CONCERNING THE ADDITIONAL REGULATION OF THE FINAL EXAM
OF THE DEGREE COURSE IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Question 01
Regarding the thematic portfolio, is it essential to follow fully the indications provided by the regulation?
Respecting these rules is fundamental and essential to be admitted to the graduation exam. The portfolio will be subjected to a formal verification to guarantee the presence of all the expected parts, their completeness, and consistency with the requests formulated by the regulation (organization, structure, characteristics, and parts length).
Question 02
Concerning the thematic portfolio, what is meant by an in-depth analysis of an architectural theme?
The development of the portfolio constitutes the moment in which a student, independently, undertakes a path of review of his / her study path, measuring the analytical capabilities and the skills acquired. The architectural theme chosen as the subject of the portfolio will therefore involve the desire to re-evaluate some experiences about one or more issues that appeared fundamental in the course of study, which are particularly relevant to the disciplinary complexity gathered around architecture, or significant regarding critical issues of the present. In any case, the portfolio should reflect how you want to describe the focus around which to spend your profile of young graduates.
Question 03
Concerning the thematic portfolio, how is it possible to present the projects developed during the three–year in an original way?
The projects and experiences selected should be presented, even partially and critically, to support an unpublished reasoning, which can build a link between experiments, subjects and disciplinary aspects involved. This choice is linked to the review and synthesis process that involves the closure of an experience and reflects the level of maturity and critical capacity achieved. However, the case studies must not be treated again in the manner and concerning the issues addressed in the curricular course within which they were previously developed and evaluated.
Question 04
Concerning the thematic portfolio, which aspects will the commission take into consideration to formulate an evaluation regarding the chosen architectural theme?
The commission will evaluate the contents of the portfolio along with the oral presentation, paying attention to the general consistency of the arguments proposed, to the property of language, to the ability to build appropriate links between the disciplines involved, to the thematic relevance that will be possible to infer from the project case studies presented as significant, from their critical framework and in relation to the consistency and mastery of the bibliography indicated. The specific contents and the qualities or criticalities of the laboratory projects or the results of other experiences will in no way be considered subject to evaluation, as they have already been evaluated within each curricular course.
Question 05
Regarding the thematic portfolio, do style and graphic design have weight compared to evaluation?
Le Corbusier also described architecture as the typographical art of newspapers, magazines and books and spent considerable energy in the design and graphic design of his publications. This fact reaffirms the importance of a graphic project and an absolute care of one’s work that helps to underline, in a precise and consistent way, the maturity reached at the end of a three-year period. The commission will take these aspects into account, linking them to the depth of the reflection made and the level of critical capacity reached.
Question 06
Concerning the thematic portfolio, is it correct to provide a precise explanation of the theme, the objectives and the results achieved concerning each experience selected from what was produced in the courses and workshops?
A detailed explanation of the projects presented in the portfolio is not required and is not useful if not formulated in close relation to the architectural theme taken as the central point of the portfolio argument. It is not necessary to tell what has been done and how it has been done and with what results, but to systematize themes, singular objectives and results or to review and criticize one’s work in close relation to the central theme of the portfolio.
Question 07
Concerning the thematic portfolio, is it possible to insert additional graphic materials compared to what was developed in the courses and workshops?
Inserting original material in the thematic portfolio is one of the objectives expected by the regulation and is a practice to be encouraged, especially if these papers have the merit of enriching the critical discourse addressed and clarifying the interpretative methods adopted, the thematic links made explicit and their relationship with the project. In the preparation of the portfolio it could also be useful to reconsider as useful and significant the documents that have been part of the design process not strictly linked to the official deliveries foreseen by the courses.
Question 08
Concerning the thematic portfolio, what is meant when you ask to structure the index as a summary?
By asking to structure the index as a summary, the title of each section that makes up the thematic portfolio is intended to be followed by a brief illustration of the specific contents addressed in relation to the general topic of the discussion.
Ex .:
Chap. 04 – Index as summary
The chapter deals with the topic of building the index as a summary within the detailed explanation of the rules for the preparation of the thematic portfolio of the degree in architecture design
Question 09
Regarding the thematic portfolio, is it essential to indicate the title of the course, the name of the teachers and the composition of the working group for each experience presented?
This, like all the requirements of the regulation, are mandatory. These indications are also fundamental to guide the work of the commission. The indication of the working group is fundamental for a question of fairness and responsibility towards fellow co-authors of the project.
Question 10
What do we mean when we talk about the “state of the art” in the chosen thematic area?
With this formula, we mean the need to proceed with a concise summary of what has been formulated regarding the chosen topic. This summary is normally drawn up in strict connection with a bibliography that should be quoted, according to the style of the quotation provided, in support of one’s arguments. A good reconstruction of the state of the art allows you to demonstrate awareness on the subject and adequate mastery of the basic bibliography.