Summer Architecture Tour of Florence

Program Overview

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Summer Architecture

Design School in Florence, Italy

The revolution of art, architecture, and culture that we associate with the Renaissance first occurred in the Italian city of Florence. During the Fifteenth century, Florence produced more influential creative genius than any other city of a parallel era. Masters such as Masaccio, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Dante, and Da Vinci eternally all left their marks on the city and Western culture. Since that time, knowledge of Florence’s history and works has become essential to students of architecture and design throughout the world.

Description

The entire course is held in the English language. The short course teaches both traditional and modern analytical skills together with a general overview of architectural history. The architecture, public spaces, and overall structure of the city are examined both in terms of the "design intent" of the architects and urbanists of the day as well as how the geographic, spatial, cultural, economic, political, and religious context influenced the design of the architecture and city as a whole. The majority of the course takes place on-site visiting the architectural and urban masterpieces of Florence. Through a series of walking and sketching tours, the course explores the factors that led to the development of the architecture and urban design of the Florentine Renaissance and the impact that it has had on subsequent generations of architects and designers.

Program Details

• Duration: 4 weeks
• Levels: All
• Schedule: The course meets 3 hours per day, Monday through Thursday, 10am-1pm
• Dates: The short course is held each summer during the month of June; exact dates can be found on the academic calendar

Course Materials

• Students should budget an additional 150 Euro for travel and access to museums
• Required materials:
  • A3 spiral bound medium weight paper (around 180 gram) spiral bound sketchbook
  • Pencils (2h, hb, 2b) / Pencil sharpener
  • Erasers (white eraser and grey kneaded eraser)
  • Recommended Text: Florence an Architectural Guide Guido Zucconi (Author)

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Graphic Design Summer Course

• Duration: 4 weeks
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Digital Illustration Summer

The Short Summer Course

The short summer course is an intensive design course in the digital illustration process. The course is an introduction to illustration theory and its application. It is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to not only complete their assignments that include illustrating graphic elements, but also to inspire creative potential in this expressive design field.

Digital Illustration Summer Course

• Duration: 4 weeks
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Architecture Summer Courses

The Florence Institute Offers Architecture Courses

The Florence Institute offers architecture courses that teach drawing and observational skills plus an introduction to architectural theory and Italian history. This short summer course is designed for students with an interest in the art and architecture of Italy. Most of the course is conducted in the form of walking tours, where students can learn directly from the architecture of Florence.

Architecture Summer Course

• Duration: 4 weeks
• Levels: All

Furniture Design Summer Courses

Furniture Design is One of Italy’s Most Respected Areas of Knowledge

Furniture design is one of Italy’s most respected areas of knowledge. The purpose of the short summer course is to develop students’ understanding and conceptual skills of all aspects of furniture design from design to production to the development of prototypes. During the 4-week program, students study presentation of history, theories, works, and trends of Italian and International furniture.

Furniture Summer Course

• Duration: 4 weeks
• Levels: Basic or Advanced

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

• Focus: Traditional and modern analytical skills in architecture
• Objective: Understanding the "design intent" of architects and urbanists, exploring the factors influencing Florentine Renaissance architecture and its impact on subsequent generations.
• Target Audience: Students with a strong interest in Italian art, interior design, and architecture; people with a general interest in architecture and design.
• Course Level: All levels

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Outline:

• Duration: 4 weeks in June
• Schedule: 3 hours per day, Monday to Thursday, 10am-1pm
• Content:
• Walking and sketching tours:
Exploring Florence's architectural and urban masterpieces
• On-site visits:
Analyzing the design intent and context of various architectural structures
• Learning:
Florentine Renaissance architecture, its impact, and its influence on future generations
• Focus:
Geographic, spatial, cultural, economic, political, and religious influences on architecture and city design

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Assessment:

• Method: Unclear from the provided context.

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Teaching:

• Method: Primarily through walking and sketching tours, focusing on direct learning from Florence's architecture.

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Careers:

• Potential career paths: Architect, urban planner, designer, historian, educator, researcher
• Opportunities: Work in various fields related to architecture, design, and history
• Outcomes: Graduates can pursue further studies, enter the workforce, or continue their creative development.

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Other:

• Materials: Students should budget 150 Euros for travel and museum access.
The program is suitable for students of all levels and provides a valuable foundation for further studies or professional careers in architecture and related fields.