Course Syllabus
 |
| Semester & Location: |
Summer 2024 - DIS Copenhagen |
| Type & Credits: |
Research Session - 6 credits |
| Major Disciplines: |
Architecture, History |
| Research Mentors: |
Angela Gigliotti, she/her (current students please use the Canvas Inbox) Fabio Gigone, he/him (current students please use the Canvas Inbox) |
| Research Director: |
Susana Dietrich - research@dis.dk |
| Senior Research Manager |
Jeanette Erbo Wern jwe@dis.dk |
| Academic Support: |
Research Project Description
This project "Modes of Architectural Production in US, Denmark and Sweden" (MAP) 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.
Learning Objectives
The primary objective is for you to experience the world of research and gain skills that will prepare you for any future career you choose to pursue. By the end of the term, you will grasp the complexities of the research project and have made your own contribution to the project. You will have learned to communicate ideas
and findings, both orally and in writing, to colleagues within your particular discipline, as well as peers from other disciplines.
Project-Specific Objectives Include:
The Learning Outcomes are developed to allow a learning progression throughout the semester.
Project-specific 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
Research Mentors
Principal Investigator / Angela Gigliotti (she/her/hers) - Ph.D. (Aarhus School of Architecture, 2020). M.Sc. (Building Architecture, Polytechnic University of Milan, 2011). Visiting Ph.D. Candidate (Architectural Association, School of Architecture, U.K., 2018). Teaching Assistant, Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy, 2010-13, and at NMBU University in Ås, Norway, 2014-15. Under the field of the architectural history of practices, research interests include labor, professionalism, and the welfare state. She has been awarded by Carlsbergsfondet as the HM Queen Margrethe II’s Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at the Danish Academy in Rome (ETH Zürich and Aarhus School of Architecture, 2021-2023). Beyond academia, Co-Director of the research-based practice OFFICE U67 ApS that operates widely as an exhibition designer. With DIS since 2016.
Co-Mentor / Fabio Gigone (he/him/his) - Ph.D. (The Royal Danish Academy / Excellence Centre for Privacy Studies at the University of Copenhagen, 2023). Degree in Architecture (IUAV Venice, Italy, 2007). Under the field of History and Theory of Architecture, his research converges on Early Modern Architecture in Northern Europe. Adjunct Professor at ISIA Urbino - School of Graphic Design, Italy (2009-12); Associate Professor at NMBU University in Ås, Norway (2015-18); Unit Faculty at Aarhus School of Architecture, Denmark (2015-2018). Academic Guest at the Institut für Geschichte und Theorie der Architektur, ETH Zürich, Switzerland (2020). He has been awarded by Carlsbergsfondet with an Internationalisation Postdoctoral Fellowship (Danish Academy in Rome / ETH Zürich, 2024-2026). Beyond academia, he served as editor of the Instructions and Manuals section of Abitare magazine (2007-10); co-founder of San Rocco Magazine (since 2010); and as Creative Director of Domus magazine (2011-12). He is co-Director of the research-based practice OFFICE U67 ApS. With DIS since 2021.
Role and Responsibilities of the Research Assistant
Students will spend 180 hours directly engaged in research, together with 20-25 hours in co-curricular activities during their summer study. You will arrange a schedule with your mentor which will allow you to complete, per week, an average of 30-32 hours of research including field research and theoretical hours of reading and writing.
Besides research, it is also important you learn some cultural and historical aspect of Denmark while studying here. You will therefor spend 3-5 hours pr week on co-curricular activities introducing you to Denmark tgogether with the other DIS research assistants. This will complement your research and provide context to your time abroad. Thus, 35 hours in total each week.
Note: there may be peak times in the research process where you are expected to spend a few more hours, and then possibly a few less another week reflecting the individual research project and process. The total hours may to some extend vary according to research opportunity and expectation of your mentor. If you forexample are travelling to do field research in a different location, additional time may be required.
As research assistant, you will engage in some or all of the following:
1. Participate in weekly meetings with your research mentor at a time set collectively at the beginning of the reseach assistantship.
4. Write an assessment of your own strengths and weaknesses in the research process at the beginning of the reseach assistantship. Revisit at the end of the assistantship as part of an evaluation of your own participation in, and learning from, the research project.
5. 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.
6. Conduct literature reviews.
7. Participate in carrying out the research project. This may include: familiarizing yourself with core biomedical concepts, prototyping, design testing, preliminary user studies. The specific responsibilities may vary depending on how the project progresses. Be prepared to contribute to tasks that may come up during the semester. Research processes are not always predictable.
8. Present the relevance of the research and/or findings to your mentors and peers at the end of the reseach assistantship.
9. Make a final oral and/or written presentation of the research you are involved in, depending on what is agreed with your research mentor.
Readings
The readings will be agreed upon with the Research Mentor at the beginning of the reseach assistantship - the exact content will differ depending on your background. You will receive guidance
concerning the basics of relevant concepts, study designs, methods of analysis, etc
Project-specific reading in 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.
- Gigliotti, Angela “The Export of Hygge Architecture,” in Utzonia: From/To Denmark with Love (Listlab Publisher, 2020), 75–83.
-
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 (Links to an external site.)>. 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.
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. Additional evaluation and grading depends on the individual research project and project phase and is outlined by the research mentor at reseach assistantship 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. |
40% |
|
Presentation Preliminary Outcomes (Asn 2) / The research assistants are asked to introduce their individual outcomes in the form of a paper and two infographics |
40% |
|
Participation* / Demonstrating active individual participation both during independent work and during weekly research meetings. 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) *10% of grade comprises attendance & active participation as part of the Participation - "Introduction to Denmark" co-curriculum |
20% |
Field Research (if applicable)
Some research projects include field research. Expenses related to fieldwork will be
covered by a DIS travel grant. The fieldwork will be planned with the research
mentor at the beginning of the research assistantship.
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 expect. The research
mentor will work closely with you throughout the research assistantship 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 research assistantship, the research
mentor will talk to you about her/his approach to mentoring.
Expectations of the Research Assistant
The specific expectations of the individual research assistant are agreed upon at the
beginning of the research assistantship. 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 straightforward 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
Graphic 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.
Disability and Resource Statement
Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact Academic Support in Copenhagen (acadsupp@dis.dk) or in Stockholm (academics@disstockholm.se), depending on the project location. In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.
Academic Regulations
Please make sure to read the Academic RegulationsLinks to an external site. on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:
- Course Enrollment and GradingLinks to an external site.
- Academic Expectations and Honor CodeLinks to an external site.
DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org
Details about the Research Project:
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).
Gigliotti'sPhD operated 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 her 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, Gigliotti 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 at DIS is to investigate this niche in the next years together with research assistants 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: Arkitekten (1945-91) . Specific considerations will be made on the limits of these two as primary sources, but in general the research regards 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.). Gigone's archival and inventorisation skills will be useful for the mentoring of students.
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 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,…). Gigone's editorial activities will guide students through infographics and data-driven data.
The generation of outcomes will happen through the analysis of data inducted and developing both an edited book to collect all the individual articles written by research assistants and the design of the research outcomes necessary for the display in the exhibition in collaboration with OFFICE U67 ApS. A design which embodies the data and serves as a vector for the transmission of knowledge.
Overall Frame Progress Tracking:
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 - currently since Fall 2021
These semesters of the research will be focused on Denmark and its role as a recipient of the US´ and international influences at large. 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, Swedish and other nations shreds of evidence (arriving also the previous semester) will be addressed and re-elaborated through the editing of an article.
Source: Primary Source – Arkitekten, the Danish oldest architectural magazine (1947-91)
Course Summary:
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