Transition Architecture

Title of the activity Transition Architecture
Teachers/Schools/Country Italy: Artistic High School “V. Ragusa & O. Kyohara F. Parlatore” Mino Renato Alessi
Age of the students 16-19
Class Architectural and environmental design, CAD lab
Topic of the activity
Description of the activity The impact of human activities has reached an unsustainable level for the planet. Architecture is one of the human actions that has the greatest consequences on the environment. Today, however, thanks to the development of sustainable architecture, it is possible to build the human environment in harmony with the natural habitat. Through the knowledge and study of the scenario, namely the human transforming the natural environment, students will face the dilemma: how is it possible to build beautiful and sustainable architectures? Students will imagine a transition society through architectural design, from unsustainable to sustainable, focusing on increasing liveability, reducing pollution and using renewable energy sources.

Following the Design Circle, students will define the field of study through a research phase on sustainability and transition, with the help of videos and the internet, after which they shared their ideas in the group. In the ideation phase, through experimenting and sharing their ideas continuously with their peers, students will seek solutions to specific problems. The students shifted from the definition of sustainability and transition into specific ideas on how to make houses, schools and parks more sustainable.

Here are some of the themes dealt with:

  • How to Reduce Energy Consumption;
  • Solar Energy;
  • Thermal Solar Energy;
  • Photovoltaic Systems;
  • Solar Concentration;
  • Solar Roof;
  • Compost and Compost Bins;
  • Desalination of brackish and Salt Water;
  • The Most Sustainable Schools in the World;
  • Solar lighting:  Photovoltaic  Street Lamps, Environmentally Sustainable  Building Materials;
  • Public Parks and Eco-sustainability, the Transition Phenomenon in Parks: Urban Vegetable Gardens, Zero-Energy Funfairs;
  • Rainwater System: A Convenient Choice;
  • Eco-friendly Heating;
  • Sustainable Schools and places where to find them;
  • Sustainable cooling systems.

In the manufacturing phase students expressed and executed their idea of transition through digital modelling of a project, rendering and 3D printing of scale models. In the final classes, the students showed their products in front of the class, both digital and material, confrontation and argumentation follow to find out positive and negative elements.