PANAYIOTA PYLA / TEACHING
Architecture and Ecology (AΡΗ 412, 5 ECTS / 511, 8 ECTS)
UCY, Department of Architecture
Little Red Hood in a future Nature. Student poster commenting on course readings discussing changing perceptions of nature.
The main objective of the course is for students to develop tools for critical thinking and to become aware of the socio-political dimension of environmental strategies. How have concepts of “nature” and “environment” influenced architectural thought and practice? Definitions of “nature”, “natural resources”, “resource conservation”, “environmental sensitivity”, “sustainability” and “sustainable development” are analyzed critically through their specific histories. This historytheory of architecture course situates the development of ecological awareness, debate and practice in architecture within the larger historical and theoretical context of modern architecture. It covers topics from 19th Century back-to-nature movements, to early 20th century community experiments, to mid-twentieth century debates on science, technology, urbanization, postcolonial modernization, and international development, all of which resonate with today's debates on environmental responsibility, and shaped current notions of eco-development, green architecture, sustainability, etc. During the course the focus is on the relationships between specific concepts of nature and ecology and specific design or urban planning practices. This requires students to sharpen their critical tools and develop the ability to "read between the lines" concerning various speculations/ rhetoric about the environment. [PDF20 / PDF17]
Pilot version offered in Spring 2010.
Social Magnitudes of Architecture (APH 211, 5 ECTS)
UCY, Department of Architecture
Required, sophomore-level undergraduate course in lecture/seminar format examining the socio-political dimensions of modern and contemporary architecture. Combining lectures with a critical reading of texts and group discussions, the course demonstrates the entanglement of architecture with such issues as the dynamics of public-private space, relationships of built and natural environments, power structures, and gender issues. The ultimate goal is to cultivate students' analytical abilities and intellectual tools for critical thinking. Students research projects examine buildings, settlements, development projects, a variety of technological and environmental strategies, and the particular socio-cultural agendas intertwined within them.
Pilot version offered in Spring 2007.
Student drawings analysing gentrification processes in Limassol.
History of Architecture II (APH 210, 5 ECTS)
UCY, Department of Architecture
Le Corbusier and Neoptolemos Michaelides, Circa 1950
Required, sophomore-level course offering an overview of influential concepts and paradigmatic developments in architecture and urbanism from the Enlightenment to mid-20th C. Lectures and class discussions focus on key figures, events, buildings, projects and texts representative of important historical currents. The course focuses not only on buildings but also on the larger historical, cultural, political and intellectual contexts within which architectural ideas emerge. The main objective of the course is to install a historical and cultural understanding of what "modern" is about, considering also the concepts of "modernity", "Modernism"and "modernization."The course underlines the importance of historical/ theoretical rigor in the education of the architect.
Pilot version offered in Fall 2007.
Contemporary Architecture - History and Theory (APH 310, 5 ECTS)
UCY, Department of Architecture
Required, junior-level undergraduate course in lecture/seminar format introducing students to key theoretical debates in architecture from postmodernism to the present, aiming to provide the historical and theoretical context for contemplating today's theory ad practice. The course combines topics from architectural theory, critical historiography of modern architecture and cultural criticism. Selected topics covered: Architecture and mass-culture; Architecture and language; Phenomenology and tectonics; Architecture and bigness; Informationa era and its impacts; Politics of representation; Ideology of tradition; Gender politics; Architecture and ecology; Architecture and globalization. Class discussions moved from the decent past to contemporary realities uncovering key historical references to today's architectural debates. The course is offered in the fifth semester of undergraduate studies. Taught 2007-2010 (25-30 students)
Pilot version offered in Fall 2007. (Approx. 26 students per semester).
Architecture Theory and Culture, 1950-90 (Arch 577)
UIUC, School of Architecture, Fall 2004 and Fall 2005
Ph.D.-level seminar based on a critical review of selected texts, interpretations, and scholarly traditions that influenced architectural culture in second half of 20th Century. (10 students)
Architecture and the History of Environmental Awareness (Arch 301PP)
UIUC, School of Architecture, Spring 2003
Dual-level senior and graduate course in lecture/seminar format examining the history and politics of environmentalism and relationships to architectural thought and practice. (5 students)
Architecture and Tourism / Design Studio (Arch 372)
UIUC, School of Architecture, Spring 2003
Senior level design studio examining architectural strategies for eco-tourism. Students shaped the program as part of their design explorations into the relationships of built-natural world. (19 students)
Twentieth Century Urbanism (component of studio Arch 374)
UIUC, School of Architecture, 2005
Lecture series to support Urban Design Studio, in collaboration with a team of five instructors. (60 students)
Architectural Design and the Landscape / Design Studio (ARCH 271): Nature Center for Kickapoo State Park
UIUC, School of Architecture, 2003 and 2005
Sophomore-level design studio; (19 students)
¬One student Earl Prize winner, 2005: E.Y. Koo (‘Earl prizes’ were awarded annually to the best undergraduate projects; a total of 3 prizes were awarded to a class of 60 students/4 instructors)
¬Two students Earl Prize winners, 2003: R. Dick & J. Eaton (a total of 3 Earl prizes were awarded to a class of 60 students/4 instructors)
Twentieth Century Urbanism (component of studio Arch 374)
UIUC, School of Architecture, 2005
Architectural Design and the Landscape / Design Studio (Arch 271): Retreat
UIUC, School of Architecture, 2002
Lecture series to support Urban Design Studio, in collaboration with a team of five instructors. (60 students)
Junior level Studio co-taught with team of 4 instructors. (Pyla section: 21 students)
Architecture and the City / Design Studio (Arch272)
UIUC, School of Architecture, 2002
Multiuse Campustown Junior level Studio. (16 students)
Advising for PhD Theses (as main advisor) at UCY and UIUC
-
Danai Zacharia, PhD student, 2020-present.
-
Michael, Stavroula. “Water of Peace: Water Politics and Landscape Development in Postcolonial Cyprus.” PhD diss., University of Cyprus, in progress.
-
Daskalaki, Georgia. “The Architecture of Spa Towns: Health Politics, Identity and Modernity in Greece, 1890-1940.” PhD diss., University of Cyprus, expected December 2021.
¬Scholarship for Doctoral Studies, Cyprus Ministry of Education, 2017-18
¬Doctoral Student Fellowship, University of Cyprus, 2015-16
¬First Prize in International Competition, for the design of the Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Cyprus, 2018
-
Johnson-Roehr, Susan. “The Spatialization of Knowledge and Power at the Astronomical Observatories of Sawai Jai Singh II, 1721–1743 CE.” Ph.D. diss., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, May 2011.
¬ Communications Director, Ann Beha Architects, Boston.
¬ Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship;
¬Social Science Research Council International Dissertation Research Fellowship, 2008-2009.
-
Gurel, Meltem. “Domestic Space, Modernity, and Identity: The Apartment in Mid-20th Century Turkey.” Ph.D. diss., University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2007.
¬ Professor, Yasar University Department of Architecture.
Advising for PhD Theses (as reader) at UCY and overseas
-
Christodoulou, Rafaella. “O Δημόσιος Χώρος ως Πεδίο Αστικού Διαχωρισμού: Η περίπτωση του παραλιακού μετώπου της Λεμεσού.” [Public Space as a Field of Urban Segregation: The case of Limassol's waterfront] PhD diss., University of Cyprus, in progress.
-
Kyriazis, George. “Epistemology and Perception.” PhD diss., University of Cyprus, in progress.
-
Costi, Maria. “Adobe Bricks: From Built Heritage to Contemporary Sustainable Architecture.” PhD diss., University of Cyprus, in progress.
-
Sioulas, Michalis. “Ορυχεία και Company Towns: Ένα Σύνολο Παράλληλων Τόπων Εργασίας και Κατοίκησης την Περίοδο της Αποικιοκρατίας στην Κύπρο.” [Mines and Company Towns: Places of work and living in Colonial Cyprus] PhD diss., National Technical University of Athens, September 2020.
-
Parpa, Despoina. “Empirical evidence of a successful, sustainable-driven adaptive reuse: A multiple linear regression approach.” PhD diss.,University of Cyprus, March 2019.
-
Shiantou, Emily. “Modern Schools in Larnaca: A value-based approach to modern architectural heritage in Cyprus.” PhD diss., University of Westminster, March 2019.
-
Anaxagorou, Glykeria. “Everyday Public Spaces in Urban Neighborhoods: The Case of Limassol.” PhD diss., University of Cyprus, February 2019.
-
Phokaides, Petros. “‘Doxiadis Αssociates’ Spatial Visions for Postcolonial Africa: The Rural in Development.” PhD diss., National Technical University of Athens (Advisor: P. Tournikiotis), December 2018.
-
Kalnis, Gregory. “Urban Design as Open Source.” PhD diss., University of Cyprus, (Advisor: P. S. Stratis), 2016.
-
Lefteris, Theodosis. “Victory Over Chaos? Constantinos A. Doxiadis and Ekistics 1945-1975.” PhD diss., Departament de Composició Arquitectònica Escola Tècnica Superior d’Arquitectura de Barcelona, Universitat Politècnica de Cataluny, Barcelona (Director: Manuel Guardia Bassols, Co-director: José Luís Oyón), 2015.
Advising for Diploma Theses (as main advisor) at UCY and overseas