Abstract:

Interdisciplinary built projects involving specialists from different countries and a growing number of opportunities for architects to work abroad have increased the importance of introducing students in American architecture schools to international building culture and professional practice environments. Travel has traditionally been regarded as an essential means to broaden knowledge of architecture but recent advances in visualization and communication technology are helping to introduce a new generation of student travelers to the possibilities of global practice. International design studios, often sponsored by multinational corporations or development groups, have recently become popular additions to curricula in architecture schools, and students may be offered a choice of several such courses with projects based in foreign countries during a given semester. To assess the potential impact of new technologies on the structure and learning environments of international design studio courses, this paper will analyze a series of international design studios focused on the rehabilitation of degraded water sources in major Latin American cities as catalysts of community and ecological renewal, presenting significant opportunities for urban transformation along with the formidable environmental challenges.

Keywords:

Education, Architecture, Global Context, New Technologies, Latin America.