An orphan in Haiti (photo by Jan Sochor)
BY BRIAN LIBBY
The Partner University Fund, an initiative of the French Embassy of the US to promote innovative collaborations in research and education between French and American universities, has selected for funding a proposed three-year partnership between Portland State University's Department of Architecture and the Ecole Speciale d’Architecture de Paris.
The $485,000 grant will allow the two schools to collaboratively design and build two orphanages in Haiti during the first two years of the partnership. The third year of the partnership will feature a cultural and educational exchange in which Portland State University architecture and engineering students will study at the Ecole in Paris and the Parisian students will come to Portland, involving approximately 140 students.
Haiti was chosen as the focus of the collaboration because of the need for rebuilding in the earthquake-ravaged country, and both programs will bring unique strengths and specialties that are expected to complement each other: the Ecole Special d’Architecture de Paris specializes in emergency architecture, and the Department of Architecture of Portland State University focuses on field work and community engagement.
Ecole Speciale d'Architecture, Paris (photo courtesy Wikipedia Commons)
The Ecole Speciale d'Architecture was founded in 1865 by engineer Emile Trélat as reaction against the educational monopoly of Beaux-Arts architecture. Since its beginning, the school has included innovative courses such as domestic hygiene and urban public health. It was officially recognized as providing "public utility" in 1870, and recognized by the state as an institution of higher education in 1934. Notable students and staff have included Robert Mallet-Stevens, who was with Le Corbusier widely regarded as the most influential figure in French architecture in the period between the two World Wars; Farah Pahlavi, wife of the former Shaw of Iran; and August Perret, whose post-WWII reconstruction of Le Havre in Paris was declared by UNESCO one of the World Heritage Sites.
On the PSU side, the initiative continues the work of professor Sergio Palleroni, who previously was awarded the American Institute of Architects 2011 Latrobe Prize for a research proposal looking into the role architects play in public interest projects.
“This is a wonderful recognition of Sergio's initiatives and the enthusiasm he has brought to the outreach efforts that distinguish the architecture program at PSU," John Blumthal, principal at Yost Grube Hall architects and a board member for Architects without Borders. "I believe the student experiences made possible by this grant will influence the life-long direction of professional careers and provide these prospective architects a global perspective for their work that they would not gain in any other way.”
"This project has Sergio's name written all over it: the innovative design of the curriculum to meet a tremendous and urgent need, the dense cultural and design experience afforded to the students, and an implicit trust in everyone involved," said Megan McMorran, Director of Programming/Operations, Action Center at Mercy Corps.
The award, and Palleroni's continuing efforts, also indicate a broader identity in design and art for which Portland State University is distinguishing itself. PSU professor and acclaimed artist Harrell Fletcher has quickly upped the reputation of the school's art department through his focus on art as social practice: not just making objects or installations in galleries or public spaces, but using art and artful thinking to stimulate conversations and highlight a wide spectrum of social needs. It's an ideal fit for Portland, where we lack a sizable old-money class to invest in art and design, but have carved out a different kind of currency through connections and social awareness.
What's more, the partnership between PSU's architecture department, a decade ago fighting for its very right to exist, and a prestigious institution like the Ecole Speciale d’Architecture de Paris will only enhance the reputation of this university, which is now evolving from a middling commuter school to an urban university at the forefront of a worldwide conversation about design, art and the roles they play.
This is sounds awesome. Something else that’s related to your post is this video I saw on YouTube. http://youtu.be/2T3fZAQ3Bk0
http://youtu.be/2T3fZAQ3Bk0
Posted by: Account Deleted | May 19, 2011 at 09:09 PM
Hello! If you are interested in Sustainable Emergency Architecture, you may visit http://masteremergencyarchitecture.com/, the site of the official Master of International Cooperation of the ESARQ UIC school in Barcelona (http://www.uic.es/esarq), that prepares architects to develop and rebuild communities affected by poverty, conflict and natural disasters and collaborate with well-known NGO as Architecture For Humanity, Mundus Urbano and UnHabitat. You will find also information about events and featured articles about Sustainable Emergency Architecture.
Posted by: ESARQ UIC | June 13, 2011 at 04:54 AM