Educational project
La volta catalana - Workshop in cooperazione
SUPSI Image Focus
The Cooperation Workshop takes place in Ethiopia, lasts two weeks, and in its 2025 edition involved 14 students from two different degree programs. This year, the workshop focused on the Catalan vault, constructed by applying the concept of appropriate technology.
The WoCo 2025 Workshop concentrated on building a Catalan vault: a roof structure that can be created using simple tiles laid in a herringbone pattern, arranged in three overlapping layers. The project was developed by 14 SUPSI students enrolled in Architecture and Visual Communication programs, in collaboration with 14 Ethiopian students from the faculties of Architecture and Engineering.
The construction, measuring 3.5 x 3.5 meters, includes a masonry base and a vault made of cement tiles. The vault was built on a site at Hawassa University, designated as an exhibition space for all future WoCo projects, with the aim of presenting them to the student community as examples and inspiration for sustainable projects suited to the local context.
The construction, measuring 3.5 x 3.5 meters, includes a masonry base and a vault made of cement tiles. The vault was built on a site at Hawassa University, designated as an exhibition space for all future WoCo projects, with the aim of presenting them to the student community as examples and inspiration for sustainable projects suited to the local context.
SUPSI Image Focus
Drawings
SUPSI Image Focus
Construction site - phase 1: pillars (photo by Arianna Copa)
SUPSI Image Focus
Construction site - phase 2: arches (photo by Arianna Copa)
SUPSI Image Focus
Construction site - phase 3: wooden structure (photo by Arianna Copa)
SUPSI Image Focus
Construction site - phase 4: vault (photo by Arianna Copa)
SUPSI Image Focus
Construction site - phase 5: completed construction (photo by Arianna Copa)
SUPSI Image Focus
Group photo