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15th Annual International Neukloster Herbstakademie, Germany
The Department of Architecture has a long and successful history of off-campus programs. These programs encourage the personal and professional growth of the students by exposing them to ideas, experiences, and places both different and distant from those offered on campus. Recently the Architecture Department has been honored with an invitation to participate in the 15th Annual International Neukloster Herbstakademie, Germany on November 1st through the 13th, 2007. This workshop/symposium is an exceptional opportunity for the individual student participants and the international reputation of the Architecture Department at Cal Poly. Other participating universities this year are: the University of Dortmund, Germany; the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands; University of Applied Science Potsdam, Germany; the Technical University of Wismar, Germany; the Technical University of Havana, Cuba; the University of Kansas, United States; the University of Kentucky, United States; and California Polytechnic State University, United States.
Founding organizer Gernot Nalbach, (principal of Nalbach and Nalbach, Berlin and professor of architecture University of Dortmund, and considered one of the most critically acclaimed German architectural firms in Germany, http://www.nalbach-architekten.de/) created the Herbstakademie fourteen years ago as a mechanism to initiate international collaboration between institutions that share an interest in the problems of art and architecture. Professor Dennis Domer joined Gernot Nalbach in 1992. During the annual ten-day symposium and charette students and faculty are brought together from around the world to exchange ideas, philosophies, and work methods all around a central theme and architectural problem. Participants include eight to ten students with a faculty member from each institution resulting in a mix of 50-70 students. These students are then placed into working groups of three to four, with every group representing a mix of the participating schools. Mornings are given to studio time or field trips associated with the charette, while afternoons are spent working on the charette problem. Evenings are organized around faculty led lectures/discussions with late nighttime for students to exchange ideas and continue to work in their groups. Teams make presentations during the week with a final presentation on Saturday.
There are many pedagogical benefits with this program including the idea of collaborative work on a charette where it is important to identify and articulate ideas in a timely manner. Of course the experience of working as part of a team of students from different backgrounds, intellectual positions, perspectives, and cultures is incalculable. This aspect is an added benefit with this particular off-campus program as many programs keep the American students isolated as a working group. On the other hand, all work and lectures are conducted in English, which means the American students may fully participate with no language handicap.
The Herbstakademie has organized the next five years around the theme "From Sea to Sea" with the Fall 2007 session titled "Flowing Ideas." This 15th session will be held at Neukloster near the city of Wismar in Germany, site of the previous symposia and comprise projects that investigate the architecture and landscape of Wismar. The next four years will meet in sites around the world associated quite literally with water, with Cal Poly selected as the site for the host year focused on the Pacific Ocean. Other symposia being planned are located on the Indian (Mumbai), Atlantic (Havana or Miami) and Arctic Oceans (Russia or Greenland).
Cal Poly Faculty:
Prof. Stephen Phillips: sjphilli@calpoly.edu
Prof. Guillermo Yanguez: yanguez2001@yahoo.com
Schedule
Nov. 1: Fly to Berlin
Nov. 2: Arrive Berlin, check in to hotels, site visits of important Berlin architecture
Nov. 3: Day visits of important Berlin architecture
Nov. 4: Travel to Neukloster and first meeting of students and faculty
Nov. 4-10: Design Charette: "Flowing Ideas"
Nov. 10: Final presentation, farewell dinner, party and dance
Nov. 11: Travel to Berlin
Nov. 12: Depart for the United States or remain one more day
Nov. 13: Best day to depart for the United States
NOTE:Students may elect to arrive from the US on the morning of November 4th thus saving three days and extra expenses related to their stay in Berlin.
Student Expenses: estimate maximum 540 EU ($737)
Airline: will be covered by the Architecture Department
Berlin: Hotel rooms in Berlin (two at the beginning and one at the end), around 80 Euros a night but this depends on which hotel the students take. Total 240 EU. Professor Guillermo Yanguez can assist you in locating reasonably priced hotel or youth hostels.
Travel around Berlin: this costs 7.50 EU per day by subway and streetcar. (2 days) Total 15 EU.
Travel to Neukloster: this costs about 10 EU one-way, plus taxi to hotel 5 EU.
Neukloster: Seehotel—this costs approximately 250 EU for 7 nights, with one or two roommates depending on the room, including breakfast, afternoon coffee hour, and evening meal; students pay for their own drinks.
Travel to Wismar: (this is the site of the charette project) by bus, costs about 5 EU each way. (5 trips) Total: 25 EU.
Travel back to Berlin: students pay about 5 EU each for the taxi to the station and then 10 EU to return to Berlin by train.
NOTE: Should you arrive on November 4, you can save two nights in Berlin thus reducing your overall costs. However you will miss visiting the exiting metropolis of Berlin!
Selection Process
The Architecture Department feels that this exceptional opportunity—occurring during their capstone year—should be available to all students regardless of their financial ability. All 5th year architecture students in good standing at Cal Poly will be eligible to submit portfolios to be chosen as one of the eight participants each year. Selection of students will be based on ability as demonstrated through portfolio with no student excluded through financial hardship. In the event of a tie between students applying for the position, those who have not participated in an off-campus program with the Architecture Department will be given priority. Professor Jonathan Reich, Area Coordinator of Fifth year, will be in charge of the process.
Students interested in participating in the 15th Annual International Neukloster Herbstakademie, Germany should pick-up an application form from the Architecture Department (05-212) after September 17th.
Deadlines
September 17: Application forms available at the Architecture Department, 05-212.
September 21: Portfolios & applications due by noon at the Architecture. Department, 05-212
September 25: Faculty selection process
September 26: Selection announcement by email
September 28: Meeting of selected students, 05-201 (Time TBA)