The studio offers a choice between two different design challenges. The first design challenge relates to embedding architecture in a cultural productive landscape. The second challenge is to analyze case studies of cluster villages in order to develop contemporary models for dense multi-generational living.

Today the vast amount of architectural effort is focused on urban environments and little attention is focused on rural and remote areas that have been cultivated for generations. As the latter are falling into disrepair invaluable resources, insights and knowledge is lost. A lot can be learned from the way such landscapes are traditionally articulated, such as the terracing of slopes and the choice of materials, so as to be able to yield produce that otherwise is not possible. Likewise the associated settlement patterns show different ways of accommodating various ways of compact dense living. The studio will continue its study of such cultural productive landscapes and cluster villages of the Chianti region in Tuscany.

This involves in the first challenge the study of cultural productive landscapes and the way architectures can be designed for and integrated with these landscapes on multiple levels. The design will focus on smaller buildings with different programs related to the use of the site. Primary question is how cultural landscapes may be understood in their capacity to be productive and how they can be augmented with clearly defined architectural projects.

In relation to the second challenge this involves the study of historical case studies, extracting models and developing these for contemporary use in urban, suburban and rural areas. The design will focus on small to medium size projects for multi-generational living and can involve a multiple use aspect.

In both cases the architectural designs are expected to employ local resources and materials and be strongly related to the local context.

The study trip be to Tuscany were the site(s) are located.

The studio will collaborate with Italian institutions and landowners on this project. This includes the University of Florence Department of Architecture, Department of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Systems and Laboratorio di Geomatica per l'ambiente e la conservazione dei beni culturali.