VISUAL AND NON-VISUAL ARTS IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

This paper describes the research experience in didactics we have carried out in the two Schools of Architecure of the Politecnico di Milano (Milan Technical University) during the last two academic years. Starting from 2010/11 we have provided the students in Architecture, both Bachelor and Master Degree, with an innovative course in Architecture Representation. We obtained very satisfying results with this experiment, so we have decided that it will turn into a stable method for the following years. Experience guidelines have been the following: The theoretical instrument that allows a "mimesis" (a.g. mu i mu eta sigma i zeta, see V. Ugo) between whatever object and its model is geometry and representation is the linking issue between the geometrical projective view and the spatial thinking where a project is conceived. Graphic representation is the main tool either to give account of a shape with a model and to study the character of an existing building through analysis. It is the mandatory and ultimate technique that an architect owns for thinking about a project and for processing all the intellectual issues that the qualified design requires Architectural design is strictly connected to locations, architectural contour, environment standards but cannot be a cultural and intellectual procedure if not being set in a creative dialogue with the cultural context where the architect is working. Arts are the "spirit of an era" (see P. Valery) and they can be considered as the global reference representing the model of a cultural context. Geometry and representation can be directed to handle and manage the analisys of a cultural context as described though arts (namely visual and non-visual) and to produce the results in creative architecture design products. Students can be trained to use graphic methods to represent and analize even non-graphic works of art (such as music tunes, dance performances, literature pieces) and to obtain a cultural context aware base structure for architectural design. The experience with the use of "semantic networks" as an instrument to graphically represent pieces of non-visual art has given very satisfying results in architectural design skill improvement.