43840 - Theories and Techniques of Architectural Composition

Academic Year 2025/2026

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Cesena
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Architecture (cod. 9265)

Learning outcomes

The educational objective of the course is to support the design process with the theories and techniques developed by the discipline throughout its historical experience. Students will acquire knowledge of the concepts and projects through which architecture has addressed the theme of urban development in different historical and social contexts, by means of lectures and seminar discussions. At the end of the laboratory, in addition to gaining specific individual and collective design experience, students will acquire a repertoire of paradigmatic examples for contemporary city design.

Course contents

The above-mentioned educational objectives will be articulated in specific thematic lectures, which will reference exemplary paradigmatic works of architecture in relation to the design exercise. Projects for major urban infrastructures: Louis Kahn, Plan for Philadelphia, 1957; Alvar Aalto, Plan for the Helsinki city center, 1961; New York’s High Line; new light mobility systems in Venice and Pisa; new intermodal transport hub in Porto. Relationships between buildings and the city: Saverio Muratori, ENPAS Building, Bologna 1957; Aldo Rossi, Schuetzengasse, Berlin 1992; Giorgio Grassi, Savings Bank of Florence, 2004. The theoretical framework will be enriched by lectures on the following topics: Theories of Architecture, Form and Structure, Ornament, Character, The Principle of Narrative, The Language of Architecture.

Readings/Bibliography

  • Lamberto Amistadi, Ildebrando Clemente (a cura di), Adolf Loos, Aion, Firenze 2022;
  • Lamberto Amistadi, Ildebrando Clemente (a cura di), Aldo Rossi, Aion, Firenze 2017;
  • Lamberto Amistadi, Ildebrando Clemente (a cura di), John Hejduk, Aion, Firenze 2015;
  • Luciano Semerani, L'esperienza del simbolo, Lezioni di Teoria e Tecnica della Progettazione architettonica, L. Amistadi, I. Clemente (a cura di), Clean, Napoli 2007;
  • Luciano Semerani (a cura di), Dizionario critico illustrato delle voci più utili all'architetto moderno, Edizioni CELI, Faenza 1993;
  • Ignasi de Solà-Morales, Decifrare l'architettura, “inscripciones” del XX secolo, Umberto Allemandi, Torino 2001;
  • Teaching methods

    At the end of the course, students will have deepened their knowledge of the theoretical and technical tools of the discipline of Architectural and Urban Composition, both in its typological aspects concerning the association of elementary units of the building, and by specifically addressing issues relating to the character of buildings in relation to the built environment, namely the themes of contextualization and appropriateness. Students will also be required to further investigate certain concepts useful for the design of the contemporary city, such as notions relating to the interpretation of the nature of space (topology), the concept of “interesting distance,” metric, proportional and scalar relationships among figures, and the concepts of iconology and icastic representation.

    Assessment methods

    The assessment of the course in Theories and Techniques of Architectural Composition will be an integral and contextual part of the Graduation Laboratory. During the course, students will develop analyses and design applications in constant dialogue with the instructor, who will continuously monitor the progress of their work. Intermediate seminar reviews will allow students to build opportunities for mutual exchange, participation, and critique of the work carried out. The final exam will assess the knowledge acquired through the design exercise and the preparation on the topics covered in the lectures within the course and its coordinated teaching modules.

    Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or temporary or permanent disabilities are strongly encouraged to contact the University office in charge at (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it [https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it]

    Teaching tools

    The thematic bibliographies provided during the course will constitute the main reference for acquiring the information necessary to develop the project analysis. The use of audiovisual materials, the scheduling of thematic seminars, and the organization of site visits to the project area are also foreseen.

    Office hours

    See the website of Francesco Lucchi