04762 - Outfitting and Museography

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student acquires the basic knowledge in the disciplinary field by learning the ability to prefigure meta-design schemes and solutions aimed at the project. Through the knowledge acquired, the student can then use the architectural drawing-project as a methodology aimed at the study, analysis and presentation of the ideation process of the museographic and exhibition project.

Course contents

"COLLECT", "PRESERVING" and "PASS ON" are the archetypes and anthropological foundations of collecting and therefore of museality in the broadest sense. The acquisition of the main historical experiences in the field of the specific disciplinary becomes the preparatory condition for the formulation of a coherent knowledge. The term “installation" (ALLESTIMENTO) identifies a precise design context peculiar to the architect. It is, in reality, a very vast field in itself that involves multiple disciplines: some related to history, such as conservation or archeology, others to communication such as graphics or semiotics, others to more technological fields such as lighting technology or industrial design, others to commercial areas such as marketing or merchandise. The course aims to investigate this complexity considering it in its meaning of "place" of relationship between objects/subjects, overcoming the rigid classification of "products" to be exhibited or the conventional distinction between container and content.

Readings/Bibliography

K. Pomian, Il museo una storia mondiale. I. Dal tesoro al museo, Einaudi, Torino 2021

K. Pomian, Il museo una storia mondiale. II. L’affermazione europea, 1789-1850, Einaudi, Torino 2004

K. Pomian, Il museo una storia mondiale. III. Alla conquista del mondo, 1850-2020, Einaudi, Torino 2004

M. T. Fiorio, Il museo nella storia. Dallo studiolo alla raccolta pubblica, Bruno Mondadori, Milano 2011

A. Huber, Il museo italiano: la trasformazione di spazi storici in spazi espositivi. Attualità dell'esperienza museografica degli anni '50, Edizioni Lybra Immagine, Milano 2005

A. C. Cimoli, Musei effimeri. Allestimenti di mostre in Italia 1949-1963, Il Saggiatore, Milano 2007

Allestire nel museo. Trenta mostre a Castelvecchio, a cura di A. Di Lieto e F. Bricolo, Marsilio Editori, Venezia 2010

R. Murphy, Carlo Scarpa & Castelvecchio, Arsenale editrice, Venezia, 2007

R. Murphy, Rivisitando Carlo Scarpa e Castelvecchio, Breakfast Mission Publishing, Edimburgo, 2024

Arrigo Rudi. Architettura, restauro e allestimento, a cura di V. Pastor, S. Los e U. Tubini, Marsilio, Venezia 2011

Teaching methods

The teaching of the course is structured according to a "path" of approach to the discipline made possible by a specific bibliographic reference framework, deepened and enriched by an articulated program of ex cathedra lessons and a simple design experience. In the lessons the fundamental themes of the discipline will be investigated starting from some "key" words such as MEMORY, IMAGINATION, CONCEPTION, PROJECT, EXECUTION. During the lessons, video projections will be regularly used. The lessons will be set up in a seminar manner, in order to encourage the personal critical contribution of the students; at the same time, the progress of the project experience will be verified; problems, references, hypotheses, etc. will be discussed collectively.

Assessment methods

Students will be asked to carry out a simple design experience, "simulating" the setting up of a temporary exhibition of works by Maestro Pino Castagna (1932-2017) in Castelvecchio in Verona, comparing themselves with the lesson of Carlo Scarpa (1926-1978).The project will be based on the construction of a narrative path and on the complex relationships that are established between the sculpture and the museum space. The project will be carried out using the tools of architectural drawing, taking into account the most appropriate graphic techniques for the theme. The graphic and analytical materials necessary for the drafting of the project, as well as a specific bibliography, will be provided during the course.

The verification of learning takes place through the evaluation of the design exercise, which ascertains the acquisition of the expected knowledge and skills by passing an oral exam lasting at least 30 minutes without the help of notes or books.

The oral exam consists of: a revision of the design exercise during which the teacher informs the student about the correction criteria, receiving any clarifications of the student himself; an oral study aimed at ascertaining the knowledge of the bibliography and the general skills acquired applied to a critical discussion of the project.

Passing the exam will be guaranteed to students who demonstrate mastery and operational ability in relation to the key concepts illustrated in the teaching, and in particular to the ability to understand and manage the complexity of the subject. A higher score will be given to students who demonstrate that they have understood and be able to use all the contents of the course by illustrating them with language properties, solving even complex issues, showing good operational control, etc. Failure to pass the exam may be due to insufficient knowledge of key concepts, failure to master the specific technical language, bibliography and lack or insufficient operational capacity.. The evaluation of the exam will be determined on the basis of the following criteria to which they will be assigned respectively up to a maximum of 6/30 each:

1. quality of the papers submitted;
2. quality of the proposed set-up system;
3. effectiveness and expressiveness of the proposal;
4. quality of executive details;
5. congruence with the theoretical and bibliographic aspects of the course.

Design tutorial

SETTING UP IN CASTELVECCHIO: THE COMPARISON WITH CARLO SCARPA'S LESSON.

To design the temporary installation of a selection of works by Maestro Pino Castagna (1932-2017) in the indoor and outdoor spaces of the Castelvecchio Museum in Verona in comparison with the sensitivity, work and museographic lesson of Carlo Scarpa (1926-1978).

Project works

The works will be written in A5 format in a notebook containing - in the form of "storytelling" - the entire design process (MOLESKINE Classic notebook A5 cm 13x21 cm - hard cover - 70 gr/sqm ivory paper or other similar) using manual and/or digital drawing techniques (notes, reflections, sketches, quotes, collages, photo-insertions, etc.). An ad hoc visit will be organized at Pino Castagna's atelier in Costermano (VR) and at the Castelvecchio Museum in Verona.

Teaching tools

The lessons will take place with the use of graphic and photographic material presented in Power Point format; the teacher, using the document-camera supplied to the classrooms, will propose short sessions of drawing and graphic representation to support the problems addressed. The teaching material necessary for the project exercise will be made available to students on the virtuale.unibo.it platform in digital format.

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Poletti