In a move he says will "advance the craft of architecture," celebrity architect Rafael Viñoly has launched a tuition-free training and research program aimed at students and teachers of architecture, as well as practicing architects.
The 14-week training program, based out of Viñoly's New York office, will focus on bridging the "significant gap" between the nature of formative instruction in architecture schools and the requirements of the professional field, according to Viñoly. Organized into three phases, the classes will address the nature of the architectural commission, the design process, and the mechanics of implementation.
Many of the classes will be taught by Viñoly himself. Senior members of his staff, as well as leading practitioners from other architecture firms, will also lead discussions. The firm is accepting 15 students for the training program, which begins in September 2005.
$60K in fellowship grants
The firm has concurrently kicked off a fellowship grant program that offers up to $60,000 for individuals to research and develop ideas related to the practice of architecture, but "independent of any particular building project," said Jay Bargmann, VP with Rafael Viñoly Architects. Potential areas of research: design methods, construction technology, design representation and fabrication, materials technology, and sustainable design.
Fellows will spend up to a year at Viñoly's studio, where they can interact with staff members and test their ideas against the firm's current projects.
Applications for both programs are due July 1, 2005. For more information, visit www.rvatr.com.
