International Workshop: The archaeological city of Herculaneum
Component code / course code:
Semester: winter / summer
ECTS credits: 5
Lecture hours per week (SWS): 4
Lecturer: Dr. Ermelinda Di Chiara
Course language: English
Prerequisite: 2nd year students
Objectives (Learning Outcome): The architecture department offers workshops on different topics addressing the current development and challenges of city planning. The workshop attempts to learn the strategies discussed in practical application and to reflect on them critically.
Lecture topics (content): Herculaneum is a small archaeological city located in southern Italy. The city was in a unique orographic condition. It was six miles from ancient Oplonti and eleven miles from Neapolis. It was located at the foot of Vesuvius, on a promontory along the arc of the gulf between Neapolis and Pompeii bordered by two canals. It encompasses a fascinating territory that is rich in history and values.
The course focuses on the study of the urban morphology and building typology of the archaeological city, with the conviction that this urban layout is a source of architectural principles that are still valid and applicable to the construction of the modern city or parts of it.
The course is structured in two phases. The first phase aims to provide the student with all the tools to carry out the practical phase. In particular, the theoretical phase will illustrate the historical events and urban planning of the archaeological city of Herculaneum. Then a reference to the archaeological city of Pompeii will be indispensable to highlight the similarities and differences with Herculaneum. The practical phase allows students to analyse the relationship between house, urban block and city. In the second phase, students will work with the redrawing tool and the analogy technique.
The aim is to get to know the urban form and building typology of the city of Herculaneum in order to make it a material and design tool for the city of our time.
Teaching format (e.g. online/in person lecture/Seminar/Lab etc.): Workshop on campus and online meetings
Examination: Assignment on the analysis of personal mobility habits, development of proposals and final presentation
