Syracuse Sun

The School of Architecture has announced the lineup for its Fall 2024 Visiting Critics program, which will feature four studios led by distinguished architects and scholars. The program is designed to provide upper-level architecture students with exposure to leading figures in the field.

Alessandro Arienzo and Isabel Abascal will lead a studio titled "Syracuse Spiral." This course will delve into the architectural potential of spirals, inspired by the historical context of Syracuse, Italy, where Archimedes developed his famous spiral. Students will investigate various geometric curves through hand drawings, models, and prototype building.

Pablo Sequero will teach "Platform Surfside: The Adaptive City," focusing on coastal adaptation and flood mitigation strategies for Surfside, Florida. Building on previous research conducted in collaboration with the Surfside community, this studio aims to develop scalable and flexible designs for residential typologies and city blocks. The course will include interactive events with community members and an exhibition involving faculty from the University of Miami School of Architecture.

Katherine Hogan and Vincent Petrarca of Katherine Hogan Architects will instruct "Working Backwards." This studio emphasizes understanding architectural processes through reverse engineering. Students will develop physical models and large-scale wall assemblies to refine their approach to site analysis, material assemblies, craft, and proformas.

Yuyang Liu will conduct a studio called "A Linear Museum in Suzhou." Participants will design a linear museum along a historically significant canal area in Suzhou, China. The project aims to merge historical reverence with contemporary innovation by integrating exhibition areas with retail outlets, food services, and hospitality functions within a continuous urban space.