Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 413-442).

The main goal of this project is to achieve successful architecture regarding its creativity and authenticity. It is always the content, not the aesthetic, that forms the basis for the final evaluation of design. Thus, the main intention is to bring together -in a design- issues from three different circumstances: the 'present' situation -a personal view of femininity and women's permanency in dwelling, the 'past' cultural background -tradition in the "porteria" culture- and its evolution and the 'future' possible direction of society -the critical innovative thought through the project. The reaching of the 'concept' in the architecture makes a design authentic. "True architecture does not just agree with [essence] but also asserts the agreement." (Kaersten Harries, Representation and Re-presentation in Architecture, 1988). Ludwig Wittgenstein, an Austrian philosopher of the 1940's, defines architecture as the 'innovative critical thought' of a given situation summarized in a concept -idea, emotion, intention- which is translated and transformed into visual representation to be understood by the designer, and then communicated and shared with society."Remember the impression one gets from good architecture;that it expresses a thought "(Ludwig Wittgenstein, 1940's)The proposed approach concerns itself with the idea of un-veiling and re-vealing the hidden knowledge in the design actions that architects make in their search for realization. These actions are both conscious and unconscious, where accidents also occur allowing for the limitlessness characteristic of the design process. In this way, the objective of this journey of exploration is to find and visualize those steps that architects take while designing. The process of design is very rich in options and in alternatives. It is also rich in its detours and deviations. When all the stages are seen and visualized to the point of bringing them into the consciousness, the design in itself becomes richer and is taken to a further and more profound definition.The underlying ideas of the creative thesis is segmented into attitudes that give shape to the final project. Each attitude is a constituent concept of the end design. The blending and fusion of these diverse issues are perceptible in the final venture. These components begin appearing with the first attempt, evolve in the next various undertakings, and are finally intertwined in the last design."To explain howsbvctures come to hare specific designs[..) we must examine the design process. In particular, we mustidentify thegeneral causal factors (and their inteffeladonsfirp) that influence the decisions leadingto the designs for specific structures " (McGuire & Schiffer, 1938)The following is an enumeration of the attitudes or 'casual factors' that create the basis for the decisions taken along the design process. The basic foundation is the urbanity, the framework or system where the project takes place. This element comprises the urban context and the history of the place which eventually become the rules -the limits- set by the environment. The idea of dwelling also comes into play suggesting the need of permanency and the understanding of the concept of living and inhabiting a space. Next, the feminine component acts as a basis for reflections on femininity, where protection, subtlety and sensuality play important roles. This feminine attitude is carried not only thematically but also architecturally. Also, the culture is important in regards to tradition and contemporaneousness. The fact that the site is situated in Buenos Aires -Argentina- implies an understanding of its people and the values of its culture. Finally, the architectural component establishes personal beliefs toward architecture and the role of the architect in society along with the personal ability to realize the design. All these attitudes fuse together to become the final project: a house for a woman in Buenos Aires.In this way, the challenge is to work with and within the different limits and find the inherent freedom. "Architects are able to creatively play with these limitations and still achieve great responses to both their own intentions and today's society's needs" (previous research). This search carries various decisions regarding a balanced 'giving and taking', and a great deal of creativity. Certainly, it is in the creative 'way-finding' that architecture can express itself most gracefully and truthful. In conclusion, in this project there are limits regarding the contextual issues, rules and norms (urbanity), society's needs and beliefs (women issues), cultural constraints (tradition) and the architect's social responsibilities. In spite of these limitations and thanks to them, the intention is to 'seek for a solution' manipulating and creatively handling these limitations to achieve an architectural artifact. / Department of Architecture

Par le biais d’une recherche-action participative portant sur trois études de cas, le présent document identifie des effets écologiques, sociaux et économiques, de même que des facteurs pouvant faciliter ou entraver l’implication des communautés locales et autochtones dans la planification et la gestion des aires protégées. La thèse visait à comprendre les réticences à la mise en pratique des recommandations internationales des vingt-cinq dernières années concernant cette implication. À cette fin, la recherche porte sur l’élaboration du premier plan de gestion de trois aires protégées situées au Costa Rica, présentant des caractéristiques écologiques, sociales et économiques assez singulières : un volcan devenu actif entouré d’une communauté majoritairement agricole, un territoire ancestral autochtone et une chaîne de montagnes dans la zone métropolitaine de la capitale du pays. Nous constatons que l’implication des communautés locales multiplie les effets positifs pour chacune des dimensions (écologique, sociale et économique), peu importe les particularités et le type de propriété des terres (publique, privée ou mixte) des aires protégées au moment de l’élaboration des plans de gestion. L’approche associant la recherche à l’action fait émerger des processus collaboratifs dans une dynamique d’apprentissage collectif, à partir de besoins communs identifiés par les communautés locales et les administrateurs des aires protégées. Par le travail conjoint, la recherche-action participative soutient tous les acteurs dans l’acquisition ou l’amélioration de capacités, puisqu’elle : facilite l’accès aux services des différents secteurs gouvernementaux ou paragouvernementaux; suscite l'intérêt et bâtit la confiance entre les acteurs; légitime la variété des savoirs en combinant les connaissances locales et scientifiques; assure la restitution au niveau local des résultats des travaux de recherche; et ; valorise la relation des communautés locales avec le territoire habité. Cette implication est un moyen efficace pour les communautés de bâtir sur leurs connaissances et leur savoir-faire de même que sur ce qu'elles ont déjà entrepris pour préserver leur identité, leur culture, leurs modes de vie et la diversité des ressources naturelles dont elles dépendent. Les effets se traduisent pour tous par : une meilleure connaissance du territoire lors de la planification; une communauté locale mieux organisée pour les actions planifiées, et ; la mise en place de pratiques économiques plus diversifiées et respectueuses de l’environnement pouvant s’inscrire dans la durée. En conséquence, ces processus participatifs suscitent l’appropriation des actions de conservation et de mise en valeur du territoire écologique chez les communautés locales et attirent une plus grande diversité des moyens de subsistance de même que des sources de financement. L’amélioration de la qualité de vie humaine liée à la conservation de la biodiversité requiert la contribution de divers secteurs et de différents niveaux politiques, impliquant les communautés locales dans une dynamique horizontale pour œuvrer au bien commun. L’approche de type recherche-action participative constitue une méthodologie efficace pour initier et construire une concertation structurante de la planification et de la gestion des territoires. L’existence ou, à défaut, la mise en place de plateformes multisectorielles, - alliant les secteurs gouvernementaux, organisations non gouvernementales, institutions de recherche ou d’enseignement, communautés locales, etc. -, consolide la planification et la gestion participative du territoire. Ce « travail ensemble » produit des résultats collectivement plus significatifs que les efforts conduits individuellement par les chercheurs, gouvernements ou politiques internationales, mais requiert le soutien de ces derniers pour se propager. À l’intérieur d’un schéma de gestion intégrée du territoire, une aire protégée peut devenir le noyau autour duquel s’installe un mouvement collaboratif entre divers acteurs au niveau local, national et international, qui se partagent les responsabilités selon leurs mandats respectifs, créent des outils et mobilisent les ressources vers la conservation de manière juste et équitable avec une incidence légale et politique. / Through a participatory research-action on three case studies, this analysis identifies ecological, social and economic effects, as well as factors that could facilitate or hinder the involvement of local and indigenous communities in the planning and management of protected areas. The thesis sought to understand the reluctance, in the last 25 years, to implement international recommendations. In order to do so, the research focuses on the development of the initial management plan of three protected areas located in Costa Rica, with specific ecological, social, and economic characteristics: an active volcano surrounded by a predominantly farming community, a traditional Aboriginal territory, and a mountain range in the metropolitan area of the country's capital. We conclude that local communities involvement during the preparation and implementation of management plans results in a multiplication of positive effects for each dimension (ecological, social and economic), regardless of the particularities and type of land ownership (public, private or mixed) of protected areas. When linking research to action, collaborative processes emerge in a collective learning dynamic pertaining to the needs identified by local communities and protected areas managers. Participatory action-research, through a joint effort, supports all participants in the acquisition or improvement of capacity, by: facilitating the access to various sectors of governmental or paragovernmental services; developing the interest and building of trust between the parties involved; recognizing the diversity of information by combining local and scientific knowledge; ensuring the restitution of the research results at the local level; and; respecting the relationship of local communities with the inhabited territory. Adding to what they have already undertaken to preserve their identity, their culture, their way of life and the diversity of the natural resources on which they depend, this involvement is an effective way for communities to build on their knowledge and skills. For all involved, this results in: a better knowledge of the territory during the planning; a local community better organised for the planned actions; and ; the implementation of more diverse and environmentally respectful economical practices envisioning the long term. Consequently, these participatory processes give rise in local communities ownership of conservation and value of the ecological territory while sustaining a greater diversity of livelihoods as well as attracting sources of funding. The improvement of the quality of life related to the conservation of biodiversity requires the contribution from various sectors and different levels, involving local communities in a horizontal dynamic to work towards the common good. The approach of the participatory research-action is an effective methodology to initiate and build a structuring interaction for the planning and management of territories. The existence, or the establishment of multisectorial support platforms, combining governmental sectors, non-governmental organizations, research and educational institutions, local communities, etc., consolidates participatory land planning and management. This 'work together' approach collectively produces more significant results than the efforts individually conducted by researchers, governments or international policies : however, the support and influence of all are equally required to attain common objectives. Inside an integrated management of the territory blueprint, a protected area may become the nucleus around which settles a collaborative movement between various actors at the local, national and international levels which share responsibilities according to their respective mandates, creating the tools and the mobilization of resources towards a fair and equitable conservation with a legal and political impact.

Texte remanié de: Thèse de doctorat--Paris--EHESS, 1996.

"Argentina: El espacio urbano y la narrativa fi­lmica de los ultimos anos" fills a void in the extant body of criticism on New Argentine Cinema of the 1980s and 1990s. While much as been done on the thematics and aesthetics of this body of work little has been produced in the way of studying the relationship between film form and urban process in the way Laura Podalsky does in her ground breaking study of a previous period in Specular City: Transforming Culture, Consumption and Space in Buenos Aires. More than just beginning where Podalsky ends, this work aims to provide with a more thorough on-going analysis of how the urban process in Buenos Aires influences the cartographic imaginary of a number of important film makers. Additionally, it draws together the work of important spatial theorists such as Jameson, Davis, Smith and especially Harvey. Moreover, it incorporates the concepts of film theorist David Bordwell to demonstrate how urban issues permeate the thematics and structure of the films that are analyzed.While addressing the previous points, this work also helps to modify the perspective in which the current canon of critical review portrays the cinematographic movement referred to as the New Argentine Cinema. Until now there were two main ideas about the new movement that were shared by the majority of critics. The first one makes reference to the lack of common elements among directors and films associated with the current. The second notion is that the directors of the New Argentina Cinema movement, in contrast to those from 1960's, do not align themselves politically to either side and that apathy is reflected in their films.Throughout the chapters of this work it is successfully proven that the directors of the New Argentine Cinema are amalgamated with a common theme, which is the representation of the relationship between urban spaces, either physical or intangible, throughout the majority of their films. In addition, the second conceptual hypothesis is also proven correct by demonstrating that directors in fact align themselves politically and that their views are reflected in their films.

Inaug.-diss.--Frankfurt a.M. / Lebenslauf. "Literaturverzeichnis": p. 88-95.

Zugl.: Berlin, Freie Univ., Diss., 2008

Thèse (M.Sc.)--Université de Sherbrooke (Canada), 2008. / Titre de l'écran-titre (visionné le 10 sept. 2009). In ProQuest dissertations and theses. Publié aussi en version papier.

Inaug.-diss.--Frankfurt a.M. / Lebenslauf. "Literaturverzeichnis": p. 88-95.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-29T14:11:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_3645_.pdf: 585525 bytes, checksum: 85e68a2a712e44f1e4d292a51e3ae1fa (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-12-11 / Comumente lembrado como o último romance, o canto do cisne do bruxo do Cosme Velho, o Memorial de Aires, de Machado de Assis, contou, na sua história de leituras, com um acentuado tom biografizante. Entretanto, com o passar do tempo,outros vieses foram ganhando lugar na crítica, apontando para uma obra que, longe de ser simples ocaso, levantava ainda questões importantes, como o papel do leitor, os interstícios da autoria e da narração, e as aproximações possíveis entre literatura e história. Assim, a leitura a que se propõe este estudo do Memorial de Aires filia-se à corrente crítica representada por Roberto Schwarz e John Gledson, isto é, tem como objetivo refletir sobre a obra do escritor em relação às questões de seu tempo e seu país. Mais precisamente, visa a ler os escritos do conselheiro Aires com a mesma desconfiança que teríamos com os de Brás Cubas e Bentinho. É dessa maneira que o diário íntimo do diplomata aposentado, interessado aparentemente nos fatos mais comezinhos da vida doméstica, mostra-se não de todo desarticulado da esfera pública. De fato, o fim da instituição da escravidão é um dos assuntos do romance, que se passa entre 1888 e 1889. E se o velho diarista não dá a devida atenção ao fato, comentando mesmo que há muitos outros assuntos mais interessantes no mundo, é preciso saber ler suas observações enquanto representante da ideologia comum à classe da qual fazia parte, a senhorial. Aires, assim, acaba por reproduzir no seu discurso um modo de ser que talvez não seja mais que uma variante da teoria da ponta do nariz, de Brás Cubas. Comedido, cético, bom ouvinte, ele, ainda assim, ajuda a escrever uma história em que os escravos não desejam se afastar da sinhazinha Fidélia por se sentirem cativos de seu afeto. Enquanto, possivelmente, apenas temiam ser abandonados à míngua ou à própria sorte.