Saragossa meeting in the sphere of the “SEHUD PROJECT”

03-06 JUNE 2014

Welcome Speech in Paraninfo Building, Universidad de Zaragoxa, 3.06.2014Javier Monclús, Dean of the Department of Architecture

Welcome and sincere thanks to everybody for coming. In particular, thanks to Regina Lázaro, Vice-chancellor of International Relations; to Prof. José Neira, Coordinator of International Relations; to Prof. Maria G. Folli, Coordinator for the SEHUD Project; to Prof. Tatiana Sergeyeva, Coordinator for the UA Partners. And of course, thanks to all the participants in the SEHUD project who have come to Zaragoza to participate in this meeting, the third one since the kick-off meeting in Milan in December 2012.

We are happy to receive you in Zaragoza and to host this meeting. And we wish to remind you that we have big challenges ahead because our Tempus Project is a complex and ambitious one.

As we all know, the Tempus program is the instrument of the European Union for the development and modernization of the university teaching systems in different countries with the aim of creating bases of cooperation among EU countries. Of course, the first challenge is to coordinate 7 European universities as well as 5 from Ukraine. This unified effort is the responsibility of the Politecnico di Milano, in collaboration with colleagues from Kharkiv National University for Civil Engineering and Architecture, the coordinating institution for the Ukrainian universities. The second challenge should be that of bringing greater consistency to all the materials that we have developed so far. This is one of the reasons for this meeting, as it is dedicated to defining a common methodology and to checking the development of the Course units conceived by EU and UA partners.

I have to confess that this has been one of the most interesting – and at the same time complex – international projects I have ever participated in. Since the kick-off meeting in Milan, we have been working and consulting with a large team in the effort to develop the Project according to the rules of SEHUD. This acronym, which represents “Architecture and Sustainable Urban Development Based on Eco-Humanistic Principles & Advanced Technologies without Losing Identity”, expresses the ambitious concept of consolidating didactic materials from a very wide field of knowledge and teaching.

This past February in Lyon, a second meeting was held. At that time we were anxious about the political situation in Ukraine. It was exactly that week when the situation exploded in Kiev, and we were all stunned. As a gesture of solidarity, Prof. Nora Lombardini composed and publicly read a statement in support of our Ukrainian partners. It was a great opportunity to demonstrate that the work we all do at the university embraces our mutual interests and is not impeded by political, social and economic problems.

We remember the session when we received the visit of José Gutiérrez, who continues as Deputy Head of Unit, ERASMUS Mundus & External Cooperation of the EACEA, and who has recently become involved in the Tempus projects. He expressed his support for these projects and his availability to answer any questions about issues that might need clarification. His presence at our meeting and the confidence he showed in our ability to surmount the difficulties engendered by such a complex project were highly inspiring for all the working teams.

Mr Gutiérrez offered an insight from a different prespective to that of the Architecture and Urbanism fields. He said we should be aware that the difficulties of the project are not only logistic, but also arise from the fact that different traditions, from humanistic to very technical, coexist within Architecture and Urbanism. There is not only a “cultural urbanism” but also a technical reality.

Of course, we should include some additional categories. Even though Urbanism and Planning have been part of international culture since the beginning of the Twentieth Century, there are recognizably different “national traditions” from the North and the South, from the West and the East. There exist, therefore, a variety of approaches and viewpoints. “Common Ground” was the title that David Chipperfield chose for the Biennale 2012 in Venice. To find common ground that allows us to share working materials and teaching methods and possible collaborative research in the future is for us the main challenge of this project.

At the beginning of May, Professor Carmen Díez and I went to Kiev and Lviv to meet our partners. In spite of the delicate political situation – just at that moment Ukraine was in the middle of some turbulent episodes which led to the cancellation of our meeting in Odessa – we decided not to cancel our trip. We must say that we had memorable experiences in both cities, where we met for the first time with some of our colleagues and partners in the project, and we were received with extraordinary hospitality by everyone. We have seen directly what Ukrainian universities are like, how teachers work with the students, and what their main concerns are.

That visit to Ukraine has enabled us not only to understand how to better help our partners through sharing working materials with them, but also how to focus the organization of this meeting. Thus we recognize more clearly the importance of making optimal use of our time here: to show the work we have done in our school and to compile materials and approaches, so that Ukrainian universities are able to adapt them – as the Program says – “without losing identity”.

I would very much like to thank all the POLIMI team, especially Prof. Maria Grazia Folli, for the academic coordination and economic management of the Project, and also Prof. Tatiana Sergeyeva for her ongoing and effective commitment to the project and for the coordination of the UA universities.

And now I give the floor to Prof. Maria Grazia Folli. Thank you very much, Maria Grazia, for accompanying us in this welcome presentation. (...)

Report by Javier Monclús and Carmen Díez

Saragossa from the Water Tower

We are so grateful for you participation in our recent meeting in Saragossa. We have been very pleased to find that the content of our meetings is becoming more consistent and unified and that we are finding the means to work together cooperatively. We thank you especially Prof. Maria Grazia Folli for stressing the importance of keeping firmly in mind the main objective of the Program: to share knowledge and teaching resources.

One important aspect has been the identification of the particular strengths of the various participants. This step is truly helpful in the development of successful exchange of knowledge and methodologies. In this respect Prof. Tatiana Sergeyeva has made a key contribution to coordinate Ukraininan and European universities.

We think all of us will remember the contributions of Prof. Sebastian McMillan and Prof. Nora Lombardini via Skype. Now we have seen how effective this medium is and we are certain that it will aid us in maintaining a mutually beneficial flow of ideas. Additionally this medium assures us that if anyone is unable to attend a meeting, they can still interact by remote.

 

Besides that, we believe that the combination of theoretical presentations and on-site visits has been particularly effective to show how we work both within and outside the University of Saragossa.

 

Some of the highlights of our meeting took place in our school, such as the presentations offered by some of our students about the competition in which they are taking part. Here you have some photos.

 

 

Other highlights took place during our excursions to Expo area, Ebro Riverside, Aljafería and the Water Tower with the architect of the project Enrique de Teresa. Here are some photos of those excursions.

During our free time we were able to enjoy a special treat: a sampling of “tapas”. A happy coincidence was that a “tapas competition” was taking place at the time of our meeting.

We are especially pleased about the visit of our Ukraininan guests to the Caixa Forum. This visit was a nice way to say good bye to the last participants. 

           

Caixa Forum

We wish you all a good summer whether that includes work or travel or planning for our next meeting.

Sincerely yours,

Javier Monclús and Carmen Díez

20 ANIVERSARIO DEL PROYECTO ARTE Y NATURALEZA EN HUESCA

La Diputación de Huesca celebra el 20º aniversario del programa Arte y Naturaleza con una exposición en su sala de exposciones del centro de Huesca de Alberto Carneiro y Fernando Casás comisariada por Catarina Rosendo y María Pallás. Ambos artistas son referencia indispensable a la hora de pensar en la exploración de las interrelaciones entre el arte y el mundo natural.

Desde 1994, con Arte y Naturaleza, se ha desarrollado un extenso trabajo a fin de contribuir al enriquecimiento del tejido patrimonial natural y cultural del territorio de Huesca. Dos grandes ejes han caracterizado el programa: por un lado, el encargo y la instalación de obras de arte en el territorio de la provincia de Huesca, de los que ha resultado una colección­-itinerario compuesta por los trabajos de artistas de renombre internacional como Siah Armajani, Alberto Carneiro, Fernando Casás, Per Kirkeby, Richard Long, David Nash o Ulrich Rückriem.

A circle in Huesca. Richard Long 1994

Siglo XXI. Ulrich Rückriem.1995

Mesa de Picnic para Huesca. Siah Armajani 2000

Arboles como arqueologia. Fernando Casás. 2003

Three sun vessels for Huesca. David Nash 2005

As arvores florecem em Huesca. Alberto Carneiro 2006

Plan. Per Kirkeby 2009

Por otro lado se ha desarrollado un proyecto cultural pionero que ha creado un discurso propio, dirigido por Javier Maderuelo, y que ha contribuido a enriquecer el pensamiento contemporáneo del arte y la cultura.

El carácter transversal que ha tenido desde el principio la gestión de esta idea potenció un lugar de encuentro donde el arte y la naturaleza colaboraban estrechamente, rompiendo las barreras tradicionales de ámbitos académicos e institucionales, como ya sucedía en otros países europeos. El sustrato interdisciplinar que se fue creando en los cursos de Arte y Naturaleza, en los años noventa, y en las jornadas Pensar el paisaje, en la primera década del siglo XXI, generó un archivo de documentación que ofreció soporte a líneas de investigación que muy pronto comenzaron a publicarse como tesis doctorales.

En el campo de la divulgación, este proyecto también sirvió como impulsor de otras experiencias que en el mundo del paisaje comenzaban a proliferar en el territorio español. Las obras que estos artistas han realizado en el paisaje, las exposiciones, las becas, las ediciones y las convocatorias de todo tipo en estos veinte años suponen un catálogo de acciones ejemplares en el territorio de Huesca que incrementa el valor patrimonial y comunitario de sus paisajes y, en definitiva, a través del trabajo de la educación y la investigación, contribuyen a crear una conciencia del paisaje basada en la preservación y en los valores patrimoniales del entorno natural.

En el contexto de este aniversario se presenta una mirada sobre el trabajo más intenso e íntimo dos de los artistas que integran la colección-­itinerario de Huesca, Alberto Carneiro y Fernando Casás, revelando algunos de los momentos claves de su trayectoria, desde el inicio de la década de 1960 hasta la actualidad.

Ambos artistas han construido una obra que parte del paisaje, de las intervenciones en espacios púbicos y del uso de elementos naturales (como el árbol) para cuestionar los límites entre arte y vida. Ambos investigan la formación de una conciencia ecológica partir de las relaciones que el hombre establece con el entorno, exploran las grandes matrices simbólicas que ayudan a la inserción humana en el cosmos y ponen de relieve los fundamentos éticos, existenciales y antropológicos de la creación artística.

Sin embargo, sus obras son totalmente inconfundibles y, aunque los dos tengan materiales y argumentos en común e incluso a veces traten el mismo tema, hay un claro espacio entre ellos. Dibujos, esculturas, intervenciones documentadas en el paisaje, fotografía, objetos y ediciones de artista son los medios que utilizan Carneiro y Casás. 

Se ha editado un catálogo con textos críticos de Rogelio Vallejo, Hugh Adams, María Pallás, Catarina Rosendo y Nuno Faria. El libro contiene igualmente una importante documentación sobre los veinte años del programa Arte y Naturaleza en Huesca, con un prólogo de Javier Maderuelo, una reflexión sobre conservación de arte público a cargo de Carlota Santabárbara, una cronología recopilada por Teresa Luesma y una bibliografía actualizada por Roberto Ramos.

Os animo a visitar la exposición pero, si eso no fuera posible, no dejéis de visitar la web reseñada. El trabajo de Teresa Luesma y Javier Maderuelo, directora e ideólogo del proyecto respectivamente, supone una nueva mirada hacia el paisaje, activa y respetuosa. El proyecto que ambos iniciaron en la Diputación y desarrollaron durante algunos años desde el CDAN, continua sus actividades, de nuevo desde el Área de Cultura de la DPH.

http://arteynaturaleza.dehuesca.es/

Sehud Project Meeting Ukraine

Report of the bilateral meeting between EU and UA partners between “SEHUD PROJECT” 05-12 MAY 2014by J. Monclús and C. Díez

   

Arrival to Kiev and view of the city from Lavra Monastery

From the 5th to 12th May 2014 a bilateral meeting between Saragossa University and UA Partners from Kyiv and Lviv took place, as agreed at the last SEHUD PROJECT meeting in Lyon. Due to the political situation in Ukraine, our travel agenda had to be changed. Unfortunately, the meeting with the Odessa colleagues was cancelled at the last minute and we had to change our destination to Lviv. We sincerely hope that peace will come soon to Ukraine and that we’ll have the opportunity to achieve our planned visit to Odessa in the future.

In Kiev we were working with the colleagues of the Kiev National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUBA). We especially thank the Chancellor, Prof. P. M. Kulikov for spending his time with us on Tuesday the 6th and on Saturday the 10th so that we could exchange points of view and learn about culture and educational systems in our respective countries. Prof. Alexander Kashchenko, Dean of the Architectural School, offered us an engaging tour of the school, including meetings with several of the professors. With Prof. Maria Kushnirenko, head of the Urban Planning Department, we also spent a lot of time, talking about the organization of her department, reviewing students’ works, and discussing the possible development of a collaborative contribution to the SEHUD Project. We would especially like to thank Prof. Sergey Bronin, Chairman of the International Department, who accompanied us almost all the time, translating when it was necessary. We also had some very interesting tours through the city guided by Prof. Kashchenko and Prof. Kushnirenko.

Kiev National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUBA). With Prof. Kushnirenko, Prof. Kashecko and Prof. Bronin

On Wednesday the 7th we visited the State Scientific Research Institute of Urban Design DIPROMISTO with Prof. Kushnirenko. There we met Prof. Y. Palekha, Deputy Director of Research, Head of the GIS Centre, and author of course unit 4.3 of Module 4 for SEHUD Tempus Program. We also met Prof. I. Shpylevskyi, Institute Director, and with several other researchers. A shared presentation took place, where both Prof. Palekha and Prof. Monclús explained some works and projects related to de main subject of the SEHUD Tempus Program.

Meeting at the State Scientific Research Institute of Urban Design DIPROMISTO

On Thursday the 8th and Friday the 9th we visited the National University “Lviv Polytechnic”. We were warmly received by Prof. Yaroslav Racochiy, Vice Dean of the Architectural and Design Department, Prof. Oresta Remeshylo-Rybchynska , Vice Director of Foreign Relationships, and Prof. Victor Proskuriakov, Head of the Department of Design of Architectural Environment. Regrettably Prof. Yuri Dzyhil was abroad in those days. We had an interesting tour through the Architectural Institute guided by Prof. Oresta Remeshylo-Rybchynska and Prof. Yaroslav Racochiy, who introduced us to some professors from different Institutes, explaining their teaching methodologies. It was enlightening. We also visited the city centre with Prof. Oresta Remeshylo-Rybchynska, who gave us an in-depth explanation of the historical development of the city throughout its most significant periods.

    

Meeting at the National University “Lviv Polytechnic”

  

Prof. Remeshylo-Rybchynska designing Lviv historical development and tour through the city centre

On the 9th May, even though it was a holiday, Prof. Y. Kryvoruchko and PhD student Yaryna Senkovska spent the day with us visiting the outskirts of Lviv. They explained how Rayons and Microrayons developed around the historic centre. In particular, we visited the Sykhivs’kyi district and learned about its achievements and weaknesses.

   

   

Visit to Sykhiv’kyi district with Prof. Dr. Yuriy Kryvoruchko and PhD student Yaryna Senkovska

From the 10th to the 11th May we returned to Kiev to visit the university again and to go on some tours guided by Prof. Kushnirenko and Prof. Kaschenko. During these tours, we had the opportunity to visit the Maidan Nezalezhnosti. We were moved by the atmosphere and by the people we met there at this significant moment in Ukrainian history.

  

Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture (KNUBA), in the new computer class

and in Maidan Nezalezhnosti


TEMPUS MEETING IN LYON, 17-20 FEBRUARY 2014

http://urbanismouz.blogspot.com.es/2014/02/tempus-meeting-in-lyon-17-20-february.html

TEMPUS Programme Architecture and Sustainable Urban Development

http://urbanismouz.blogspot.com.es/2012/12/tempus-program-architecture-and.html