COURSE INFORMATION Course Title: INFORMAL SETTLEMENT PROCESSES

Code	Course Type	Regular Semester	Theory	Practice	Lab	Credits	ECTS
ARCH 575	A	100	3	0	0	3	6

Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature)	NA
Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	Anna Yunitsyna
Second Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours:	NA
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours:	NA
Language:	English
Compulsory/Elective:	Compulsory
Classroom and Meeting Time:
Course Description:	-
Course Objectives:	The course deals with the main principles of organization of the residential environment. Residential architecture in rural areas of Albania in most of the cases is built by the landowners without any intervention of professional architect or designer. The resulting houses are different in style, often eclectic; the inner spaces are not properly designed. Some of the buildings are uncompleted, with serious lack of details, with unfinished walls and open structural elements. The theoretical part of the course is based on the study of the current situation of the problem of informal housing in Balkan region and particularly in Albania. The informal dwelling architecture in Albania can be called vernacular since it is built by inhabitants, but there is a gap between the traditional way of construction and the current building techniques and spatial approaches. The set of lectures is supported by selected readings from the scientific research regarding the dwelling. The practical research is devoted to the analysis of the vernacular flexible Albanian dwelling and to the development of the design strategies for its sustainable use.

COURSE OUTLINE

Week	Topics
1	Introduction to the course.
2	Case studies selection.
3	Discussion on “Informal settlements in post-communist cities: Diversity factors and patterns”
4	Discussion on “Challenges of regularization of informal settlements in South East Europe”
5	Discussion on “Albania's Emerging Housing Market”
6	Introduction of the project concept
7	Presentation of the draft project
8	Analysis of case studies
9	Analysis of case studies (continue)
10	Discussion on “Principles of Vernacular Design”. Work on project
11	Discussion on “Shearing Layers”. Work on project
12	Discussion on “The Uses Of Levels”. Work on project
13	Review of the draft of project
14	Final project submission

Prerequisite(s):
Textbook:	1. Informal settlements in post-communist cities: Diversity factors and patterns. by Sasha Tsenkova 2. Challenges of regularization of informal settlements in South East Europe. Overview of the relevant urban planning and legalization laws and practice. by Djordje Mojovic 3. Albania's Emerging Housing Market by Harold M. Katsura 4. Principles of Vernacular Design (and their application today) by Kristian Bjornard 5. Shearing Layers by Stewart Brant from “How Buildings Learn” 6. The Uses Of Levels by N. John Habraken
Other References:
Laboratory Work:
Computer Usage:	yes
Others:	No

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

1	Understand the basics of the typologies of the residential settlements
2	Demonstrate an understanding of factors influencing the spatial and functional organization of settlement
3	Demonstrate the ability to recognize solutions that are well adapted to people's needs
4	Demonstrate the ability to evaluate the quality of the spatial structure of settlement and to offer an alternative design solutions
5	Understand the tendencies of the spatial development of the informal residential architecture in Albania

COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES (Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)

No	Program Competencies	Cont.
Master of Science in Architecture Program
1	Speaking and Writing Skills Ability to read, write, listen, and speak effectively	5
2	Critical Thinking Skills Ability to raise clear and precise questions, use abstract ideas to interpret information, consider diverse points of view, reach well-reasoned conclusions, and test them against relevant criteria and standards	5
3	Graphics Skills Ability to use appropriate representational media, including freehand drawing and computer technology, to convey essential formal elements at each stage of the programming and design process	4
4	Research Skills Ability to gather, assess, record, and apply relevant information in architectural course work	4
5	Formal Ordering Systems Understanding of the fundamentals of visual perception and the principles and systems of order that inform two- and three-dimensional design, architectural composition, and urban design	3
6	Fundamental Design Skills Ability to use basic architectural principles in the design of buildings, interior spaces, and sites	3
7	Collaborative Skills Ability to recognize the varied talent found in interdisciplinary design project teams in professional practice and work in collaboration with other students as members of a design team	1
8	International Traditions Understanding of the International architectural canons and traditions in architecture, landscape and urban design, as well as the climatic, technological, culture-economic, and other cultural factors that have shaped and sustained them	4
9	National and Regional Traditions Understanding of national traditions and the local regional heritage in architecture, landscape design and urban design, including the vernacular tradition	3
10	Use of Precedents Ability to incorporate relevant precedents into architecture and urban design projects	2
11	Conservation and Restoration of Historical Districts Knowledge on historical districts and the gain of conservation consciousness documentation of historical buildings and the understanding the techniques which are needed to prepare restoration projects.
12	Human Behavior Understanding of the theories and methods of inquiry that seek to clarify the relationship between human behavior and the physical environment	2
13	Human Diversity Understanding of the diverse needs, values, behavioral norms, physical ability, and social and spatial patterns that characterize different cultures and individuals and the implication of this diversity for the societal roles and responsibilities of architects	1

COURSE EVALUATION METHOD

Method	Quantity	Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)	1	15
Presentation	2	10
Project	1	30
Final Exam	1	25
Attendance		10
	Total Percent:	100%

ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)

Activities	Quantity	Duration(Hours)	Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours)	16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)	16	3	48
Mid-terms	1	2	2
Assignments			0
Final examination	1	2	2
Other			0
Total Work Load:			100
Total Work Load/25(h):			4
ECTS Credit of the Course:			6