Architecture Design Level II (Cuba Studio) OpenCourseWare: MIT's Graduate Level Free Online Course

Published Jan 15, 2009

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Offered by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 'Architecture Design Level II: Cuba Studio' delved into various aspects of the influence of culture on architecture design. This OpenCourseWare analyzed and considered the many facets of rebuilding a community (small section in Havana, Cuba) through cultural understanding. This is a Master's level free course and is recommended for those who have a proficiency in architecture design, including sketching and model-making.

Architecture Design Level II (Cuba Studio): Course Specifics

Degree Level Free Audio Video Downloads
Graduate Yes Yes Yes Yes

Lectures/Notes Study Materials Tests/Quizzes
Yes Yes No

Architecture Design Level II (Cuba Studio): Course Description

This free OpenCourseWare, taught by Jan Wampler, considered what role culture played in architectural design. In the original course, MIT students traveled to Cuba with the purpose of developing design plans for a Havana neighborhood. Students explored architectural design issues, such as climate, buildings with multiple uses, public and private space and blending the old with the new. A major theme in this studio focused on the existing village-like settings within neighborhoods and imitating that concept in the design plan. Through photography, documentation and additional ongoing assignments, students gathered information to create a final model of an overall design for the neighborhood. The goal of this free OpenCourseWare was to understand architecture design in a distinct cultural context. The course was presented in lecture - studio format through the Department of Architecture at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Architecture Design OpenCourseWare includes assignment information, a video and image galleries of both student projects and travel photos of Cuba. If you're interested in studying further the link between architecture and culture, then visit the culture and city design course page.

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