What Students Learn at the Academy of Architecture

The Academy of Architecture of the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), founded in 1996, will soon soon be celebrating its 30th birthday. The school now enjoys a high international reputation and attracts students from near and far. The founding generation around Mario Botta and the late master craftsman Aurelio Galfetti has now made way for its successors, who want to respect their legacy, but at the same time face up to the fact that the demands on young architects and the profession have changed.

So USI's annual exhibition this year, “The school of Mendrisio. A project,” combines works from the 2022/23 academic year with an overview of the development of architectural teaching. Curated by Marco Della Torre and Manuel Orazi, the show invites visitors to take an inspiring stroll through the Teatro dell'architettura, Mario Botta's multi-purpose circular building on the edge of the USI campus in Mendrisio.

The tour begins on the first floor with the work of the first-year course, with presentations of other courses awaiting in the galleries on the upper floors. They are divided into historical-humanistic studies, the examination of the site and its cultural characteristics, as well as traditional, innovative, and sustainable construction principles. Works from the USI's cinema and photography workshops are also on display.

The projects from the design studios can be found on the second floor. In the past academic year, the focus was on housing and dealing with existing, often very traditional settlement structures against the backdrop of “critical internationalism.” The exhibits are accompanied by interviews with students, assistants, and lecturers. They bear witness to the diverse community on campus and the wide range of interests that are taken into account in teaching in Ticino. “The school of Mendrisio. A project” is on display until June 30 of this year, and anyone taking a trip to the canton before then should visit the exhibition.