The Future Role of Travel in the Traditional Travel Studio: Lessons from the Pandemic

Abstract

How would the travel studio experience differ if it were no longer based on physical immersion?

Travel remains at the core of architectural education for many undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Pedagogy that mimics the cultural enrichment that results from immersion is needed to serve future generations of architectural students impacted by environmental shifts and unforeseen epidemics that limit mobility. However, not much has been publicly presented regarding the outputs and experiences teaching travel studios remotely. As an alternative to traditional travel studios that often result in limited participation and are not suitable for times of uncertainty, border restrictions, and financial insecurity, the objective of this work is to assess the effectiveness of remote teaching methods in imparting cultural enrichment comparable to traditional immersive travel studios. The methodology involves the collection and analysis of student design projects from two undergraduate and graduate travel studios impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated travel restrictions in 2020-2023.

The goal is to reimagine the travel studio as one that aims to rediscover local communities from marginalized perspectives. Students devised strategies and innovative design solutions reflecting an understanding of culture and contributing to a retelling of notable heritage sites with conflicted histories. Outcomes highlight opportunities for 1) the use of cultural mediators from marginalized communities to substitute ethnographic research ensuring accurate representation, 2) embodied experiences through games to enhance cultural understanding, 3) entry points for immersive technology and 4) improved strategies to utilize cultural precedents. The design research shown here is a work in progress, aiming to develop a curricular model that substitutes in-person experiences without compromising quality. The showcased work demonstrates how design studios can participate in historical retelling as a value substitute for immersive travel.