D1. Knowledge and Understanding: By the end of the course, students will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of the main phenomenological perspectives on architectural form, spatial perception, and dwelling, with particular attention to the postmodern city and the digital dimension. D2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding: By the end of the course, students will be able to apply the concepts examined to case studies, including buildings, urban spaces, and digital environments. D3. Making Judgments: By the end of the course, students will be able to critically discuss the evolution of the postmodern city and develop independent reflections on dwelling and on the relationship between architecture and digital transformation. D4. Communication Skills: By the end of the course, students will be able to present content clearly, both orally and in writing, making use of appropriate disciplinary terminology. D5. Learning Skills: By the end of the course, students will be able to independently deepen their understanding of the topics covered, through engagement with bibliographic and online resources, as well as relevant national and international case studies.

No specific prerequisites are required. The key concepts will be introduced and explained during the lectures, ensuring that the course is accessible also to students without a prior background in philosophy.

COURSE TITLE: Dwelling in the Postmodern City in the Digital Age This course adopts a critical and theoretical approach to the transformation of the postmodern city, focusing on perceptual processes within architecture and on the evolving experience of dwelling in hybrid environments shaped by the emergence of digital technologies. Engaging with seminal phenomenological texts—from Rudolf Arnheim to Martin Heidegger, from Maurice Merleau-Ponty to Steven Holl—the course undertakes a critical inquiry into the meaning of dwelling, emphasizing its grounding in corporeality and in the perception of space and visual forms. The trajectory culminates in a reflection on the pervasiveness of the digital and the redefined conditions of dwelling in the era of artificial intelligence.

- Rudolf Arnheim, La dinamica della forma architettonica, Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2019, Introduction and Chap. 1, plus a chapter chosen by the student. - Floriana Ferro, Fenomenologia del digitale. Corpi e dimensioni al tempo dell’intelligenza artificiale, Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2024, Chaps. 1-3. - Martin Heidegger, “Costruire, abitare, pensare”, in Saggi e discorsi, Mursia, Milano 1976, pp. 96-108. - Steven Holl, Parallax. Architettura e percezione, Postmedia, Milano 2004. - Maurice Merleau-Ponty, L’occhio e lo spirito, SE, Milano 1989.

The postmodern city is not only the result of economic and social processes, but also of perceptual, symbolic, and cultural transformations. Its form—often fragmented and polysemic—challenges our ways of seeing and inhabiting space. Phenomenology and Gestalt psychology have provided valuable tools for understanding how we perceive architecture and how we orient ourselves within urban environments. Authors such as Arnheim, Merleau-Ponty, and Heidegger have emphasized the centrality of perception, the body, and dwelling as interpretative keys to the architectural experience. Today, in the era of digital technologies and artificial intelligence, these reflections must engage with new conditions: hybrid spaces, augmented environments, and smart cities. Can we still speak of “dwelling” in the same way? What forms does the postmodern city take when its perception becomes entangled with digital tools? The course is divided into three parts, preceded by an introduction. The examination materials will consist of the texts listed below, complemented by course notes. Teaching will combine lectures supported by visual materials (presentations, images, and videos), debates on the themes addressed, and the analysis of specific cases of postmodern architecture. It is strongly recommended to wait until the first lecture before purchasing any materials. Examination Programme: Introduction Martin Heidegger, “Costruire, abitare, pensare”, in Saggi e discorsi, Mursia, Milano 1976, pp. 96-108. Floriana Ferro, Fenomenologia del digitale. Corpi e dimensioni al tempo dell’intelligenza artificiale, Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2024, Chap. 1. Part I: Perception and Form Rudolf Arnheim, La dinamica della forma architettonica, Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2019, Introduction and Chap. 1, plus a chapter chosen by the student. Maurice Merleau-Ponty, L’occhio e lo spirito, SE, Milano 1989. Part II: Postmodern Architecture and Perception Steven Holl, Parallax. Architettura e percezione, Postmedia, Milano 2004. Parte III: Dwelling in Mixed Dimensions Floriana Ferro, Fenomenologia del digitale. Corpi e dimensioni al tempo dell’intelligenza artificiale, Mimesis, Milano-Udine 2024, Chaps. 2-3. Examination Method: The oral examination will begin with the presentation of a topic chosen by the student among those discussed during the course. This will be followed by open-ended questions on the texts and topics covered. Particular emphasis will be placed on the student’s ability to establish connections among the texts and to apply the concepts to case studies. With regard to Arnheim’s text, in addition to the Introduction and ch. 1 covered in class, each student must choose one additional chapter focused on a specific aspect of architectural form. The final grade will be based on both class participation and the oral examination.

Lectures supported by visual materials; participatory discussions; analysis of urban architectural case studies.

Additional bibliographic references will be provided during the course, and teaching materials will be made available on the university Moodle (http://moodle2.units.it) or Microsoft Teams platforms. The instructor is available for appointments and can be contacted for clarifications or questions at the institutional e-mail address florianagiuseppinamaria.ferro@dia.units.it or at florianagmferro@gmail.com

Learning assessment will take place through an oral examination consisting of: a) the presentation of a topic chosen by the student; b) open-ended questions; c) a general discussion on the themes of the course.

This course contributes to the achievement of the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN 2030 Agenda): Goal 4: Quality Education Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities