1.1.

Lecture Trip: Visiting the Ancient city of Durrs and the Amphitheater within the framework of Arch 202-Architectural Design II course Project Name: An OPEN-AIR STAGE in DURRES AMPHITHEATER

Students of the second year in Architecture Department had a site trip in the ancient city of Durrs; within the framework of Arch 202-Architectural Design II course, on March 03, 2011. Durrs Amphitheater, a historical monument, was the site in the challenging problem of designing an Open Air (Temporary + Portable) Stage, making thus the context a crucial and determinant factor for the approach and design concept. The Open Air Stages are quite interesting structures concerning not only their function: hosting an event, but their formal appearance as well. The functionality, the volumetric construction and formal expression are strongly related to the program (content) and the site (context) in which the stage(s) are to be established. All these criteria and constrains, combined with the genuine use of material and the application of good engineering details, could make the Open Air Stage, a beautiful Architectural Engineering Art piece. The purpose of this trip was to introduce to the students not only the context of the project site, but to the historical aspect of the Amphitheater and the ancient city of Durrs as well.

Figure 1: Arch 202 -2011 Students & Lecturers (Valbona Koi & Desantila Hysa) in Durrs Amphitheater

Figure 2: Arch 202 Students & Lecturers in Durrs Medieval Tower

1.2.

Exhibition:

An OPEN-AIR STAGE in DURRES AMPHITHEATER

The exhibition An OPEN-AIR STAGE in DURRES AMPHITHEATER organized by Epoka University Undergraduate Program in the Department of Architecture, was held between March 28-April 14, 2011 at EPOKA University Building Entrance Hall. The exhibition of the second Year Architecture Students Spring Term First Project was a selection of the best student proposals for a temporary OPEN-AIR STAGE in DURRES AMPHITHEATER. The aim of this task was to encourage the students to question how should a new temporary structure functioning as stage for a specific event be introduced into an important historic monument, such as the Amphitheater of Durres; to engage in the discourse of the cohabitation between the historical and the contemporary; to construct arguments for the selection of a certain program to take place in their stage/in the amphitheater; and in addition, to be conscious about their design decisions in achieving diversity in spatial organization within this given structure (the amphitheater), considering also the city structure.

Figure 3: Student Proposals for an OPEN-AIR STAGE in DURRES AMPHITHEATE

After visiting the historical city center, making a detailed site survey (the location of the site in reference to the city center, the main arterial of movement from the sea to the city center, and the sea) and considering the distinct characters and atmospheres in the area, the students were encouraged to think of their own scenario and feed it with an appropriate program to take place in this stage, and this specific context. The Open Air Stage proposed by the students served as a venue for outdoor events such as: Classical Music Concerts, Bands and Singers desiring a more intimate venue, Theatrical Performances, Daytime Speakers or Film Festivals, Commencement (inaugurations), Wedding Ceremonies, Beauty Contests or Fashion shows, sport event venue, etc.

Figure 4: Exhibition of the student proposals for an OPEN-AIR STAGE in DURRES AMPHITHEATER

1.3. Lecture Trip: Visiting the project site and TEN-Community center, in Tirana within the framework of Arch 202-Architectural Design II course Project Name: Leisure & Social Involvement - COMMUNITY CENTER in the Garden-City Neighborhood, Tirana Students of the second year in Architecture Department had a field trip project site and TENCommunity center, in Tirana within the framework of Arch 202-Architectural Design II course, on March 31, 2011. Project Site Context: There are 2 sites proposed for this project. The students were let free to select the site and present arguments through their site analysis.Project Site 1 - located at the corner of Elbasan and Qamil Guranjaku Streets, at the north side of Liceu Artistik building (the area where Kosova School was earlier constructed).Project Site 2 located along Lana River, east of ETC center and west of the Playground at the corner of Elbasan Street (currently there is an parking space on the site). The overall area is characterized by its garden-city nature. It is simultaneously close to institutions and administrative buildings as well as to parks and green spaces. Due to the geographic location, history and type of dwellings, nowadays this residential district represents a true heritage of the city. The zone is distinguished for its unique environment and features of the garden-city, with its villas surrounded by gardens. The occupation of the zone is essentially residential but it does host a few small businesses and offices, hotels, restaurants, schools and a few leisure activities.

Figure5: Arch 202 Students visiting project site & TEN Center in Tirana

The purpose of this trip was to introduce to the students not only the context of the project site, but to pay a visit to TEN Center in Tirana, and cultural community Center that offers most the programs required in the project brief. This exercise makes it easier for the student to better integrate to their project problem solving and design.

Figure 6: Arch 202 -2011 Students & Lecturers (Valbona Koi & Anna Yunitsyna) in TEN Center

1.4. Arch 202 Project Final Review/Jury Project Name: Leisure & Social Involvement - COMMUNITY CENTER in the Garden-City Neighborhood, Tirana

Community centers, recreation centers or social centers are community spaces and public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole community or for a specialized group within the greater community. The community / social clubs might be organizing centers for local activities or they might provide activity space and networks for different categories of people: children, teenagers, adults (women and men of different groups and social status), elderly people, etc. Operation: The centers are buildings used for a range of various activities, which can be linked only by virtue of being not-for-profit. The projects are usually run on an entirely voluntary basis by the people involved, who are neither charity workers nor social workers. The projects are run in the spirit of co-operation, solidarity and mutual aid. Space & Programs: Community or Social centers tend to be in relatively large buildings and thus can host activist meetings, concerts, bookshops, dance performances and art exhibitions. These centers provide a base for initiatives and a place to socialize in a bar, caf, free shops, public computer labs, graffiti murals, legal collectives and music or performance venue. They also provide access to alternative, hard to access information through projects such as libraries, infoshops, film nights and talks. Other activities organized in community / social centers include events, meetings, exhibitions, classes and workshops on a range of topics.The services are determined by both the needs of the community in which the social center is based and the skills which the participants have to offer. OBJECTIVE To introduce and develop an awareness into the students about the problems of the design of a middle size building in an urban setting (in this case, even though both sites are in a close proximity, they display different spatial qualities and programmatic features);to develop a critical view about identity, image and role of a multi-use public space, which a community center could be, with its functional, technical and symbolic features. Students are asked to question alternative urban images and functions of a multi-functional public building of a community social center to be situated in either one of the assigned sites, in a Garden city neighborhood, in the Center of Tirana City. The issue of accessibility and inclusiveness of the public spaces are aimed to achieve a sensitive solution for design for all. Finally, the community center, as a public space and social place, should offer to the students the possibility of experience a sense of inspiration.

Figure 7: Arch 202 Students during their Final Project Presentation - Jury


Figure 8: Model Pictures of a Arch 202 Student Project _ Rudina Kazazi

1.5. Lecture Trip: Visiting Garden Line Marikaj the tree nursery, within the framework of Arch240-Landscape Design course Assignment Name: Outdoor landscape sketching: Drawing an individual plant and a group assemblage Students of the second year in Architecture Department had a field trip to Garden Line tree nursery in Marikaj on March 09, 2011, within the framework of Arch 240-Landscape Design course. The purpose of this trip was to introduce the plants, as one of the most important elements of Landscape Design. The students were given a guide by the landscape designer, who also answered to questions posed by the students regarding types of plants, to be used in indooroutdoor environments, possibilities of assemblage, etc. In addition, one more task given to the students was to sketch individual plants, or assemblage.

Figure9:GardenLineMarikaj.OpendiscussionofLandscapeDesigner,AldiekuandstudentsofArch2402011

Figure10:GardenLineMarikaj.VisitofArch2402011studentsandlecturerValbonaKoi

1.6.

Exhibition:

Arch 240 - Residential Garden Design

Project: Residential Garden Design - Landscape Design of the Arch 201 House Proposal The exhibition Residential Garden Design organized by Epoka University Undergraduate Program in the Department of Architecture was held from June 16th 2011 till September 2011 at EPOKA University Building Entrance Hall.

The students were asked to design the residential garden of their Arch 201 course project proposal. The task consisted in: Layout and design of the front garden and the rear garden in consideration of the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces; issues of privacy, ownership and control; enclosures, access, accessible parking, surfaces, structures, plants and outdoor furniture.

Figure 11: Student Proposals for the Residential Garden Design

Figure12:Exhibition of the student proposals for Residential Garden Design; Arch -240 Landscape Design course