Summer Schools Open Lectures

Towards A Transspecies Architecture: July 10, 6pm CET
Open lecture by Beatriz Colomina, Princeton University (USA), Mark Wigley, Columbia University (USA).
Salone d’Onore, Castello del Valentino, Viale Mattioli 39, Turin. Webinar link.

From Enduring To Thriving: Revitalizing Rural Places: July 24, 9:30am CET
Open lecture by John Accordino, Virginia Commonwealth University—VCU (USA). 
Sala Mollino, Castello del Valentino, Viale Mattioli 39, Turin. Webinar link.

Design & AI: What Futures?: September 7, 3pm CET
Open lecture by Dave Murray-Rust, TU Delft (NL).
Salone d’Onore, Castello del Valentino, Viale Mattioli 39, Turin. Webinar link.

The Summer Schools Open Lectures outlined above are held by visiting faculty who will spend a teaching period at the Politecnico di Torino from July to September 2024, in the context of the 2024 Summer Schools organised by the Department of Architecture and Design (DAD).

The three 2024 Summer Schools, outlined below, cover a range of very different topics, disciplines, sites, and are offered to students of the School of Architecture and Design of Politecnico di Torino.

Form follows bacteria? Lessons from Modern Architecture: July 8–12
How is architecture related to disease and suffering bodies? Can architecture act as a form of prevention and cure? Drawing on historical case studies from Modern Architecture, this summer school will explore the long- lasting bond between architecture illness and care. We will mobilise historical knowledge to harness a variety of contemporary design and urban settings with health-inducing or health-harming effects. The course combines lectures and a range of interactive tutorial sessions. The students will develop mini-research projects using specific historical and contemporary examples to explore the harmful effects of the environment on human bodies and health. Teaching staff, DAD, Politecnico di Torino: Albena Yaneva, Alessandro Armando, Sofia Nannini, Federica Serra. Visiting faculty: Beatriz Colomina (Princeton University), Mark Wigley (Columbia University).

Socio-economic challenges for inner areas and fragile territories: a bridge between Italy and Virginia: July 17–24
The summer school focuses on comparing local development programs in Inner Areas of Virginia, USA (Main Street Program—MSP), and Italy (National Strategy for Inner Areas—SNAI), addressing socio-economic challenges. Both regions face issues like limited economic opportunities and inadequate infrastructure. In Virginia, national and state-level programs promote economic growth through public-private partnerships. The program includes lectures, workshops, and field visits, with a focus on the Valsesia area in Italy. Teaching staff, DAD, Politecnico di Torino: Alice Barreca, Diana Rolando, Manuela Rebaudengo, Giorgia Malavasi. Visiting faculty: John Accordino (Virginia Commonwealth University). Guest faculty: Annalisa Contato, Roberto Dini, Sara Vafargiotti, Maddalena Ferretti, Eleonora Fiore, Barbara Lino, Lorenzo Savio, Alexandra Stankulova, Luca Staricco. In collaboration with Unione Montana dei Comuni Della Valsesia Gal “Terre Del Sesia”.

Prototyping speculative AI: September 2–7
The program is dedicated to master students with design and architecture backgrounds who are eager to gaining cutting-edge skills on how to leverage the latest generative AI tools in their projects while also developing a sensitivity to the possible impact of AI technologies in society. Students will explore this space through an intense program that will combine every day inspiring talks with the hands-on development of speculative AI-powered prototypes. The students’ prototypes, which will materialize possible future human entanglements with AI, will be showcased at the end of the week in a public event inclusive of talks by the teaching team. Teaching staff, DAD, Politecnico di Torino: Maria Luce Lupetti, Andrea Di Salvo. Visiting faculty: Dave Murray Rust (TU Delft). Guest faculty: Serena Cangiano, Alice Mela, Willem Van Der Maden, Lenny Martinez, Elena Cavallin. In collaboration with Arduino Education.