Architecture and Urban Planning Design

The PPG-AU-UPM’s area of focus is Architecture and Urbanism. The program centers on academic research into Architecture and Urbanism as it relates with practice, particularly with design at all levels – from buildings to cities – plus special emphasis on representation and/or intervention, contributing to the construction of theoretical and conceptual frameworks of reference needed for the critical approaches by researchers, teachers and professionals.

Modern and Contemporary Architecture: Representation and Intervention: This covers specific architectural design references, historical evolution and modern and contemporary interpretations. The area involves reflection and investigation on the act of designing, emphasizing forms of representation and intervention and the transformation of the creative and teaching processes involved in design. Various contemporary design methodologies and strategies are also critically explored in the light of socio-cultural, technical and technological transformations, and through studies for comprehension and critical analysis of modern and contemporary architectural production.

Modern and Contemporary Urbanism: Representation and Intervention: Critical analysis of the transformations that contemporary cities undergo, the production process of urban space; modern and contemporary urbanization and urbanism; urbanism interventions, emphasizing emerging problems and current solutions from a transformative perspective. Built space and public space, urbanism instruments, urban policy, urban design and urban plans, intervention and sustainability; cultural heritage and intervention in historical centers and degraded areas, environment and sustainability; historiography of modern and contemporary Brazilian urbanism.