Prof. Dr. Michael Christiansen (Denmark)

Urban ecology and sustainable building are rapidly developing fields at the intersection of architecture and urban planning, engineering, public administration and economics. The course introduces students to the theory, principles and practice of urban ecology, sustainable building and urban design. It reviews the history of ideas as well as the practical needs that have led to the formation of these fields.

Prof. Dr. Ana Marta Amaro (Cuba)

The method was created by Rodolfo Livingston throughout his professional experience in caring for families. Its aim is to offer real solutions to the problems of people with their houses, ie putting architecture to serve the people.

Instead of competing with the idea that the client brings, the method allows us to decode the actual demand to enhance this idea and offer alternative solutions overcome, based on the same original wishes, but more economical, in harmony with the environment, with residents and “film” of the family (taking into account expected future developments, as teenage sons who go to live alone and others familiar movements).

By applying our diagnosis in social and participatory way, the method also provides excellent results for great things as hotels, office buildings or housing developments.

Prof. Dennis D0llens

The course will discuss modern urban and dwelling culture in its relation to the dynamics of tradition. A first objective is to elaborate a theoretical and methodological framework for the study of urbanism and dwelling culture as an important aspect of material culture. A second objective is to introduce the students into the anthropological literature on urbanism and dwelling culture. Finally the course aims at stimulating a profound case study based reflection on the meaning of modernization and on the transformation of tradition.

Prof. Sergio Palleroni (Oregon USA)

We start with the hypothesis that globalization has an impact on cities everywhere, leading to a convergence of urban form around a single model, which has unequal impact depending which economic and social sector you belong to. We pay particular attention to the resulting social and economic bifurcation of the city that is the result of this model, and focus on the condition of the ‘shadow’ cities and citizens that are created by this model of development. We will examine this phenomena particularly in terms of the world cities that are emerging in the developing world, but will also turn our attention to Barcelona and other first world capitals to discover how this phenomena is a share global condition. The approach of this seminar will be to develop, through close in-class investigation and discussion of the approaches and solutions emerging from these margins, propositions that have the potential to change the conditions of these shadow citizens within the city’s of Spain and abroad. We will conclude by exploring the policy implications of our propositions and solutions, and the mechanisms, social, political and economic necessary to make change possible and lasting.

Prof.  Jacqueline Pólvora (Brazil), Ph. D.

Diaspora, migration, immigration, expats, travellers… are creating a new society. Also their families are different so the way to create their environment changes too. The term “family” is not probably the best definition of recent situations and it is necessary to create an Identity Kit for it.

Prof. Dr. Mario Coyula (Cuba)

Through a critical review of patterns, traditions, goals, concepts, myths and stereotypes in the search for urban sustainability, the course will analyze issues on urban and community development and management, public spaces, natural and built heritage preservation, bio-climatic habitat, civic culture, identity and empowerment of the local population, and the adequate use of eco-friendly technologies.

A specific case-study will allow students to examine how different   approaches would shape a city and local development strategy.