Symposium, 15th October 2010
9.45 Marianne Mueller & Olaf Kneer (directors, Concrete Geometries), Welcome
Block 1: 10.00 – 11.30: Perception and Cognition
Walter Benjamin argues that the interaction with architectural space happens in a state of distraction (‘Zerstreuung’) or low level of consciousness. For works in this category processes of perception and their relation to geometry are in the foreground. Being revealed to a user / viewer, these often reach a state of awareness.
10.00 Dr Toni Kotnik (studio master and senior researcher, The Architectural Association and ETH Zürich), ‘Towards Perceptive Geometry’
10.15 Christine Rusche (artist, Germany), ‘Room Drawings’
10.30 Eric Martijn (artist, Netherlands), ‘Sloped Floor’
10.45 Jaime Gili (artist, Venezuela/UK), ‘Diamante de las Semilitas’
11.00 – 11.30 round table discussion, guest chair: Christian Derix (head of computational design and research, Aedas|R&D)
Block 2: 11.45 – 13.15: Sensory Engagement
This block discusses works that explore immediate sensory experiences, involving many bodily senses, a type of immersion. Dealing with atmosphere and phenomenological presences, perception is here defined as a process of engagement, involving the user / viewer as a participant, a process that might involve a response or might develop a social dimension.
11.45 Jane Hutton (landscape designer, Canada) & Adrian Blackwell (visual artist and urbanist, Canada), ‘Dymaxion Sleep’
12.00 Craig Scott (principle Iwamoto Scott Architecture, USA), ‘Voussoir Cloud’
12.15 Susanne Hofmann (founding director Die Baupiloten, Germany), ‘Form Follows Fiction’
12.30 Sandra Manninger (founder SPAN Architecture & Design, Austria), ‘Sense and Advanced Sensibility’
12.45 – 13.15 round table discussion, guest chair: to be confirmed
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afternoon session: Thematic Field B: Geometry and Social Processes
Block 3: 14.00 – 15.15: Relational Space
Works in this category are exploring the notion of spatial form as providing literal and immediate support for the unfolding of social situations, the creation of human relations and their social contexts as a practice, the geometry of social environments and the production of intersubjective encounters.
14.00 Kathrin Böhm (public Works, UK), ‘Who is building what. Relational practice and spatial production’
14.15 Fran Cottell (artist, UK), ‘House Installation Project’
14.30 Isabelle Doucet (researcher, Manchester Architecture Research Centre), ‘Architecture’s Concrete Engagement with the Real: What About the Idiots?’
14.45 Robert Mantho & Joanna Crotch (researcher, Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art), ‘Social Spatial Genesis. Activity Centered Space Making’
15.00 – 15.30 round table discussion, guest chair: to be confirmed
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Block 4: 15.45 – 17.15: Social Contracts
Legal systems use spatial and territorial configurations to organize how we live together. The basis of this is a type of contract or agreement. Works in this category investigate how societies are organised through spatial and geometric means. This involves an aspect of aspiration – we are looking for utopian rather than distopian interpretations.
15.45 Graziela Kunsch (artist, Brazil) & Rafi Segal (architect and writer, USA), ‘Anti-Homeless Ramp’
16.00 Sabine Müller (SMAQ architecture, Germany), ‘Charter of Dubai’
16.15 Lukas Einsele (artist, Germany), ‘Moments of an M85 – Zenon’s arrow retraced’
16.30 Vincent Wittenberg (designer, The Netherlands), ‘Familiar Site’
16.45 – 17.15: round table discussion, guest chair: Ines Weizman (architect and theorist, London Metropolitan University and the Architectural Association)
17.15: round off
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The symposium was part of the AA’s Public Programme, an extensive series of public events dedicated to contemporary architectural culture. The language was be English and the admission is free. Organised by Marianne Mueller and Olaf Kneer.
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Architectural Association School of Architecture, 36 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3ES, Main Lecture Hall
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photos: Valerie Bennett, photo of Marianne Mueller by Lukas Einsele