STUDIOSPAINAdvancedUrbanDesignStudio

SchoolofArchitectureSpring2017

MWF1:30-5:30ProfessorJuanMiró,FAIALEEDAP

Goldsmith3.108

LandscapeCityvs.CompactCity

SYLLABUS*ThisstudioisopenforArchitecturestudentseligibleforAdvancedDesignStudio(graduateandundergraduate),UrbanDesignstudentsandLandscapeArchitecturestudents.IntroductionConsideredbymany thehighest achievementof civilization, cities embody the valuesand aspirationsof the societies that create them.Cities are complex cultural artifactswheremany forces come together. Austin is no different. The forces at play in thedebateoverAustin’s growth tend tobepolarizing views about the critical issues thatshapeourcity:thoseinfavorofmoreroadsvehementlyopposethoseinfavorofmasstransit likecommuter rail, those in favorofhigherdensitycollidewithneighborhoodsthat resist change, condodwellers preach against suburban sprawl, environmentalistsclamor against developers, developers clamor against Austin notoriously difficultregulatoryenvironment,andsoon.

STUDIO SPAIN Advanced Urban Design Studio Spring 2017 Instructor: Professor Juan Miró, FAIA LEED AP MWF 1:30-5:30 At the heart of these polarizing views there are two different types ofways to thinkaboutthecitythatmustbeacknowledgedasweplanthefuturegrowthofAustin.

TheLandscapeCity:TheAmericanModelAustinhasbeenandstillisfundamentallyaLandscapeCity:alimitless,low-densitycitywherethemajorityofpeopleliveinsingle-familyhouses.TheLandscapeCitymodelisrootedinastrongAmericantraditionandwemustacceptthatpeoplelikeit.Austininparticular is an example of a successful Landscape City. In fact, the overall beautifulintegrationofthecitywithinitsnaturallandscapehasbeenanimportantattractionforpeoplemovinghere.

TheCompactCity:TheEuropeanModelOntheotherhand,thereisamodelofcitythatemphasizeshigherdensity,pedestrian-orienteddevelopmentsandmulti-familyhousing.ThisCompactCitymodelhasgained

STUDIO SPAIN Advanced Urban Design Studio Spring 2017 Instructor: Professor Juan Miró, FAIA LEED AP MWF 1:30-5:30 momentuminAustinandforgoodreasons:thereismoremainstreamawarenessabouttheperilsofourdependenceonfossil fuelsandthere is,notonly inAustinbutacrossUnited States, a more cosmopolitan population that is discovering the benefits ofcompacturban life. Thepotential foraviablealternativetotheLandscapeCity inthecentralcoreofAustinisundeniableandis,rightnow,beingrealized.Canwehaveitbothways?Ultimately, cities are the result of a continuous balance between ambition andcompromise—loftydesiresaremanytimesscaleddown,ambitiousgoalsgetcutback—but themost successful citiesmaintain theaspirations thatdefine their identitywhilemanagingtoadapt tonewcircumstances. Here inAustin,asacitywemustaspire topreserveandcontinuetocreatethebestLandscapeCitypossible,adjustingthismodelofdevelopmentasnecessarysoitcansustainthebalancebetweennatureandhumanhabitation.Wemustalsocommitourselvestocontinuetosupportaviablealternative:aCompactCitythatthrives,notonly inthecentralcore,butalso innodesaroundthecityandthetransitcorridorsthatconnectthem.AsAustincontinuestogrow,wemustembrace the virtues of these two models and find ways to mesh them togethersuccessfully.LearningfromtheCompactCityHowcanAustin’sgrowthincorporatesuccessfullytheCompactCitymodel?Theanswertothisquestionisattheheartoftheinvestigationsofthisstudio. WhatcanwelearnfromCompactCitiesinSpain?WhatcanwelearnfromresearchingandunderstandingtheLandscapeandtheCompactcitymodels?We will travel to Spain to visit two different cities: Madrid and Bilbao. Both areexamples of successful Compact Cities: they have vibrant street life, efficient andaccessiblepublictransportationandgreatarchitecture—alltraitssoughtafterbymanycities.Wewilllearnabouttheirhistory,planningstrategy,theirpeopleandtheirvibe.We will meet with architects, academics and administrators. We will visit people’sapartments to seehowthey live.Thesecitieswill serveas idealplaces toexplore themechanismbehindasuccessfulcompactcity.Whyarethesecitiesthewaytheyare?MadridandAustinoccupyapproximatelythesameamountoflandbutMadridisalmost5 timesdenser thanAustin. Duringour time inMadridwewill visitdifferenthousingtypes, high profile architectural projects and one of the most ambitious urbaninterventions inEurope in recent times: theMadridRioproject. InBilbao, the largestcityintheBasqueregionofSpain,wewillvisitthesuccessfulredevelopmentofthethecity’swaterfront,thatincludestheworldrenownedGuggenheimMuseumaswellastheislandofZorrozaurre,alargetractnearthecitycenterthatwasmasterplannedbythelateZahaHadid.

STUDIO SPAIN Advanced Urban Design Studio Spring 2017 Instructor: Professor Juan Miró, FAIA LEED AP MWF 1:30-5:30 InourresearchinAustinandduringourvisitsinSpainwewillstudythreecriticalcomponentsofthecity:infrastructure,publicspaceandhousing.WewillspecificallyfocusonhousingtypologiesandthedifferentoptionsthatcanbeconsideredforAustininitsefforttodevelopadensercityfabric.TriptoSpainWewilltraveltoSpainonFriday,February11andwillcomebackonSunday,February19.StudentsadmittedinthestudiowillautomaticallybeeligibleforMebanescholarshipsaveraging1,000$tocoverpartoftheexpensesofthetriptoSpain.Adetaileditinerarywillbeprovidedinthefirstdayofclassandwewillworkoutthelogisticsofthetripduringthefirstweekofclass.

Projectsite:TheBrackenridgeTract.AlltheideasexploredinthestudiowillbedevelopedandtestedinalargetractoflandinAustinslatedforfuturedevelopment.DeededtotheUniversityofTexasin1910,theBrackenridgeTractconsistsof345acresofprimelandwestofthecentralcoreofAustin.TheareaisdefinedapproximatelybyEnfieldRoadtotheNorth,ExpositionBoulevardtotheeast,andLadyBirdLaketothesouthandwest.Abouthalfoftheareaisoccupiedbyamunicipalgolfcourseandtheotherhalfincludesthe84-acreUTFieldLaboratory,studenthousingaswellasothercommercialandresidentialstructureswithleasesfromtheuniversity.

STUDIO SPAIN Advanced Urban Design Studio Spring 2017 Instructor: Professor Juan Miró, FAIA LEED AP MWF 1:30-5:30 ThefutureoftheBrackenridgeTractisamatterofgreatimportanceforthecityofAustinasmuchasitisfortheUniversityofTexas.ItisuncommonforcitiestoencounterlanddevelopmentopportunitieswiththekindofpotentialthatthistractholdsforAustin.Thestudiowillbeencouragedtoworkwithsevenaspirationalgoalsinmind(innoparticularorder):-Thinkbigwhenplanningpublicinfrastructure.-Designadense,family-orientedhousingtypology.-AdvanceUT'sresearchagenda.-Createaccessiblepublicspace.-PreservetheUTFieldLab.-Includeavarietyofhousingtypes(student,faculty,seniorsandlow-income).-Embraceinnovation.ClassStructureThestudiowillbenefitfrompreviousworkdoneforthissamesitebystudentsfromourschool.Thefirstpartofthesemesterwillbedevotedtoresearch,withstudentsworkingingroups.Adescriptionoftheresearchtracksandaschedulewillbeprovidedinthefirstdayofclass.Inthesecondpartofthesemester,afterthetriptoSpain,wewillrevisemasterplansdevelopedinpreviousstudiosandwilldevelopinmoredetailspecificprojects,withaspecialfocusonmulti-familyhousingandthedesignofthewaterfront.Also,Iwillbeveryopenaboutlettingspecificinterestsofstudentsdeterminetheareasoffocusofthefinalprojects.OfficeHours:Tuesdaysfrom1:30to2:30orbyappointment.MyofficeislocatedinthereceptionareaatGoldsmithHall.Ifyouwanttosetanappointment,thebestwaytocontactmeisviaemail.Myemailisjuan@mirorivera.comandmyphoneis512-917-5163.BibliographyThefollowinglistincludesreferencebooksthatwewilluseinthestudio.Therewillbereadingassignmentsfromsomeofthemthatwillbediscussedinclass.Inaddition,wewillassembleourownlibraryinthestudiorelatedtotheresearchwewillbeconducting.-OnLandscapeUrbanism,2007 DeanAlmy(Editor)-CityDesign,2011 JonathanBarnett

STUDIO SPAIN Advanced Urban Design Studio Spring 2017 Instructor: Professor Juan Miró, FAIA LEED AP MWF 1:30-5:30 -10StoriesofCollectiveHousing,2013 a+tresearchgroup-ThisisHybrid,2014 a+tresearchgroup-SarrigurenEcociudadEcocity FundaciónMetrópoli-LandscapeIntelligence.VisionsandProjectsoftheFundaciónMetropoli,2010 FundaciónMetrópoli-ArchitecturalThought:TheDesignProcessandtheExpectantEye,2003 MichaelBrawne-Housing+SingularHousing,2005 ManuelGausa-UrbanDesignPractice:AnInternationalOverview,2012 SebastianLoew(Editor)-Madrid.InProgress.DevelopingSocialHousing,2008 EMVS LearningOutcomes

• DesignCompositionSkills:Developedthroughthreedimensionalarchitecturalformandspace,bothexteriorandinterior;Buildingenvelope

• DesignIntegrationSkills:Demonstratedthroughcreativeengagementwithissuesofmateriality,structuresandconstruction;Structuralandenvironmentalsystemintegration;Buildingmaterialsandassembly;Sustainablepractices

• SiteAnalysisandDesign:Developedthroughthecreativeengagementwithrelevantcontextual;environmentalandprogrammaticfactorsunderlyingtheproject

• CriticalThinking:Quality;depthandconsistencyofconceptualandcriticalthoughtthroughoutthedesignprocess;Learningfromprecedents;ResearchSkills;Understandinghumanfactorsandbehavior;Program

• GraphicSkills:Qualityofpresentation;clarityofcommunication;appropriatenessofmediastrategyandlevelofskilldisplayedthroughtheworkpresentedatallstagesofthedesignprocess;Technicaldocumentation

• UnderstandingSustainablePractices:Socialdimension;Sitedesigndimension;Buildingperformancedimension

• CollaborativeandLeadershipSkills:Demonstratedthroughtheactiveengagementinallactivitiesofthestudio

STUDIO SPAIN Advanced Urban Design Studio Spring 2017 Instructor: Professor Juan Miró, FAIA LEED AP MWF 1:30-5:30

• CodeAnalysis:Zoning,accessibility,lifesafety,egress;Basicunderstandingofthelegalframeworkaffectingthedesignprofessions

DesignConversations.School’sactivitiesTheSchoolofArchitectureoffersawiderangeofopportunitiesforstudentstoextendthedesignconversationstakenplaceinstudios(LectureSeries,GoldsmithTalks,Exhibitions,etc).Studentsareencouragedtoparticipateandinschool’sactivities,itisimportantfortheholisticeducationofintellectuallyengageddesignstudents.Specifically,wewillattendlecturesasastudioandwewillhavegroupdiscussionsinstudiothefollowingclassperiod.EvaluationCriteriaEstablishinggradesforprojectsofacreativenatureismorecomplexthangradinginotheracademicareas.Whileeachprojectcontainscertainquantifiableelementsbywhichitmaybeevaluated,asignificantportionofeachgradeisderivedfromabroader,moresubjectivesetofissues.Gradingforeachassignmentisbrokenintofourcomponents:

• 25%grasp:theideasandunderstandingoftheprojectathand,combinedwithanappropriateprocessofinquiry

• 25%process:theconsistentandrigorousdevelopmentandtestingofideas• 25%resolution:thedemonstrationofcompetence,completeness,andfinesse

throughrepresentation• 25%engagement:theactiveparticipationinstudioactivities,leadership,

collaboration,groupdiscussionsandreviewsStudentsworkwillbeevaluatedaccordingtoitsrigorandevolutionoverthesemester.Gradesaresubjecttodeductionsforabsences,latework,andlatearrivalsatthediscretionofeachinstructor.AstudentmustearnalettergradeofCorbetterinorderforthecoursetocounttowardsadegreeintheSchoolofArchitectureandtoprogressintothenextstudio.AlettergradeofC-willnotsatisfydegreerequirements.GradeDescriptionsA/A- Excellent

Projectsurpassesexpectationsintermsofinventiveness,appropriateness,visuallanguage,conceptualrigor,craft,andpersonaldevelopment.Studentpursuesconceptsandtechniquesaboveandbeyondwhatisdiscussedinclass.Projectiscompleteonalllevels.

STUDIO SPAIN Advanced Urban Design Studio Spring 2017 Instructor: Professor Juan Miró, FAIA LEED AP MWF 1:30-5:30 B+/B/B- AboveAverage

Projectisthorough,wellpresented,diligentlypursued,andsuccessfullycompleted.Studentpursuesideasandsuggestionspresentedinclassandputsinefforttoresolverequiredprojects.Projectiscompleteonalllevelsanddemonstratespotentialforexcellence.

C+/C Average

Projectmeetstheminimumrequirements.Suggestionsmadeinclassandnotpursuedwithdedicationandrigor.Projectisincompleteinoneormoreareas.

C-/D+/D/D- Poor

Projectisincomplete.Basicgraspofskillislacking,visualclarityorlogicofpresentationarenotlevel-appropriate.Studentdoesnotdemonstratetherequiredcompetenceandknowledgebase.

F Fail

Projectisunresolved.Minimumobjectivesarenotmet.Performanceisnotacceptable.Notethatthisgradewillbeassignedwhenstudentshaveexcessiveunexcusedabsences.

X ExcusedIncomplete

Canbegivenonlyforlegitimatereasonsofillnessorfamilyemergency.Simplynotcompletingworkontimeisnotanadequatecauseforassigningthisevaluation.ItmayonlybeusedafterconsultationwiththeAssociateDeans'officesandwithanagreementastoanewcompletiondate.Workmustbecompletedbeforethesecondweekofthenextsemesterinwhichthestudentisenrolling,accordingtotheSchoolofArchitecturepolicy.

AttendanceAttendanceismandatoryandparticipationisexpected.Withthree(3)unexcusedabsences,thestudent’sfinalgradeforthecoursewillbeloweredbyafulllettergrade.Thefinalgradewillbeloweredbyafulllettergradeforeachunexcusedabsencethereafter.Asidefromreligiousobservances,absencesareonlyexcusedwithwrittendocumentationofamedicalissueorfamilyemergency.Thestudentisresponsibleforcompletingworkmissedduetoexcusedabsencesandinitiatingcommunicationwiththeinstructortodetermineduedates.Ifastudentislate(5minutesafterthestartofclass)three(3)times,itwillbecountedasone(1)unexcusedabsence.Studentsshouldnotifytheinstructorpriortoclassif

STUDIO SPAIN Advanced Urban Design Studio Spring 2017 Instructor: Professor Juan Miró, FAIA LEED AP MWF 1:30-5:30 latenessorabsenceisknowninadvance.Studentsmustnotifyinstructorsdirectlyregardinglatenessorabsences;Askingaclassmatetoinformtheinstructorisnotacceptable.ReligiousObservancesAstudentshallbeexcusedfromattendingclassesofotherrequiredactivities,includingexaminations,fortheobservanceofareligiousholyday,includingtravelforthepurpose.Astudentwhoseabsenceisexcusedunderthissubsectionmaynotbepenalizedforthatabsenceandshallbeallowedtotakeanexaminationorcompleteanassignmentfromwhichthestudentisexcusedwithinareasonabletimeaftertheabsence.Universitypolicyrequiresstudentstonotifyeachoftheirinstructorsasfarinadvanceoftheabsenceaspossiblesothatarrangementscanbemade.AcademicIntegrityStudentswhoviolateUniversitypolicyonacademicintegrityaresubjecttodisciplinarypenalties,includingthepossibilityoffailureinthecourseand/ordismissalfromtheUniversity.Sincesuchdishonestyharmstheindividual,allstudents,andtheintegrityoftheUniversity,policiesonacademicintegritywillbestrictlyenforced.RefertotheStudentConductandAcademicIntegritywebsiteforofficialUniversitypoliciesandproceduresonacademicintegrity:http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/conduct/academicintegrity.php.UniversityCodeofConduct:http://catalog.utexas.edu/general-information/the-university/#universitycodeofconductStudentswithDisabilitiesStudentswithdisabilitieswhorequirespecialaccommodationsneedtogetaletterthatdocumentsthedisabilityfromtheServicesforStudentswithDisabilitiesareaoftheOfficeoftheDeanofStudents(471-6259voiceor471-4641TTYforuserswhoaredeaforhardofhearing).Thislettershouldbepresentedtotheinstructorineachcourseatthebeginningofthesemesterandaccommodationsneededshouldbediscussedatthattime.http://diversity.utexas.edu/disability/Security,SafetyandtheSudioThestudioisanexceptionallearningenvironment.Sinceitisaplaceforall,itnecessitatesthecarefulattentiontotheneedsofeveryone.Allsprayingoffixative,spraypaint,oranyothersubstanceshouldbedoneintheshop.Securityisanecessarycomponentforastudiothatisaccessibletoyouandyourcolleagues24hoursaday,7daysaweek.Donotleaveyourstudiowithoutyourstudiokeyanddonotleaveyourstudiounlocked.Holdyourselfandyourstudiomatesaccountableforthesecurityofyoursharedspace.

STUDIO SPAIN Advanced Urban Design Studio Spring 2017 Instructor: Professor Juan Miró, FAIA LEED AP MWF 1:30-5:30 ResourcesforLearning&LifeatUTAustinTheUniversityofTexashasnumerousresourcesforstudentstoprovideassistanceandsupportforyourlearning:TheUTLearningCenter:http://www.utexas.edu/student/utlc/UndergraduateWritingCenter:http://uwc.utexas.edu/Counseling&MentalHealthCenter:http://cmhc.utexas.edu/CareerExplorationCenter:http://www.utexas.edu/student/careercenter/StudentEmergencyServices:http://deanofstudents.utexas.edu/emergency/CellPhonesCellphonesmustbeputawayduringclassandcomputersmaybeusedonlyfornote-takingorforclassactivities.Studentswhousedigitaltechnologyfornon-classrelatedactivitieswillbemarkedabsentandaskedtoleavefortheremainderofthatclass.UniversityofTexasHonorCodeThecorevaluesofTheUniversityofTexasatAustinarelearning,discovery,freedom,leadership,individualopportunity,andresponsibility.Eachmemberoftheuniversityisexpectedtoupholdthesevaluesthroughintegrity,honesty,trust,fairness,andrespecttowardpeersandcommunity.UseofE-mailforOfficialCorrespondencetoStudentsE-mailisrecognizedasanofficialmodeofuniversitycorrespondence;therefore,youareresponsibleforreadingyoure-mailforuniversityandcourse-relatedinformationandannouncements.Youareresponsibletokeeptheuniversityinformedaboutchangestoyoure-mailaddress.Youshouldcheckyoure-mailregularlyandfrequently—Irecommenddaily,tostaycurrentwithuniversity-relatedcommunications,someofwhichmaybetime-critical.YoucanfindUTAustin’spoliciesandinstructionsforupdatingyoure-mailaddressathttp://www.utexas.edu/its/policies/emailnotify.phpBehaviorConcernsAdviceLine(BCAL)Ifyouareworriedaboutsomeonewhoisactingdifferently,youmayusetheBehaviorConcernsAdviceLinetodiscussbyphone your concerns about another individual’s behavior. This service is provided through a partnership among the Office of the

STUDIO SPAIN Advanced Urban Design Studio Spring 2017 Instructor: Professor Juan Miró, FAIA LEED AP MWF 1:30-5:30 Dean of Students, the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC), the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and The University of Texas Police Department (UTPD). Call 512-232-5050 or visit http://www.utexas.edu/safety/bcal Emergency Evacuation Policy Occupants of buildings on the UT Austin campus are required to evacuate and assemble outside when a fire alarm is activated or an announcement is made. Policies Regarding Evacuation Familiarize yourself with all exit doors of the classroom and the building. Remember that the nearest exit door may not be the one you used when you entered the building. If you require assistance to evacuate, inform me in writing during the first week of class. Do not re-enter a building unless you’re given instructions by the Austin Fire Department, the UT Austin Police Department, or the Fire Prevention Services office. Drop Policy The State of Texas has enacted a law that limits the number of course drops for academic reasons to six (6). As stated in Senate Bill 1231: “Beginning with the fall 2007 academic term, an institution of higher education may not permit an undergraduate student a total of more than six dropped courses, including any course a transfer student has dropped at another institution of higher education, unless the student shows good cause for dropping more than that number.”