COURSE: VISUAL REPRESENTATION IN ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING

The course covered a wide range of essential topics designed to enhance students' abilities in reading, interpreting, and producing design drawings. It emphasized the importance of observational drawing and subject analysis, enabling students to recognize the significance of specific drawings and organize their information effectively. 

Through a combination of analog and digital media, students developed their skills in sketching, diagramming, drafting, and model-making.

The curriculum introduced students to fundamental representation techniques and layout principles, providing them with the tools to visually communicate their ideas and present their design solutions convincingly. To further strengthen their proficiency, students gained hands-on experience with software applications such as AutoCAD, Revit, SketchUp, and Lumion.

This comprehensive course was conducted during the third and fourth semesters of the program, in the second year, equipping students with the foundational knowledge and practical skills necessary for success in architectural design.

COURSE: DIGITAL DOCUMENTATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND SITES

The course was divided into two main units, corresponding to the first and second semesters of the academic year. Each unit combined fieldwork with desktop work sessions. The first unit focused on historic buildings, while the second unit explored the scale of urban areas.

The objective of the first unit was to develop students' proficiency in creating 2D and 3D scaled graphics of historic buildings and their components. Students were trained in a comprehensive set of skills, including:

i) Gathering data on buildings through traditional techniques, digital photography, and historical archive research.
ii) Processing data using professional software.
iii) Creating 2D and 3D drawings, such as site plans, floor plans, roof/ceiling plans, elevations, cross-sections, and detailed component illustrations.
iv) Analyzing, interpreting, and understanding the data in relation to the building's history, spatial configuration, materials, and construction techniques.

This knowledge contributed to preserving heritage values during the decision-making process.

The second unit focused on historic urban areas, encompassing both buildings and the broader urban layout. Its objective was to generate 2D and 3D graphics that facilitated an understanding of the character-defining elements of these areas. In this unit, students acquired a new set of skills, including:

 i) Collecting data on historic urban areas and buildings through the examination of historical archives, maps, satellite imagery, and on-site surveys using forms and photographs.

ii) Processing data using specialized software, particularly GIS (Geographic Information System).

iii) Creating maps that integrated photographs with 2D and 3D graphics to effectively depict the data.

iv) Understanding the evolution of urban areas and their character-defining elements by analyzing the surrounding context, urban patterns, green and open spaces, buildings and their unique features, and the various activities that had taken place over time.

COURSE: CONSERVATION OF HISTORIC URBAN AREAS

This course spanned the fifth and sixth semesters of the program, corresponding to the fourth and fifth years of study, allowing students ample time to explore these topics and develop their expertise in conservation and cultural heritage.

Learning Outcomes:

Recognize and effectively integrate the complexities of key aspects and issues surrounding conservation philosophy and practice, particularly in relation to cultural heritage within a global context. This includes the ability to strategize and plan conservation approaches.

Develop the critical ability to evaluate contemporary practices and research-driven advancements related to interventions in heritage assets across diverse situations. Emphasis was placed on presenting findings at a professional standard.

Cultivate a comprehensive understanding and critical awareness of legislative and policy frameworks, international charters, and standards governing historic buildings and cultural heritage at both national and international levels.

Throughout the course, students gained a holistic understanding of topics relevant to the historic environment. They explored the concept of significance, examined the development and application of conservation philosophy, analyzed creative and adaptive re-use practices, and studied cultural heritage within a global context. Additionally, they investigated the evolution of international standards and charters and engaged with the principles, laws, and policies governing listed buildings and conservation areas.

COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO ACADEMIC RESEARCH

In the final year of the Architecture and Urban Planning program at the Universidad de Oriente, students were introduced to foundational topics in academic research, which are crucial for their bachelor thesis dissertation. These topics encompass various aspects, including thesis structure and organization, conducting a comprehensive literature review, and utilizing reference management software to efficiently collect, organize, cite, and share research sources. 

Moreover, students acquired essential skills in delivering a persuasive dissertation speech, accompanied by well-designed slides that effectively integrate textual content and multimedia elements to support their final presentation. 

This comprehensive preparation equipped students with the necessary tools and competencies to excel in their research and effectively communicate their findings during their bachelor thesis defense. 

MENTORSHIP

Throughout my career as a professor of architecture, I have mentored undergraduate thesis projects focused on the preservation, documentation, and interpretation of built heritage. These works have explored topics such as heritage information management with a preventive conservation approach, digital graphic documentation of national and local monuments, and the application of photogrammetry, CAD systems, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as tools for urban analysis and management.

A recurring area of study has been the Vista Alegre district in Santiago de Cuba, examined through its urban and architectural evolution, the impacts on its built heritage, and virtual reconstruction efforts. These mentoring experiences have fostered critical thinking and technical skills among students, equipping them to address contemporary challenges in heritage conservation through innovative and context-sensitive approaches.