Dipartimento di Architettura e Design
Dipartimento di Architettura e Design
Castello del Valentino, viale Mattioli 39
10123 Torino
IT
N 45° 3' 14.1'', E 45° 3' 14.1''
http://www.polito.it/ateneo/facolta/I_fac_arch/
Head of Architecture and Design
The Royal School for Engineering Applications
was founded in 1859 in Turin,
as an initiative to solve the economical
crisis which hit the area after the capital
city of the Kingdom of Italy was transferred
to Rome. The Royal School and
the Industrial Museum (the second
institution in the city for the education of
industrial engineers) were later joined to
form the Turin Polytechnic.
There are three Faculties of Engineering
and two Faculties of Architecture in the
Polytechnic according to the internal restructuring
procedure which was started
in 1999. The First Faculty of Architecture
counts approximately 3500 students
enrolled in the various graduate and
diploma courses.
The Royal Turin Polytechnic was founded in 1906, but its origins go back further. It was preceded by the Technical School for Engineers founded in 1859 after the Casati Act and the Italian Industry Museum founded in 1862 under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade and Industry.
Politecnico provides students coming in the frame of exchange programmes with accommodations at a special price at dormitories or residences.
http://international.polito.it/en/practical_information/accommodation
Please contact university for further information. international.admission@polito.it
Please contact university for further information.
Please contact university for further information.
– Territorial, Urban, Environmental and Landscape Planning
Bachelor, Master of Science [ Architecture ], 4 terms, Master, 120,
– Sustainability Design
– Architecture Heritage Preservation and Enhancement
– Architecture for the Built Environment
– Architecture for Sustainability
– Territorial, Urban, Environmental and Landscape Planning
– Green Areas and Landscape Design
Bachelor, PhD of Architecture, 2 terms, Master, 120,
– Architecture and Building Design
– History of Architecture and Town Planning
Polytechnic students from all faculties
will earn a bachelor degree after three
years of study and a master degree
after the following two years. With this
degree, studies can earn a Specialisation
School diploma (two years) a professional
Master (1 year) or Doctorate
School diploma (PhD after three years).
Finally, Polytechnic students are invited
to offer their paid contribution for didactic
activities and services. Other services
are offered by the ‘Renato Einaudi’ University
House and the regional Education
Rights authority (Edisu).
The adoption of the 3+2 model has
completely redefi ned the permanence of
students in the Faculty of Architecture, allowing
students to seek employment after
the fi rst three years of study.
The educational programme comprises
degree courses in Architecture, in Industrial
Design and in Graphic & virtual Design,
as well as several post-degree functions.
The general structure of the system was
defi ned by the Faculty Council according
to European architecture study constraints
and national rules for all universities. The
Industrial Design and Graphic & virtual
Design courses are not subject to European
rules.
Teaching in the three years’ programme is
based on design workshops (ateliers)
integrating architectural design and cityplanning,
with relevant presence of all
disciplines. Interdisciplinary design work
is focused on relevant urban themes,
with attention to planning, landscape and
urban design, architectural design and
construction, environment and sustainability,
building economy. Courses are held
during the fi rst didactic period (September-
December) while atelier practice is carried
out mainly during the third period (March-
June). First semester courses include
mathematics, urban geography, history
of architecture, descriptive geometry and
construction. A mid period (January-February)
is left free for the attendance of
intensive design workshops,
conferences and individual research.
Students have also the option of choosing
professional activities during the second
semester of the third year.
Conversely, educational programmes
have been drawn up for the fi rst three
years of Industrial Design and Graphic &
virtual Design (the fi rst two years are currently
operative).
The two-year Master programme leading
to the title of ‘Specialised Architect’ is currently
being defi ned, as it will start in fall
2003. A parallel programme in Eco-design,
offered as a specialisation in the fi eld of
industrial design, is already operational
from 2002. All faculty courses are defi ned
in Ects, count up to approximately 60 a
year and can be carried out during the
fi rst or third period. Workshop activities,
on the other hand, last for the entire year,
but their
activity is more intense in the third period.
Approximately 40 students a year can follow
part of their curriculum aboard at one
of the many schools belonging to the
Socrate/Erasmus programme.
Various professional Master courses of 1
year allow students, practitioners or civil
servants to perfection specifi c aspects of
practice (CAD, building economics, evaluation,
legislation, etc.). Corep (Permanent
Education and Research Consortium) was
founded by the Polytechnic and the Turin
University and organises specialisation
and further education one year or shorter
courses.
Post-graduate programmes are becoming
increasingly important in today’s society.
Professional and academic architecture
post-graduate programmes are organised
by the Doctorate School which is common
to the entire Polytechnic and cover
programmes concerning both engineering
and architectural concerns (www.polito.it/
offerta/postlauream/scudo/guide). In general,
one of the specifi cally listed graduate
diplomas or master diplomas is
required to access the programmes.
Specialisation Schools are more markedl
professional. Courses last for two years.
The programmes which most appeal architecture
graduates are ‘Architectural and
environmental heritage history, analysis
and evaluation’ and ‘Technology, architecture
and cities in developing countries’.
Other programmes focusing on contemporary
architecture preservation and
Alpine architecture are being defi ned, in
co-operation with universities in France,
Switzerland and Germany, as well as a
programme in information technology and
urban design in co-operation with universities
in the Netherlands, USA and France.
PhD
Doctorate courses are more markedly academic
and required to access a university
career, although professional aspects are
not neglected. The curricula last for three
years. The courses most directly related to
architecture studies focus on ‘Architecture
and construction design’, ‘Accounting and
economical evaluations’, ‘Territorial planning
and real estate marketing’, ‘History of
architecture and city-planning’ and ‘History
and critique of architectural and environmental
heritage’.
Research is carried out in Italy by
departments and not by faculties, which
are specifi cally didactic structures. Four
departments are located in the First
and Second Faculty of Architecture:
Architectural Design, Homes and Cities,
Settlement Science and Techniques and
Territory Inter-University Department
which is in common to the Turin Polytechnic
and the Turin University. Other
four engineering Faculty Departments
are located in the Valentino Castle.
These Departments provide most of the
lecturers required by the two Faculties of
Architecture according to needs.
Other lecturers are provided by other
Departments and refer to the Faculty of
Engineering. Research in the Departments
follows the major lines of design,
history and city-planning and plays
a leading role in the most advanced
national and international debate. An
important part of research is carried out
on behalf of the government, of companies
and local authorities by means of
research and consulting contracts.