Page 82 - AEI Insights 2019 - Vol. 5, Issue 1

AEI Insights, Vol 5, Issue 1, 2019

Photo 5: It was a great day at Viana, at the Santa Luzia archaeological site with Gabriel Silva the Heritage Centre
architect discussing about the ramps over the ruins solution for accessibility into heritage sites.

A post-graduate in Mantua
Pacilia was a recent architecture graduate from Universiti Malaya, who decided to go to Italy
because she always wanted to explore architecture conservation. It was an ideal opportunity to
obtain a master’s degree at the Politecnico di Milano (Milan Polytechnic), with a fellowship
supported by Erasmus Mundus for two years. The prospect was too good for her after working
for three years in a few architectural companies since graduation, a proper chance to study
again before doing her Part 3 exams in the future in order to be a professional architect.
Coincidentally, taking this break from the normal working life, she reflected that this was the
best point in her life to do this, with the right timing and moment, with no regrets, although
there were personal challenges from social and cultural aspects, which will be discussed later.

Mantua (Mantova) is an UNESCO town rich with architectural and historical significant
buildings such as Palazzo Te, the Duomo and the Basilica of Sant Andrea, and many other
examples of iconic architecture from the Renaissance period. Although run by Politecnico di
Milano, the new masters of science program named ‘Architectural Design and History’ offers
“a study plan to train students to be cultured architects, well-aware of the historic and artistic
context in which they work as well as of the other cultural fields”( Politecnico di Milano, 2018).
Regarding ‘learning’, Pacilia remarked on how complexly the subjects of studio. The two years
program covered Architecture Design in Heritage Context, History of Architecture, Urban and
Landscape Design Studio, Building and Construction Techniques, Sustainability and Built
Environment, Urban Preservation Law and Policies, Museography, Design Thesis Work and
Internship for 3 months. The program also included a visit to FAUP and Porto.
One of the subject is, architecture heritage design studio which is using a new novel approach.
The study sites were historical places related to the history of Mantua. The tutors decided to
use the existing buildings, which is then critically analysed and studied to be preserved, for the
adaptive re-use approach in the studio projects, which includes studying details of significant
arch ways, rooms, other features, fresco and materials. This first-hand method requires the
student to review the process of building by thinking what comes first, gradually, where for an
opening for example, a ‘window arch’ construction process. Pacilia noted that she was taught

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