies

Attendance
It is crucial for your learning that you stay on task and hand in assignments on or before the due date. All work– including in-class projects – have to be completed in order to pass the class. Late papers or projects will be marked down with 1/3 of a grade for each day it is late.
Academic Honesty
Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment
DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others. Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software. See the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

 

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org

Course Summary:

Date Details Due