The annual conference if the Eureopan Association for Architectural Education was held from August 31st to September 2nd at the ETSA in Madrid, titled 'Toward a New European Bauhaus'. On September 1 2022, the partners presented their O5 Multiplier Event during the 2022 EAAE Annual Conference + General Assembly. The Multiplier Event was dedicated to the Afterlife reports to higher education policy makers, and the partners presented Wp 4f: Pedagogic impact of the study for HE curricula.
As Keynote speaker, Dag Boutsen presented some of the new and reinformed insights, concerns, and difficulties in relation to the architectural profession that have emerged through the Architecture’s Afterlife research project. In the presentation Dag links these to a debate on the need to re-discuss these insights, possible changes and ameliorations that are in line with contemporary needs as brought up by the New European Bauhaus. Inclusivity, collective thinking, bottom-up approaches, human sustainability, ecological philosophy… we can only address these through a broad range of competences.
Furthermore, the outcomes of the Architecture’s Afterlife research project are embedded in the broader theme of ‘internationalization’ through subtopics like ‘interconnected Europe’, architecture (as) a mindset, the context of Bologna, the role of competent authorities, the topic of inclusivity and the aspects belonging to lifelong learning. A focus is being proposed on the acquisition of two competences as stipulated in article 46 of the European Directives. Two skills about understanding the relationship between people and buildings, and about understanding the role of the architect in society can be interpreted in such a way that they bridge education and research, curricula and practice, and professional and disciplinary skills.
The debate that follows the presentation brings together key transnational organizations that represent architecture.
Hanne Van Reusel presented a paper co-authored with Dag Boutsen and Michela Barosio on “An anthology for the invisible beyond architect-ure”. This discussed some of the findings of the Architecture’s Afterlife study in relation to the flow 3 - the architects that are currently working in the creative sector. The presentation and poster exhibition have as main objective to show and render visible the diverse trajectories architects can take. Through showcasing five examples from interviewees of the research, the presentation reveals the invisible values and communities, the in- of the output, and calls for a chamber of deviated architects.
Mia Roth Cerina presented a paper co-authored with Federica Vannucchi on “Multidisciplinarity in Action: Defining Collaborative Design”. This discussed the findings on Architecture’s Afterlife in regard to architecture graduates exploring collaborative, inclusive, interdisciplinary practices, but also personal competencies and individual responsibilities. The Architecture’s Afterlife Questionnaire has highlighted that the most used competences are both “personal competences” and “cooperation competences” but while the former are adequately taught in school, the latter are not. Instead, “diversity competences” are in between.