Research Assistant: Modes of Architectural Production in U.S., Denmark, and SwedenSemester Course

Major Discipline(s)
Architecture, History
Type
Elective Course
Available
Fall/Spring semester
Credit(s)
3

This project investigates a supranational ‘triangle’ of influences among Denmark, Sweden, and the United States in regards to a shift that occurred in the organization of architectural practices during the Cold War (1947-91). The focus is on the nature of this triangle. How was it shaped? What was its geometry (e.g. equilateral triangle or was it unbalanced through one or the other nations)? Which were the paradigmatic documents (e.g. manuals, guidelines, handbooks) that reified this supranational economic and cultural ‘triangle’? Who were the actors (e.g. architectural firms, building companies, associations)? Which were the outcomes (e.g. architectural projects, advertising campaigns) in the implementation of such specific modes of architectural production towards productivity?

This project aims thus to investigate precisely this import-export of knowledge flourished under the ‘Pax Americana,’ beyond the traditional narrative of U.S. as an exporter of knowledge but also as an importer and recipient.

This project is meant as a collective, progressive project where samarbejde (working collectively) is strongly encouraged among the participants, from data collection until the research is disseminated. The research assistant(s) are introduced to and instructed in quantitative data collection (e.g. literature and archive review based on Arkitekten (DK) a Danish specialized architectural magazine as the main media for architectural critiques at that time); as well as performing initial data analysis through inscriptive architectural and design tools (e.g. infographics). The expected outcome is the production of a series of critical written articles by the research assistants as part of some progressive architectural installations. The first installation, named “Tripolarity”, was hosted by the Copenhagen DIS Student Hub. It was a site-specific installation part of the Copenhagen Architecture Festival CAFx 2020 in October 2020. A second installation, “Old, but gold” was hosted by the SPARK Galleri in Malmö, Sweden in fall 2022.

 

Select Mentor Publications

  • Gigliotti, A., Monterumisi, C., & Prencipe M. (Eds.). (2024). Canon(s) and Icon(s): re-wondering a North-South contamination. Book Series: Analecta Romana Instituti Danici. Supplementa (Roma: Quasar Editore). 
  • Gigliotti, A. & Gigone, F. (October 7th – November 7th, 2022). Old, but gold. [Installation]. SPARK Galleri, Malmö, Sweden.  

Related Discipline(s)

This course would also be of interest to the following discipline(s):
Communication, Media Studies

Faculty

Angela Gigliotti

DIS Copenhagen Semester Faculty

Ph.D. (Aarhus School of Architecture, 2020). M.Sc. (Building Architecture, Polytechnic University of Milan, 2011). Visiting Ph.D. Candidate (Architectural Association, School of Architecture, U.K., 2018). Teaching Assistant, Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy, 2010-13, and at NMBU University in Ås, Norway, 2014-15. Under the field of architectural history of practices, research interests include labor, professionalism, and welfare state. Beyond academia, Co-Director of the research-based practice OFFICE U67 ApS that operates widely as exhibition designer. With DIS since 2016.

 

Fabio Gigone

DIS Copenhagen Semester Faculty

Degree in Architecture, IUAV Venice, Italy 2007. Ph.D. fellow at The Royal Danish Academy (2018-22) in Copenhagen, affiliated to the excellence Centre for Privacy Studies. Academic Guest (gta Institute at ETH Zürich, Switzerland, 2020-21). Associate Professor at NMBU University in Ås, Norway (2015-18); Unit Faculty at Aarhus School of Architecture, Denmark (2015-18). Beyond academia, editor and creative director for specialized magazines and co-director of the research-based practice OFFICE U67 ApS. With DIS since 2021.