3.7.15
NO ME IDENTIFICO CON LA REPETICIÓN, NI DE LAS FORMAS DE LUCHA, NI DE LAS REPUESTAS. POR FAVOR SEAMOS MÁS CREATIVOS
24.6.15
Where Is the ‘Problem’ in Design Studio: Purpose and Significance of the Design Task
Design studios at KTH (Royal Institute of Technology), Stockholm. |
ABSTRACT:
"Design studio is characterised by a teaching model that is distinctly suited for problem-solving. Correspondingly, literature, including information produced by Australian faculties of architecture about their courses asserts that design studio is modelled around problem-solving. However, my research into design studio handouts found a common omission in posing a ‘problem’—a problem that would justify a design solution and from which the ´significance´ of the task would derive. I argue that a well-articulated design problem imbues the case with purpose and significance. It also provides a benchmark against which the results can be assessed and verified."
Maturana, B. (2014). Where Is the ‘Problem’ in Design Studio: Purpose and Significance of the Design Task.International Journal Of Architectural Research: ArchNet-IJAR, 8(3), 32-44.
18.5.15
Conversación con el Arquitecto Miguel Lawner
Fig. 1: uno de los patios de la Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo. Edificios que Miguel Lawner rescató de ser demolidos. |
23.4.15
La Universidad de Chile y Vicuña Mackenna 20: una actitud "demoledora" que persiste
Carta al Director del Diario Últimas Noticias
Edificio de Vicuña MacKenna 20, obra del arquitecto francés Eugenio Joannon Crozier (1860-1938), que albergó a la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas de la Universidad de Chile |
14.6.13
Hábitat sustentable, el campus universitario y “la necesaria lucha en el plano de las ideas”
LUNES 3 DE JUNIO, 2013, 10:00 AM | Lugar: Auditorio FAU (Facultad de Arquitectura y Urbanismo, Universidad de Chile) | Invitan: Profesores de la asignatura INVI “Hábitat sustentable: el campus universitario, su barrio y su entorno” Beatriz Maturana y Walter Imilan.
9.4.13
Charla de lanzamiento del libro "La espacialidad del niño que no ve"
Inaugural speech for the launch of the book: "Spatiality of the child who doesn´t see" (Dic.20, 2012).
En el nombre de Mónica Díaz Vera y Constanza Mena Maino, autoras del libro “Espacialidad del niño que no ve”, y en mi nombre (Beatriz), les doy las gracias a todos por estar aquí. Para mí fue una sorpresa y es un verdadero honor haber sido invitada a lanzar este profundo, sutil e importante libro y que además cuenta con un prólogo especialmente escrito por Juhani Pallasmaa.
A través de la investigación realizada por las autoras y a través de los estudios a los que ellas se refieren—desde la perspectiva del aprendizaje espacial de los niños que no ven—este libro nos educa, nos sensibiliza y nos hace receptivos a una percepción distinta de lo cotidiano. De la misma forma en que un niño ciego enfrenta el mundo—como bien explican sus autoras, desde el detalle (o de lo particular) a lo general—este libro nos asiste a entender que quizás el cambio que necesitamos hacer para acoger diversidad, no es tan dificultoso, es más que nada un cambio de visión (me gusta la intencionalidad con que Mónica y Constanza han usado este término) y de voluntad.
Invitación al lanzamiento del libro, Dic. 20, 2012. |
30.11.12
Architectural design studio: designing for a purpose
Writes: Beatriz C. Maturana
The following article features a design studio (taller) at the University of Chile, Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism, led by Orlando Sepulveda (7th semester architecture students).
The studio focuses on a significant and poorer district in Santiago, so significant in fact that one of its landmarks, Zanjón de la Aguada—a canal formally known for its industrial and organic waste pollution—had the unfortunate capacity to conjure inhospitable images of misery, crime and industrial decay, images that have negatively shaped the perception of that part of the city. Fortunately but slowly, these perceptions are fading away as something of the past. Most recently, the news that the Metro (Santiago´s underground) will open a station in heart of this district and the completion of the Parque La Aguada, part of the Bicentenary Projects (an extensive new flooding park running along the Zanjón de la Aguada canal), may put a definitive end to the stigma attached to the area and hopefully will positively impact on the entire city. A question arises as to how the improvements brought by these large urban interventions can be sustainable over time and ensure the best possible results for the district and for the enjoyment of the existing population.
Figure 1: proposal by María de la Luz Lobos, Mathilde Marcantoni and Gabriel Arias. |
A public university, with the public, in the public square
A public university celebrates its 170th year anniversary, with the public, in the public square
"What a beautiful thing it is, that for the 170th aniversary of a public university, to take place in a public square and to be dedicated to its public, to all chileans who are and own this university." Prof. Víctor L. Pérez Vera, Vice-Chancellor, Universidad de Chile. (Santiago, November 17, 2012)
Image source: uchile.online |
1.6.11
Resetting agendas: a conference in a climate of change
This article discusses ‘The Oxford Conference 2008: 50 Years on – Resetting the Agenda for Architectural Education’ aimed to influence architectural education. With delegates from forty-two countries representing every continent there was a manifest change in the composition of the delegates as compared to 50 years ago. On the face of it this would suggest that a more diverse attendance made a difference in the spectrum of issues coming to the forefront: but did it?
Resetting agendas: a conference in a climate of change
This article was first published by Cambridge Journals, ARQ. How to cite the article: Beatriz Maturana (2008). Resetting agendas a conference in a climate of change. Architectural Research Quarterly, 12, pp 209-212 doi:10.1017/S1359135508001127
The original article can be downloaded from: Architectural Research Quarterly
24.11.10
Modelos de desarrollo urbano
Modelos de desarrollo urbano y paisaje se abordarán en charlas convocadas en la U. Central
Source: Seconstruye.com
Se trata de encuentros abiertos y gratuitos dirigidos a estudiantes y docentes relacionadas con la arquitectura y disciplinas afines.
Dos actividades de conversación con expertos invitados se han programado para el miércoles 24 de noviembre en la Facultad de Arquitectura, urbanismo y Paisaje de la Universidad Central de Chile. La primera de éstas partirá a las 09.00 con “Evaluación y Panel. Modelos de Desarrollo y Proyecto Urbano”, organizado por el taller Urbanismo V de Escuela de Arquitectura, dirigido por el docente y geógrafo Ricardo Jordán y el ayudante Daniel González.
Find the article here.
1.11.10
Architectural education and the shared space: Agrado’s city
The city, where culture and the society’s realities are expressed, is described by Lewis Mumford in the following terms:
The city in its complete sense, then, is a geographic plexus, an economic organization, an institutional process, a theatre of social action, and an aesthetic symbol of collective unity. [1]At the two extremes, I have been to magnificent cities of rather plain architecture and also visited mediocre cities with impressive pieces of architecture—pieces that do not contribute to give the city a coherent rhythm and which instead fight for attention. I was eager to travel to London and see with my own eyes those buildings that I had only seen in photographs, for instance Richard Rogers’ Lloyds building or Norman Foster’s Gherkin—prominent buildings that define the skyline and that, from afar, stand as a promise of a good city. Yet, when in close proximity the enchantment vanishes to expose the real self, a meagre and greedy architectural stance that interiorises anything that may be good about its architecture.
Figure 1 - One of the entries to Richard Rogers' Lloyds building. Photograph by author. |
4.10.10
Architectural education and the shared space: Agrado’s city
The city in its complete sense, then, is a geographic plexus, an economic organization, an institutional process, a theatre of social action, and an aesthetic symbol of collective unity. [1]
Figure 1 - One of the entries to Richard Rogers' Lloyds building. Photograph by author. |
24.7.10
IntentCITY: the polical city
Editors: Beatriz C. Maturana & Anthony McInneny
20.9.09
S. Schwartz: Should universities provide a moral education?
It was refreshing to hear Vice Chancellor of Sydney’s Macquarie University Steven Schwartz on ABC BigIdeas, discussing issues of morality and ethics in higher education. Morality, ethics, judgment and other such notions have for long been avoided in our universities, most of which have followed with an almost evangelical fervour the line of relativism.
Schwartz argues that, in universities relativism has had many adverse consequences--often discussed as separated issues (e.g. reduction of scientific credibility by society, poor or unclear curricula, economic imperatives leading universities decisions...). Schwartz manages to articulate the links between them. For instance, market interests leading research and lack of public confidence in scientific knowledge—consequently in scientific methods. His proposition has wide implications not only in regards to the objectives and approach of universities to teaching, education and knowledge, but also implications for each disciplinary field within academia, within which similar questions can be posed.
4.12.08
Opposition to Jerusalem museum
Opposition to Jerusalem museum
An extract of the letter published by The Guardian, 15 November 2008.
The Guardian, Saturday November 15 2008 Article history
A recent judgment by Israel's supreme court will allow the construction of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre's Museum of Tolerance, designed by renowned US architect Frank Gehry, over a Muslim heritage cemetery of great historical importance in the centre of Jerusalem. It is a blow to peaceful coexistence in an already divided city.
This project, started in 2006, had been frozen due to public outcry and legal challenge, most especially from Muslim religious leaders and the Israeli Islamic movement, with the backing of Orthodox Jews concerned about disturbing graves. The site in Mamilla, near Jerusalem's Independence Park, is on disputed burial land taken over by the Israel's Land Administration in 1948, whose ownership is claimed by the Islamic authorities.
To pursue this divisive project that will include two museums, a library-education centre, a conference centre and a 500-seat performing arts theatre, would seem highly insensitive, a statement of Israel's hegemony over the Palestinians, rather than any expression of "tolerance". All the architecture in the world cannot engender harmony on the basis of trampling over people's rights and history. It is inflaming passions in an already combustible Middle East and will push any peace accord further off the horizon.
We call on the Jerusalem municipality, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre and the Israeli authorities not to allow this architectural time-bomb to proceed.
Charles Jencks, Richard MacCormack, Neave Brown, Abe Hayeem, Haifa Hammami, Hans Haenlein, Cezary Bednarski, Kate Mackintosh, Suad Amiry (Ramallah), Shmuel Groag (Jerusalem), Beatriz Maturana (Australia), Walter Hain, Ian Martin and 28 others
Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine.
Find this article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/15/israel-and-the-palestinians
22.4.08
Research: 'themes' in architectural design studios
PhD Candidate: Beatriz C. Maturana
Supervisor: Dr Greg Missingham
While the general architectural education curriculum is accessible, public and subject to periodical scrutiny and evaluations, the core of the discipline, the ‘content’ of design studio is not. Design studio is peculiar in its delivery of knowledge. With a focus on problem-solving it provides an alternative non-normative approach to education. This approach is interesting as it requires a selection process of the problems to be tackled which tends, as sometime asserted, to emulate the reality of the architectural professional practice. This sifting process of selecting which problems of professional practice are incorporated and which are not, is replicated in the selection of the social reality (problems or issues) investigated within the design studio.
Copyright © beatriz.maturana 2003-