Kent State University, Florence Program CAED, in partnership with California State University, Florence Program and with the Università degli Studi di Firenze | Dipartimento di Architettura, will host a book presentation on Wednesday November 25 at 4:30 pm: Elena Barthel, author of the book “Rural Studio at Twenty”, will talk about the legendary didactic experience started by charismatic architect Samuel Mockbee. For two decades, the students of Auburn University’s Rural Studio have designed and built remarkable houses and community buildings for impoverished residents of Alabama’s Hale County, one of the poorest in the nation.

Elena Barthel will converse with Giacomo Pirazzoli, architect and professor at the Università degli Studi di Firenze | Dipartimento di Architettura, and with Richard Ingersoll, architectural historian. Marco Brizzi, professor at both California State University and Kent State University Florence programs, will introduce the guests.