Speculative Architecture Seminar
By Museo del Prado – UCJC School of Architecture
Codirected by Félix de Azúa and Luis Feduchi.
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The Speculative Architecture Seminar is the result of the collaboration between the Museo del Prado and the UCJC School of Architecture and is codirected by Félix de Azúa, Director of Seminars of the Museo del Prado, and Luis Feduchi, Director of the Architecture School of the University of Camilo Jose Cela. It features guests of recognized international prestige who will provide theoretical, technical and methodological knowledge in order to offer a wide spectrum of subject matter; among them, Salvatore Settis, Emilio Tuñón, Eduard Koegel and Antonio Cruz.
Last year, we became acquainted with some of the more interesting museums which best exemplify current trends in architecture. In addition, we addressed the history of the Museum as an instrument for the collective unconscious and social reflection. This year, the focus will be on the conception of cities themselves as museums.
Despite the disappearance of founding elements in the world’s emblematic cities, it is still possible to trace the lasting effects that such elements have on our collective unconscious. Looking at the extreme case in the West, the founding of Rome as cosmic origin, this became analogous to the center of the Western world out of which the cardo and the decumanus sprang. Thereafter, this design and desire to emulate the center of the world was replicated in thousands of cities throughout history. Other cities carry along both their foundation and the memory of its history. Amsterdam, Madrid, Paris or Berlin, – cities that will be discussed in this seminar series – all belong to this reduced group of cities
Focusing on several of these both archaic and symbolic elements, consideration will be given to how they continue to evolve modern cities today. In many cities, such as Venice or Granada, it is difficult to establish routes, which still hold any historical or symbolic relevance, and have therefore been substituted by touristic pathways, utterly nihilist. Meaning has been exchanged for leisure.
It will take place in the Study Center of the Museo del Prado in the Casón del Buen Retiro, from February 9 to April 26, 2016.
The Museo del Prado and the University Camilo José Cela will award 4 scholarships for the Series (completely free of charge) for applicants younger than 35 who have an advanced degree related to the contents of the course. A discount will also be offered to students, professionals and university professors.
For more information, please visit: WEBSITE.
Registration requires completion of the following FORM.
Contact:
architecture@ucjc.edu
Telephone: 616783498