aw is hiring:
DESIGNER RESEARCHER (m/f) Architecture Workroom Brussels (AW) wants to strengthen its team with a designer researcher, in view of several ongoing projects.You will be part of a dynamic and committed team of architects and researchers.You will offer support in managing, supervising and implementing one or more projects within AW. Job description AW employees share at least one specific undeniable similarity: they have a design-oriented background and / or have a strong affinity for space, architecture or the future of city and landscape. Based on this shared motivation, the team performs various tasks depending on the various initiatives and processes: in addition to cultural production (exhibitions, publications, etc.), this also includes ‘design research’ (test sites, regional explorations, etc.), and ‘making substantive progress’ and (supervising) managing knowledge sharing and development, initiation and exploration processes for new transformation programs, policy, etc. For this vacancy we are looking for that first profile in view of a number of ongoing and new processes in which design research plays a prominent role. Translation to concrete space is crucial within all AW’s projects. Not in the least because many of the clients are local and regional governments who are faced with certain challenges whose spatial impact they want to have investigated and translated into innovative development visions. These studies often relate to the major transition and climate challenges related to housing, energy, mobility, care, food, soil, water, biodiversity, circularity, or in many cases several of these challenges simultaneously. Linking these themes, uncovering and visualizing the actual problem definition, the search for spatial, economic or social synergies and their translation into sustainable and promising development strategies are therefore the main lines of action within such design research, often on different scales simultaneously: ranging from a global scale to that of the decentralized urbanized delta area of the Rhine, Maas and Scheldt (also
Architecture Workroom Brussels European Centre for Innovation in Architecture and Urbanism
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known as the Eurodelta), from that of the city and its outskirts to the level of the neighbourhood, the building block and the building. In many AW projects, this designer view is supported by a participatory part. This approach aims at capturing and synthesizing as many wishes, needs and dynamics possible, which affect the broad field of actors specific to this type of project: from groups of residents to citizens’ initiatives, from local to national governments, landowners to developers, from farmers to port companies, from entrepreneurs to cultural institutions. The support that AW is looking for in the field of design research involves the following tasks: - the cartographic analysis of the research area, at the various scales mentioned above, in which speculative imagination is often just as important as scientific substantiation; - the design and spatial approach of the problem to the development of a high-profile and supported narrative; - applying this cartography and narrative in workshops with design agencies, entrepreneurs, governments, citizens, experts, etc.; - linking different challenges and opportunities to concrete spatial strategies, concepts and interventions, and being able to communicate these based on clear and graphically strong images and diagrams; - translating the results of the design research into policy advice and other recommendations; - continuous training in current affairs and design practice, with special attention to innovative and socially relevant spatial concepts and “best practices”. Profile We are looking for highly motivated, enthusiastic and talented candidates:
aw - who hold a Master’s Degree in architecture, urban planning, spatial planning or similar; - who is driven by involvement in social and spatial issues, particularly in relation to climate change and urbanization, and prepared to take the complexity as a starting point; - who has a naturally investigative and analytical attitude; - who is able to approach complex issues in a structured way, to synthesise them and to translate them into work processes; - who is able to lead projects independently and to pro-actively execute the organizational and production activities that result from this; - who is prepared to work in an international and multidisciplinary team (in terms of content, production); - who have experience and talent in the area of design and/or implementation of urban planning projects; - who have sufficient graphic qualities; - with knowledge of basic software packages: Adobe, CAD and GIS software; - interested in culture production (organising exhibitions, public events, publication of books etc.); - who possesses a vision and knowledge of the theory, practice and the latest developments related to architecture and urban planning; - who is results-oriented and able to perform well under pressure; - who is highly flexible in terms of working hours. What is Architecture Workroom? AW is a cultural think-and-do tank, facilitating innovation within architecture and the broad spatial practise, policy and development. As initiator, mediator and platform, AW creates the space and conditions for developing new spatial practices and strategies (design research, cartography, process design, policy design, etc.), and thus focuses on translating the major transitions and challenges of our time into new types of projects and transformation programs, and on forming customized coalitions and new commissioning duties. AW consists of a team of 20 designers and researchers, and is led by three partners. AW’s extended strategic lines of action focus on visionary and affordable housing, space for renewable energy, water and biodiversity, healthy food, shared mobility, circular economy and ports, caring neighbourhoods
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and the productive city. As a platform for design research and knowledge sharing, AW contributes to the broad social debate, to professional practice and knowledge development, and to the renewal of urban development and policy. Brussels, small cosmopolitan and Capital of Europe, is the ideal base - and also often the laboratory - for AW to contribute to the national and international debate on shaping the urbanising world in which we live. We offer - cooperation on an independent basis for an indefinite period; - the remuneration and terms of employment are in accordance with the weight of the position, consistent with a medium-sized cultural organization, and dependent on qualifications and experience. Interested? Send your motivated letter of application and CV, including any portfolio, at the latest on Monday 17 June 2019, to info@architectureworkroom.eu for the attention of Sylvia van den Hurk. www.architectureworkroom.eu