Teaching assistant for architectural and urban design studio at Politecnico di Milano

Qian Liu served as a teaching assistant for the Master’s level course ‘Thematic Studio (Section E) - Architectural and Urban Design’ at Politecnico di Milano. This course was designed for international students, including students from Italy, Spain, Turkey, China, Armenia, etc., and was conducted in English. Qian Liu held this position in the fall of 2021 and again in the fall of 2022.

In the fall of 2021, due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the teaching method was hybrid. It transitioned to in-person instruction in the fall of 2022, which allowed students to conduct more effective on-site surveys of the design sites.

The course focused on architectural and urban design. The course content centred on the urban regeneration of the historic centre of Meda, Italy, and the urban regeneration of the historic centre of Ganzhou, China. Students were given the choice between these two sites for their projects.

Instruction emphasised the reading and rewriting of historical urban morphology and the revitalisation of emptied historical centres through the creation of high-quality urban public spaces and architecture that aligned with the urban context. The course also placed importance on energy sustainability, including building thermal environment simulation, and heritage preservation methods and techniques, such as decay identification and fixation.

Qian Liu’s responsibilities as a teaching assistant included reviewing the design work of each group, leading on-site surveys, and helping to organise class sessions and exams, prepare the course curriculum, and gather necessary graphical and textual materials for students’ design projects.

Qian Liu’s broader teaching philosophy, which informed his approach in this role, prioritises fostering an environment where students develop critical and creative thinking, proactively seek out resources, and receive constructive feedback. He believes in guiding students to actively construct their understanding rather than passively absorb information and strives to create an inclusive classroom culture that respects individual differences and diverse learning styles.

Examples of students’ works:

Example 1

Student group: Y. Xiong，J. Wen，J. Lu，Z. Huang，X. Huang
The Ganzhou case: Urban regeneration of Nanshijie Historical District, Ganzhou
2021 Fall semester

Example 2

Student group: S. Abad, A. Gaviria, K. Lyson, L. Zabolski
The Meda case: Revitalisation of the ‘Lacuna’ courtyards in the historical centre of Meda, Italy
2021 Fall semester

Example 3

Student group: M. C. Behr, Q. Bao, X. He
The Meda case: Reusing the built heritage of Palazzo Mascheroni, Meda, Italy
2021 Fall semester

Example 4

Student group: M. I. R. Bravo, L. Mazzi, W. Feng
The Meda case: Revitalisation of the ‘Lacuna’ courtyards in the historical centre of Meda, Italy
2022 Fall semester