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Graduate Research Conference, Date: 2010/04/16 - 2010/04/18, Location: Sint-Lucas Architectuur, Gent

Publication date: 2010-04-01

Author:

Pferdmenges, Petra

Abstract:

ALIVE ARCHITECTURE - Connection of Space & Society Alive Architecture is a research into the enhancement of making and using in design which takes into account not only the stage, but as well its transformation. The following three areas of focus are considered as sources for reflections: Alive - Mappings “Asica enters Europe”, a mapping of informal occupation of space by non-western immigrants in Ceuta, was the initial research of Alive Architecture. The observation of the connection between space and society by the eclectic atlases1 first introduced by Stefano Boeri explores a lateral view to see through the eyes of those who live in the space. The findings of spatial occupation lead to reflections on found data, which were the source of a design proposal. Since then, different mappings with a view from below form part of the research as source of inspirations for design and may lead to the production of Alive Projects. Alive - Projects “Asica enters Europe” lead to a design project that proposed urban installations in Ceuta. The idea was to integrate the mapped vibrant scenes of occupancy into architectural design to allow for design projects where the completion arrives by the active player. Since then, competitions (in particular idea-competitions), installations and project-proposals for cities produce Alive Architectures. The goal is to develop projects that lead to new patterns for the construction of use either directly within the process of designing or by reflecting on those projects after the actual design process. They are often developed in collaboration with artists, urban planners or other architects. Besides the reflection onto personal work, collaborations with different offices in the last six years form part of this source. The projects are intellectual property of the offices and are not considered as personal contributions. Anyhow they do form part of my attitude towards architecture. Therefore they might lead to patterns that will be applied in the framework of Alive Architecture. Alive - Teaching Teaching in a design studio (BAC3, Saint-Luc, Liege) as well as regular participations in Jury’s (Saint-Luc Liege and La Cambre in Belgium, TU Delft in the Netherlands, UOAS in Germany) form the academic framework for reflections on Alive Architecture. An exploration of the topic together with students could be considered in form of workshops as well as in design studios. 1 Stefano Boeri, Eclectic Atlases, Documents 3, Kassel, 1997