Lectures & Speaking Events

Lunch and Learn: The Future of Architecture

Upper St. Clair High School
10/08/2024 | 11:25am - 1:25pm

http://finalmove.com/lunch-and-learn-the-future-of-architecture/

Presentation to the students of Upper St. Clair High School, on the changes to the architectural profession from the integration of the computer in the 1990s to the current disruption by A.I. technology and the introduction of a wet lab into the practice.

Villa Vuoto – a manifesto

Carnegie Mellon University
03/13/2024 - 04/17/2024

http://finalmove.com/villa-vuoto-a-manifesto/

Matthew Schlueb presents his manifesto – Villa Vuoto, expanding on a lecture presented in 2016, this six part course will explore in more depth his practice in residential architecture through the example of his own house, designed and built two decades ago.

The End of Architecture – Part 2

University of Pittsburgh & Carnegie Mellon University
06/28/2023 - 08/02/2023 | 1pm - 2:30pm

http://finalmove.com/the-end-of-architecture-part-2/

An extension of a topic explored previously – The End of Architecture, this class is a continuation of a 2018 class, that ended with Philip Johnson’s Glass House (1949) and Rem Koolhaas’ Junkspace. Now at the end of the twentieth century, into the twenty-first, there is a decline of human centered architecture, into an amorphous, entropic, plasticity of contemporary space, disconnected, isolated, foreign to any natural or meaningful experience.

Career Day: Architect and Architecture

Pine Richland Middle School
03/24/2023 | 12:20pm - 2:20pm

http://finalmove.com/career-day-architect-and-architecture/

Presentation of the architectural profession to the seventh grade students of Pine Richland Middle School, providing insights into the design and construction of a suburban house, Matthew's graduate thesis work, and a glimpse into the future of architecture.

Five 20th Century Houses

University of Pittsburgh
08/30/2022 - 09/27/2022 | 10am - Noon

http://finalmove.com/five-20th-century-houses/

Architectural masterworks of the twentieth century, examining five houses built at the turn of the century, preludes to the Modern movement that would follow. Each lecture will focus on one house and the architect behind it, examining their schematic strategies, theoretic postulates, and material executions, pioneering the future of architecture.

Guastavino in Pittsburgh

Carnegie Mellon University
05/03/2022 - 06/07/2022 | 3:15pm - 4:45pm

http://finalmove.com/guastavino-in-pittsburgh/

Architect Rafael Guastavino and his son Rafael Jr. emigrated to the United States in 1881, bringing the traditional construction method of structural tile vaulting from their Catalan homeland, thereby transforming the architectural landscape from Boston to San Francisco. This course will examine their works in Pittsburgh, illustrating the vaults and domes made with structural tiles, innovations in thin shell construction, fire-proofing, metal reinforcing, herringbone patterns, skylighting, acoustical and polychromatic tiles.

Guastavino Structural Tile Vaulting in Pittsburgh: Decorative Innovations

University of Pittsburgh
04/13/2021 | 3pm - 4:30pm

http://finalmove.com/guastavino-structural-tile-vaulting-in-pittsburgh-decorative-innovations/

Rafael Guastavino and his son's decorative innovations with exposed brick finishes, dimensional relief, and mosaic mural tiles, using traditional Catalan cohesive construction methods with thin terracotta tiles.

Guastavino Structural Tile Vaulting in Pittsburgh: Engineering Innovations

University of Pittsburgh
04/06/2021 | 3pm - 4:30pm

http://finalmove.com/guastavino-structural-tile-vaulting-in-pittsburgh-engineering-innovations/

Rafael Guastavino and his son's engineering innovations with long span, thin shell, and double dome vaults, using traditional Catalan cohesive construction methods with thin terracotta tiles.

Guastavino Structural Tile Vaulting in Pittsburgh: Architectural Innovations

University of Pittsburgh
03/30/2021 | 3pm - 4:30pm

http://finalmove.com/guastavino-structural-tile-vaulting-in-pittsburgh-architectural-innovations/

Rafael Guastavino and his son's architectural innovations with vaults and domes, using traditional Catalan cohesive construction methods with thin terracotta tiles.

Guastavino Structural Tile Vaulting in Pittsburgh: Material Innovations

University of Pittsburgh
03/23/2021 | 3pm - 4:30pm

http://finalmove.com/guastavino-structural-tile-vaulting-in-pittsburgh-material-innovations/

Rafael Guastavino and his son's building science innovations with fireproofing, acoustics, thermal, weatherproofing, sanitation and daylighting, using traditional Catalan cohesive construction methods with thin terracotta tiles.

Guastavino Structural Tile Vaulting in Pittsburgh: From Valencia to New York

University of Pittsburgh
03/16/2021 | 3pm - 4:30pm

http://finalmove.com/guastavino-structural-tile-vaulting-in-pittsburgh-from-valencia-to-new-york/

Overview of the historical origins of structural tile vaulting and Rafael Guastavino's works in Spain, then New York and Boston after emigrating to the United States.

The Architecture Of Antoni Gaudí – Fluid Plasticity

Carnegie Mellon University
08/03/2020 | 3pm - 4:30pm

http://finalmove.com/the-architecture-of-antoni-gaudi-fluid-plasticity/

Gaudí’s warped form distortions weighted by metaphor, achieving compositional stability in convex inversions, realizing completely liberated living form.

The Architecture Of Antoni Gaudí – Illuminated Space

Carnegie Mellon University
07/27/2020 | 3pm - 4:30pm

http://finalmove.com/the-architecture-of-antoni-gaudi-illuminated-space/

Gaudí’s study of color and light in the ceramics and hyperboloid window stained glass.

The Architecture Of Antoni Gaudí – Equilibrated Structure

Carnegie Mellon University
07/20/2020 | 3pm - 4:30pm

http://finalmove.com/the-architecture-of-antoni-gaudi-equilibrated-structure/

Gaudí’s study of equilibrated structures in graphic statics and estereostatic model, discovering gravitational catenary curvatures and resultant inclined supports.

The Architecture Of Antoni Gaudí – Natural Form

Carnegie Mellon University
07/13/2020 | 3pm - 4:30pm

http://finalmove.com/the-architecture-of-antoni-gaudi-natural-form/

Gaudí’s study of natural form in flora and fauna, capturing gesture in the human body by modeling plaster casts of the anatomic skeletal frame, in developing sculptural figures articulating depth of visual perspective.

The Architecture Of Antoni Gaudí – Surface Ornament

Carnegie Mellon University
07/06/2020 | 3pm - 4:30pm

http://finalmove.com/the-architecture-of-antoni-gaudi-surface-ornament/

Gaudí’s experimentations with surface ornament and innovations repurposing discarded industrial materials, layering eclectic exotic mix of materials and textures, restoring handmade methods and Catalan culture.

The Architecture Of Antoni Gaudí – Parabolic Arc

Carnegie Mellon University
06/29/2020 | 3pm - 4:30pm

http://finalmove.com/the-architecture-of-antoni-gaudi-parabolic-arc/

Influence of Gaudí’s childhood and education on his association with the Mataró Workers Cooperative and patron industrialist Eusebi Güell.

Gaudí’s Bóvedas Tabicadas and Influence on the Architecture of Barcelona and Bilbao

University of Pittsburgh
06/18/2020 | 10am - 11:30am

http://finalmove.com/gaudis-influence-on-contemporary-architecture-bovedas-tabicadas/

An examination of Antoni Gaudí’s convex inversion of bóvedas tabicadas achieving compositional balance in the Colonia Güell Crypt, the Park Güell gatehouses, and Sagrada Familia Schools.

Gaudí’s Forma Deforma and Influence on the Architecture of Barcelona and Bilbao

University of Pittsburgh
06/11/2020 | 10am - 11:30am

http://finalmove.com/gaudis-influence-on-contemporary-architecture-forma-deforma/

An examination of Antoni Gaudí’s perverted distortions in warped form weighted by metaphor in the exterior façades and rooftops of Casa Batlló and Casa Milà.

Gaudí’s Estereostàtic and Influence on the Architecture of Barcelona and Bilbao

University of Pittsburgh
06/04/2020 | 10am - 11:30am

http://finalmove.com/gaudis-influence-on-contemporary-architecture-estereostatic/

An examination of Antoni Gaudí’s study of equilibrated structure in the inclined props and catenary curves of the Colonia Güell Church stereo-static model.

Gaudí’s Colades de Guix and Influence on the Architecture of Barcelona and Bilbao

University of Pittsburgh
05/28/2020 | 10am - 11:30am

http://finalmove.com/gaudis-influence-on-contemporary-architecture-colades-de-guix/

An examination of Antoni Gaudí’s plaster cast experiments with natural form, modeling the stone sculptures for the Sagrada Familia Nativity façade.

Gaudí’s Trencadís Mosaic and Influence on the Architecture of Barcelona and Bilbao

University of Pittsburgh
05/21/2020 | 10am - 11:30am

http://finalmove.com/gaudis-influence-on-contemporary-architecture-trencadis-mosaic/

An examination of Antoni Gaudí’s repurposing of discarded materials in the creation of trencadís mosaics on the parabolic form of rooftop lanterns and ventilators.

Barcelona and Bilbao Tour Presentation

University of Pittsburgh
02/17/2020 | 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

http://finalmove.com/barcelona-and-bilbao-tour-presentation/

A brief presentation of the architectural highlights for the tour Matthew will be leading to Barcelona and Bilbao in September 2020.

The Architecture of Antoni Gaudí: Sagrada

University of Pittsburgh
09/26/2019 | 1pm - 3pm

http://finalmove.com/the-architecture-of-antoni-gaudi-sagrada/

An examination of Gaudí’s masterwork the Sagrada Família and his search for a Living architecture.

The Architecture of Antoni Gaudí: Warped Edibles

University of Pittsburgh
09/19/2019 | 1pm - 3pm

http://finalmove.com/the-architecture-of-antoni-gaudi-warped-edibles/

An examination of Gaudí’s search for a plastic and continuous form, inspired by his experimentations with natural anatomic, flora and fauna in the Nativity façade of the Sagrada Familia.

The Architecture of Antoni Gaudí: Stereo-Statics

University of Pittsburgh
09/12/2019 | 1pm - 3pm

http://finalmove.com/the-architecture-of-antoni-gaudi-stereo-statics/

An examination of Gaudí’s experimentations with inverted tensiles and the catenary curve, in search of an equilibrated structure and the pursuit of complete architectural synthesis, illustrated in the use of the stereo-static model.

The Architecture of Antoni Gaudí: Trencadís

University of Pittsburgh
09/05/2019 | 1pm - 3pm

http://finalmove.com/the-architecture-of-antoni-gaudi-trencadis/

An examination of Gaudí’s relationship and collaboration with the premier industrialist Eusebi Güell, a merchant and patron of the arts.

The Architecture of Antoni Gaudí: Tabicadas

University of Pittsburgh
08/29/2019 | 1pm - 3pm

http://finalmove.com/the-architecture-of-antoni-gaudi-tabicadas/

An examination of Gaudí’s talent to balance the Catalan craft tradition with the innovations made available by industrialization, his desire to improve on methods without losing any of the personality of manual work.