The objective of this course is to position and discuss architecture in relation to the practicing of the profession.
Rather than concentrating solely on the stylistic or sociological aspects of the discipline, the discussion reviews the economic and organizational factors that influence the making of architecture from the design phase to its construction.

On completion of the subject students should be able to:
- Identify and engage with the various types of environmental conditions that have an impact upon the role of the design professions
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the relationship between design practice, cultural values, spatial needs and industrial landscapes.
The students should develop the following competencies and capabilities:
• Comprehension of data to develop technical research on realized projects or under construction
• Prepare and conduct interview with developers, construction companies, architects
• Develop projects’ analysis
• Critically analyze economic and technical data
• Develop a paper connected to a case study, using different sources with an individual point of view

Students should have capabilities of reading architecture through technical data, such as shop drawings, cost estimate analysis.

During the class, the following subjects will be considered:
• The Process in Architecture. Creativity vs Rationality? Or a Interwoven process between the two of them?
o The Brief
o Problem seeking
o Programming
o Team work
o Client Value
o Design Value
• The Management of Architecture. "Management from the architect point of view"
o Architecture and the practice
o Being architect in the 21st century: opportunities and challenges
• The Economics of Projects: Investment, Design, Construction
o Understanding projects
o Quality
o Time control
o Cost control
o Design control
• Case studies. Practicing architects will present real projects, investigating the relationship between the process in architecture, the management of projects and the quality of design and execution.

Students will work in group. They will be asked to identify a project to be their case study for the final paper. Many media could be used for the field study.

Main
1. Emmitt, S. 2014. Design Management for Architects. Hoboken, NJ, U.S.A. Wiley-Blackwell
2. Pena W., Parshall S.A. 2014. Problem Seeking. An Architecture Programming Primer. Hoboken, NJ, U.S.A. John Wiley & Sons Inc.
Others
1. Winch, G.W. 2010. Managing Construction Project. Hoboken, NJ, U.S.A. Wiley-Blackwell
2. Forlati S., Isop A. 2002. Wonderland, Manual for emerging Architects. Springer Vienne
3. Emmitt S. 2013. Architectural Technology: Research and Practice, Hoboken, NJ, U.S.A. Wiley-Blackwell

Evaluation will be based upon the following criteria:
• Contribution in group discussion (10%)
• Quality of the materials sought for developing the research (20%)
• Final report on case study (no more than 5,000 words) (70%)