Degree in Architecture Studies or Fundamentals of Architecture.
The course aims to equip students with the use of operational mapping tools and methods to analyze and comprehensively understand the urban structure of Barcelona and its surroundings. The goal is to develop skills to strategically identify and evaluate potential sites for architectural and urban interventions, considering criteria of sustainability, accessibility, and social cohesion. Through case studies and practical exercises, students will learn to apply this knowledge to propose innovative solutions that enhance urban quality of life and integrate the built environment with the natural environment.
COMPETENCIES
Basic and General:
CG2 - Create architectural projects that meet aesthetic and technical demands and the requirements of their users, respecting the limits imposed by budgetary factors and construction regulations.
CG3 - Understand the profession of architecture and its role in society, particularly by developing projects that consider social factors.
IS1 - Capable of analyzing and synthesizing conceptual frameworks, generating new knowledge.
IS2 - Capable of organizing and planning the application of new knowledge.
IS4 - Capable of acquiring knowledge related to the profession.
IS8 - Capable of acquiring information management skills (ability to search for and analyze information from diverse sources).
IS9 - Capable of solving architectural problems.
IS10 - Capable of making decisions (in projects, construction systems, organization, etc.).
CB6 - Possess and understand knowledge that provides a foundation or opportunity to be original in the development and/or application of ideas, often in a research context.
CB7 - Students should be able to apply the knowledge acquired and their problem-solving ability in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their area of study.
CB8 - Students should be capable of integrating knowledge and dealing with the complexity of making judgments based on information that, being incomplete or limited, includes reflections on the social and ethical responsibilities associated with the application of their knowledge and judgments.
CB9 - Students should be able to communicate their conclusions and the underlying knowledge and reasons to specialized and non-specialized audiences clearly and unambiguously.
CB10 - Students should possess learning skills that allow them to continue studying in a largely self-directed or autonomous manner.
Transversal:
IT2 - Capable of working in an interdisciplinary team.
IT5 - Capable of being sensitive to the environment (in projects, construction systems, sustainability, etc.).
IT1 - Capable of acquiring critical and self-critical thinking skills.
Specific:
A4 - P-FUNCTIONAL PROGRAMMING. Ability or capacity to develop building programs, considering the requirements of clients and users, analyzing precedents and site conditions, applying standards, and establishing dimensions and relationships of spaces and equipment.
A8 - P-ARCHITECTURAL CRITICISM. Ability or capacity to analyze architecture and urban morphology and typology to explain the formal and programmatic precedents of design solutions.
A10 - P-BUILT HERITAGE PROTECTION. Ability or capacity to carry out monumental cataloging tasks, define protection measures for buildings and historic sites, and draft plans for delimitation and conservation of these sites.
A11 - P-URBAN PLANNING. Ability or capacity to draft and manage territorial and metropolitan planning, strategic plans, urban feasibility plans, and municipal urban plans, focusing on urban areas and special projects.
A1 - P-BASIC ARCHITECTURAL AND URBAN PROJECT. Ability or capacity to apply basic formal, functional, and technical principles to the conception and design of buildings and urban complexes, defining their general characteristics and expected outcomes.
A2 - P-EXECUTIVE PROJECTS. Ability or capacity to develop comprehensive execution projects for buildings and urban spaces with sufficient detail for full implementation and equipment of services and installations.
A3 - P-CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT. Ability or capacity to manage construction and urbanization projects by developing designs, laying out plans, applying appropriate construction procedures, and coordinating trades and industries.
The course is organized into several stages that will guide students through the process of analysis and operational mapping of Barcelona and its metropolitan area. It includes an introduction to digital tools and mapping techniques, case studies of relevant urban projects, comparative analysis of different areas of the city, and practical exercises for identifying and evaluating strategic sites. Students will develop a final project that applies the concepts learned, proposing urban interventions that respond to the identified needs and promote sustainable development and urban quality.
The course integrates theory and practice, focusing on the detailed and systematic analysis of urban planning constraints through operational mapping. Students will work in multidisciplinary teams under the supervision of professors with experience in urban planning and architectural design, exploring different methodologies for the collection and analysis of urban data. Critical debate and ethical reflection on urban transformation will be encouraged, preparing students to face contemporary challenges of the city with a comprehensive and collaborative approach.
10% Project corrections
10% Presentations, representation, and project exhibition
20% Project jury
60% Project development
1 - Project corrections - 10% of the total grade:
This criterion evaluates regular attendance and active, constructive participation in classes and workshops.
2 - Presentations, representation, and project exhibition - 10% of the total grade:
The quality of oral and written presentations will be assessed, including clarity in presenting ideas and the graphic quality of supporting materials used (such as slides, diagrams, or images).
3 - Project jury - 20% of the total grade:
This evaluates the analysis of practical exercises and critical project review.
4 - Project development - 60% of the total grade:
This criterion assesses the students ability to argue and defend the reasoning behind the chosen design solutions.
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