BiG PR OJE CTS Book of proceedings BELGRADE.SCAPES:LAB
Editor in chief Marko Macura Editorial Board Marko Macura Milica Leković Haris Piplas Miloš Drašković Publishers SCAPES:LAB initiative Center of Architecture Incentive Dialogue Network Number of Copies 950 Place and Year Belgrade 2014. Print DIY
*We are not supported by any fund.
BELGRADE.SCAPES:LAB April 2014.
BELGRADE.SCAPES:LAB (BGSL) is part of a SCAPES:LAB initiative for a broader investigation of resources and strengthening research capacities at the Balkans region in the fields of architecture and urban planning. BGSL acts as a collaborative research platform formed to analyze and address actualities in Belgrade big urban plans and transformations. Presented program aims to decode some of the big plans with comparative analysis, guest lecturing and codified reading through innovative methodologies and workshops by relevant experts from Belgrade, Novi Sad, New York, Basel, Zurich and Paris, joined with academics, authors, independent researchers, architecture students and young colleagues in the field of architecture and urban planning from the Balkans region.
ABOUT_? SCAPES:LAB is an independent educational platform initially formed to synchronize capacities strength built through five years of intense production in separate programs; FLATscapes 01, 02 and 03 / 2009-2011 in The Netherlands, EScapes / 2012 in Spain, FRearCH / 2013 in France and Confederatio Helvetica / Switzerland and the series of workshops named “On Urban Relevance� / 2013-2014 in the Balkans region. Different programs generated significant potential for participants and platform users in introducing new methodologies applicable for relevant research. SCAPES:LAB tends to merge them all into a single collaborative research facility / incubator of intensified experience through a direct contact with architecture and urban phenomena, providing opportunities for networking within the professional field and to connect and collaborate with a wide spectrum and variety of institutions, design/ planning offices and other organizations mapped through. WHY_? Integration processes introduced to many challenging issues in different parameters of creative work and educational outputs. The existing educational institutions are caught in serious limitations to provide relevant both innovative knowledge. In this respect, additional educational platforms are more an urgency than a complementary measure. Instead of accepting the fact that the existing communication gaps with high level of mystification that arise confusion and speculative manipulation, SCAPES:LAB insists on collaborative programs of research projects, exhibitions, site visits, workshops, publications, performances, debates and discussions moderated by relevant tutors and guest critics from different fields. International, cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary exchange enables an independent collaborative studio aimed at forming the dynamic research platform able to recognize, investigate, criticize and interpret. GOALS_? SCAPES:LAB aims to provide a fresh and innovative answer to the urgently needed reposition of Architecture education as such. In this process SCAPES:LAB investigate alternative forms not just for/from the Balkan countries. We believe that the permanent state of crisis in the Balkan region can be a catalyst kick-off in the production of appropriate forms and formats for research. Forthright data collecting, working, discussing and exchange, introducing to some of the most relevant authors, projects, concepts, initiatives, schools and phenomena within the professional content today build a valuable contribution in bridging the gap of omnipresent overemphasis of outdated theories. WHO_? Initially co-produced by IDnet and Center of Architecture, Serbia and, what is most important, supported and recognized by large group of participating students of architecture from Novi Sad / Serbia, Podgorica / Montenegro, Skopje / Macedonia, Banja Luka / Bosnia and Herzegovina*. Through the previous experience of producing FLATscapes 01, 02 i 03 (The Netherlands), EScapes (Spain) and FRearCH (France and Confederatio Helvetica / Switzerland) platforms the significant Network of architects/urbanists, independent researchers, activists, educators and academics has been produced to be used for vice versa contribution and collaborative production. * These countries are characterized by a similar socio-political and economic context, all belonging to the Balkans region (ex. Yugoslavia); Non-EU countries that are at the moment in different phases of the transition and EU-integration period. This process coincides with the transition of economy, politics but also education paradigms. We are here to analyze, define, interpret and act.
A / Conference BiG projects B / 7+1 Workshops C / Panel discussions with workshop results presentation and inputs D / TORRE DAVID documentary Screening feat. Daniel Schwartz - introduction & discussion + Panel discussion PERFORMANCE OF ARCHITECTURE and (or) ARCHITECTURE AS PERFORMANCE moderation by prof. Radivoje Dinulović
We might say that the Belgrade cityscape nowadays can't be introduced without rightful reading of market demands, constructed or imposed by the investor(s). Free interpretations of liberal economic logic in transitional state aiming toward elusive margines of free market has prevailed in most of decision making policies forming specific - market driven urbanism; commonly embraced by the cacophony of promising political statements and vice versa. Insufficient involvement of official institutions in charge for planning, together with low public participation reveal intentions which are systematically excluded from questioning. This position takes us to complete, absolute solutions freed from professional contribution with unclear results and positioned-free form of professional entities.
Spectacularization in architecture production, iconic, eye-catching and beautifully rendered design, starchitecture but job-free emerging-architects-desperate-for-engagement too blindly follow the consuming demands and provide answers to the ways how to shape and invent new needs. Market dictates the size, bigness is inevitable; inescapable within the tired, general public society trapped in a never ending posttransitional state of expectancy. Desperate economic condition the country is in reinforces an excuse for rapid changes that are being implemented in city planning policies, often falsely justified as the only possible way.
BELGRADE.SCAPES:LAB experimental discussions, workshops, relevant argumentation and conference program will try to present clarified findings and contribute with appropriate flow of information. Collected inputs, generated through the workshop findings will become a breeding path aimed at rightful understanding of Belgrade city complexities and actualities with the focus on challenges regarding Big projects. Participants (students and young professionals) temporarily networked with relevant tutors will set a permanent possibility for engagement, strengthening capacities for further analysis, reading, critic and active interpretation.
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Tackling Urban Decay: Ana Nikezić Challenging Urban Regeneration Urban regeneration is usually a “slash and burn” process with a precise identity picture it focuses on whether it be economic, social and political prosperity, or tourism, creative and leisure paradise. Regeneration or gentrification as it can often become produces winners and losers. It seems that urban regeneration has become conventional wisdom within many governments and “off-the-shelf” regeneration policies are being rolled out in city after city in an effort to catalyze the revalorization of urban space. The question of local experience is hard to tackle, especially as architecture has always been universal in its meaning and is even becoming global in its appearance. Sensing spaces became a global condition instead of local identity. This lecture tries to challenge urban regeneration to become less competitive and turbulent, less planned and strategic and more acupunctural and unpredictable, to become an interval capable to connect place and people.
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Big projects within the framework of Marija Maruna Post-social transition: Values vs. Interests In the post-social transition countries, transfer from the institutions of both socialistic economy and social structure toward the market economy institutes and democratic society has radically different qualitative patterns in promoting/offering new set of values. Big change has shifted legitimization processes of public realm; Understaning it as a collective moral imperative has changed its affirmation perspectives.
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The Big story of a little place: Nicolas Ziesel Starting from an almost ordinary build project we will move to the genealogy of experiences, expectations, dead ends and crazy futures it contains.
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Becoming a Capital: Vesna Jovanović Recent Investigations of ETH Studio Basel For a number of years now ETH Studio Basel has studied transformation processes of contemporary cities under globalization. It is from this context that we have, more recently, started to frame a wider area and query the impact of those same globalization processes on a greater geographical scale, one that extends beyond the clear gravitational fields of the metropolis. From the position that the city is not autonomous—but always rather embedded and in relation to a wider territorial logic, with human activity therein allowing for its accumulation—we have started to outline and investigate what comprises such contemporary territories in relation to the shifts we have observed in the contemporary city. Territories have begun to reconfigure themselves in the wake of globalization, to loosen up and allow for increased mobility and metamorphosis. These processes require our professional inspection; they are as vital to understanding contemporary life as is the accumulated understanding we have in our field of the city. This lecture will try to recapitulate what is the role of the capital within the territory through examples from the institute's recent work. Key questions are how do centralities manifest themselves, and how do they exert influence on the countryside, and vice-versa. In addition, what are the physical transformations, the city growth that is currently underway in these metropolises, and in what relation do they stand with regard to the surrounding "periphery" or "hinterland." In essence, what is their role, and what is their "shape" in the territory. Showcased will be some of the student work of the more recent investigation semesters: "Red River Delta, An Urbanization of Fragile Opportunities" (2012), "Muscat and Oman, Restructuring a Desert Landscape" (2013), "Belo Horizonte, Opening a Territory and Making a Capital" (2013).
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XXS to XXL: Alessandra Cianchetta working with multi-scalar projects AWP office for territorial reconfiguration is an awardwinning practice that works across scales and genres from large-scale strategic plans to buildings, landscapes, interiors, exhibitions and publications. We give equal weight to the substance of building and its intangible effects, addressing sensual and perceptual experiences at large urban scales. AWP also curates and designs exhibitions for major cultural institutions and regularly writes books and essays. The three partners have exhibited their work, taught and lectured at architectural venues worldwide. Run by partners Marc Armengaud, Matthias Armengaud and Alessandra Cianchetta. ww.awp.fr
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Urban-Think Tank: Haris Piplas Design and Teaching Philosophy The Chair of Architecture and Urban Design ETH specializes in the design practice of contemporary architecture and urbanism. Their research focuses on informal settlements in the global south. The members of the ETH team are specialized in conducting research and fieldwork in different urban slum areas around the globe (India, Jordan, Palestine, Venezuela, and most intensively in Brazil). The laboratory delivers innovative yet practical solutions by combining the skills of architects, civil engineers, environmental planners, landscape architects, and communication specialists. The ETH works in global contexts by creating bridges between first world industry and emerging nations and informal urban areas. The focus lies on the education and development of a new generation of professionals, who will transform cities in the 21st century. The field work undertaken informs sociological research as an interface to the design practice. The produced knowledge is widely shared via publications (self edited newspapers, contributions through articles and a series of books published with the city of S達o Paulo).
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(Un)conscious Belgrade Vesna Jovanović A City-archive of Big Ideas Iva Čukić This workshop's goal is to consider Belgrade as a productive "city-archive:" as a city that could in its complex form be read as the outcome of many initiated if not entirely implemented - Big (Metropolitan) ideas. The city is a repository of fragments that have succeeded in becoming "monuments." A monument cannot be built, it arises over time, i.e. it is society that imbues it with meaning and it is from this vantage point that we speak about collective memory. How, then, can architects deal with the collective memory of the city? The locations that we will investigate might not appear to stand in a clear physical dialectic to one another, they nevertheless can and will be viewed as one system of "faites urbaines," where by this we mean those forms that carry a productive relationship towards heritage. An important presupposition is that Belgrade as an "urban bricolage" holds within itself already the seeds for its further development - and we will attempt to discover those seeds. On select locations we will conduct an analysis and discussion around the ideas that were behind the built projects and what quality they still retain today. In the next step we will consider these seemingly "finished" fragments of the city as incomplete, and ask the question what new forms and content could emerge in and around them (what is the location "missing," what is Belgrade missing?). If the city has a collective memory, then it is the objective of this workshop to build upon this memory: we will test whether it is necessary to sharpen preexisting ideas or to attach, adjoin, annex and expand with new ones. Belgrade, simply as it is, will serve as the only reference for what it could become. We will not attempt to translate the ideas of other cities, but will rather in an almost narcissistic step look for answers within. (chosen sites: Museum of Contemporary Art, the old fairgrounds, new fairgrounds, and Terazije Terrace)
Bogdan Bogdanović once proclaimed that Belgrade is "unconscious of itself," that it possesses a sort of "inner style waiting to be stylized fully" [1]. We interpret "style" here as the legibility and clarity of identity as it is reflected in the built form, and besides the question of identity (a question to our mind rather neglected), this workshops will try in a very practical sense to tackle the issues of revitalization and meaning of "forgotten" city parts. The methodology will make use of only two tools: the plan and the collage. The selected sites will be represented as a horizontal field of possibilities in which one will be able to clearly read the relationship between new and old, while the collage will serve as a complimentary tool to illustrate all the "meaning" the plan cannot impart: of the contemporary and our memory. The interventions can be varied, radical even, because this is an experiment in which we test and present how the old could drive the new, and as an approach it will allow the testing of all the possibilities of the participants, together in careful moderation and feedback. The inputs and interests of every participant will become valuable in the overall process of the workshop. Together we will discover the latent potentials of (Un)conscious Belgrade.
[1] Bogdan Bogdanović, Mali Urbanizam, Narodna Prosvjeta, Sarajevo, 1958.
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Neglected bigness Milica Leković Marko Macura The second half of the 20th century in Belgrade was Haris Piplas marked by the Big works on the construction and consolidation of the city as a new, administrative capital + Snežana Timotijević Nina Radosavljević of Yugoslavia. Modernist housing “megablocks” as, Srna Tulić perhaps, the most important part of this endeavor, had failed to fulfill their intended purpose – to provide housing solutions for the increasingly migrating population. During the 1970s, large number of workers who were building the modern Belgrade, ignored by the state and city governments, have exercised their right to the housing by settling on the outskirts, dominantly in Kaludjerica, and thus significantly defined the (urban) morphology. The expansion of the city was intensified in the last two decades and as a result we have the Biggest built accomplishment in Belgrade - its Suburbs; This vast belt around the “planned Belgrade”, an outcome of what was possible to achieve, does not fit the desired city image and, its population (as well as in the other areas but under different conditions) is denied the right to the city. During a period of rapid urbanization embraced with the new capital markets after 2000, architects and urban planners did not, and they still do not, act in suburban areas. New glass palaces and money castles began to sparkle (and they still shine today with the same ambitions, but with a bit fainter light),stronger than ever, giving an impression of a sea change, of The New Belgrade, the largest city in the Balkans. Bright future for the suburbs will have come later - it is just temporarily on hold. Borderlands remained on the margins of interests, perceived as a mistake that Someone will Somehow deal with Someday. Having in mind todays speculative competence of political actions, devastating discontinuity in decision making processes, we can all witness the city with a serious pretension; city that neglects its bigness; city choking in clusterization: A city that longs but refuses to change.
Counterproposal Neglected Bigness workshop confronts the aggressively imposing spatio-economic logic and snoozing reality for the Really Big projects; Its position will address the accurate recognition of the needs for the Urbanity Vitalisation [4] [5] of the borderlands [6]. Case chosen for the actions will be Kaludjerica, arguably the largest suburban settlement in the Balkans. [7] We will not focus on finding similarities and defining pretencious universal principles and solutions. Beyond Apparent homogenity of Kaludjerica we will identify (find and trace) specific urban identities; understand it through inclusive strategies and, in the end, try to interpret its urbanity interface with relevant argumentation. Authenticity of the spatio-social identity will be perceived through active interpretation of its focal points and qualitative documenting of everyday life We will engage the vitality of (non)urban territories of Kaludjerica toward advancement, as such. Methodology in very short: - Identify / Understand / Interpret / ACT ! - Design Charrette ________________________________________ [1] - [David Harvey: “Rebel Cities: From the Right to the City to the Urban Revolution”, Verso, London, 2012] [2] - Ljiljana Blagojević: Novi Beograd: osporeni modernzam. Beograd, 2007. [3] - According to statistics from UN-HABITAT (the United Nations agency dedicated to housing issues) for 2006, 43 percent of the structures used for housing in the Serbian capital were constructed illegally. Officially, that means about 200,000 homes. [4] - Miloš Bobić defines Urbanity Interface as a space on edge, where a myriad of interactions between public and private domains are played out, shaping its development, use, meaning, spatial forms and territorial framework. Miloš Bobić: Between the Edges. Streetbuilding transition as urbanity interface. Thoth, 2004. [5] - We will read to vitalisation as an implication of unsustainability and untenability of the existing principles and the need for establishing the new ones. [6] - "If we extend Goethe's metaphor ["I call architecture frozen music"] beyond architecture, we might say that urbanism is 'frozen politics.' It then becomes apparent that there is a need to develop new mechanisms that can 'unfreeze' the boundaries of this condition to open up opportunities for new forms of communication — a need to transform static conventions into dynamic interaction. Not only will this engagement with the edge create an architecture and urbanism that is greater than the sum of its parts, but, through responsible manipulation of the borderland, it will also open up the border-space that makes the 21st century democratic city possible." Urban-Think Tank on Borderlands* Trans-Borderlands: Activating the Plasticity of Urban Border-Space 2011. [7] - We will discuss this qualification !
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Neglected bigness Milica Leković Marko Macura Haris Piplas + Snežana Timotijević Nina Radosavljević Srna Tulić
According to statistics from UN-HABITAT (the United Nations agency dedicated to housing issues) for 2006, 43 percent of the structures used for housing in the Serbian capital were constructed illegally. Officially, that means about 200,000 homes.
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Belgrade HighLine The workshop titled Belgrade HighLine explores and questions the position of architects in the process of regenerating large urban areas in post-industrial city, seen through perspective of collaborative and participatory design of architectural interventions in public space. Based on the paradigm of positive examples of the process of urban regeneration of project HighLine in New York and in the form of three-day workshop an effort was made to simulate the conditions of work of architects in situations when one thinks and acts in a grand way, as well as to include all the relevant participants directly affected by the project in the process of designing architectural intervention. The railway line near Sava river bank in Belgrade has been selected as a location site. The aim of the workshop is to encourage students to review the position of the architect as an autonomous creator, and to foster their understanding of the architect as one of equal participants in the design process. The intention is to stimulate students' critical understanding of the social role of the architect, and to point out the socially responsible forms of architectural activities and practices. The workshop consists of three parts: the analysis, action and reaction. In the first part, the students are getting introduced to the current situation of the inherited physical environment, as well as to a wider range of active participants in this metropolitan area. The second part consists of creating a conceptual proposal to improve the observed space and it is based on the facts and data collected during the first day. The third day of the workshop is devoted to the critical analysis of spatial and programme concepts together with the participants from the first phase, as well as to preparations of the final presentation of the results of the workshop. After the workshop, the students will have the expanded understanding of the role of architects in contemporary society. They will learn some of the basic techniques of research in the form of a case study and improve the skills of critical argumentation, as well as written and oral presentations.
Ana Nikezić Dragan Marković Nataša Janković
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Agreement Arena: Marija Maruna Creation of Social consensus Transition toward democratic system both market economy in Serbia after year 2000 brought to a radical change in the ways how strategic decision making processes emerge. Conditions for the spatial development based on the new fundaments and financially oriented actions are structured through the concept of cooperative dialogue. New socio-economic framework led to a change in the concept of spatial interventions as well as professional approach to spatial and urban planning. But, essential change in the process of strategic decisionmaking did not happen. This can be explained by a legacy of socialist system which has been reducing the role of the individual to a passive executor of decisions made at a higher level. This practice, now framed by a different socio- economic context, led to the dominance of individual interests and creation of development policies without broad consensus; commonly aimed at the interests of a small group of powerful people. Establishing consensus aimed toward decision-making in development policies is essential for any spatial development. Process of decision-making about spatial intervention is dominantly a political process; seeking for a balance among different interests aimed to resolve conflicts with a respect to the use of space. The new form of decisionmaking proclaims complex intra connections between the various actors and institutions, the principle of participation, transparency of information and awareness for the consequences in decisions. However, professional entities in Serbia has not yet created an efficient arena for dialogue and inputs providing for decision-making processes. The purpose of the workshop is a simulation of Arena for a dialogue; structured as a basis for comparative exchange of approaches and argumentative discussion in order to establish an agreement on the future transformation of the selected part of Belgrade. The aim is to establish a common value framework of all relevant stakeholders.
Transitional turbulence characteristic for socioeconomic and political situation in Serbia calls for the awakening of the profession and proactive action in order to establish a relevant framework for making decisions on strategic development of the city. As a workshop result, the participating students will build a consensus on a transformation of specific, selected part of Belgrade and develop a graphical illustration of the future perspectives for the space, as a result of a fostering dialogue in our Agreement arena.
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Le festin de Belgrade Nicolas Ziesel Daša Spasojević For tactical, critical, opportunistic, humble, creative, and a Predrag Milić load of other reasons, people driven urban design is a hot and rising topic since a few years. But in terms of delivery it is a footnote to the enormous amount of developments and transformations occurring worldwide. Yet, through everyday and apparently random actions people are shaping the city and have the tools to deeply design it, and on an unsuspectedely BIG scale. We would like to invite you to explore and practice one of these tools during an intensive 4 day workshop. We will be secret agents, journalists, customers, farmers, town planners, politicians, graphic designers, and probably many other things. Our focus is FOOD, how and where it is grown, transformed, sold, cooked, shared, eaten, wasted. And how it is a wonderful key to living, designing and understanding cities. On day one and two, we will catalog existing uses either mainstream or underground, track the networks and relationships they involve, map their effects on the city, meet unexpected experts, talk, walk, film, record, question. On day three we will become actors in this network of social and spatial relationships so as to give back all these findings in a BIG eat & talk event on day four to as many SCAPES:LAB participants and community members as possible!
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Scales(- in between) Dragan Marinčić Goran Govedarica Urban development of New Belgrade, from its beginnings, depicts variety of spatial solutions. An analysis of the present matrix, together with proposals of urban design that were given in the course of years, shows fragments of different strategies which make New Belgrade a coherent entity. Nevertheless, at the scale of the user, the same space generates rather chaotic impressions. The concept of the modernistic urban planning, in case of New Belgrade, never succeeded in solving the problem of the contact of new town with the river. Actually, it never really considered the theme of the water as unique opportunity to upgrade the quality of space. The program of the workshop is to recognize present spatial phenomena in situ, and research the possible ways of treatment of the place “IN BETWEEN” (the river and the town). The overlap of different concepts, on different levels, of different scales, could generate tension which can result in creating a new context.
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Lost in vibration Vladimir Radinović
„When I hear the trafiic I don’t have the feeling that anyone is talking, I have the feeling that sound is acting and I love the activity of sound…I don’t need sound to talk to me” – John Cage “Not all who wander are lost”- J.R.R. Tolkin During this workshop we will explore the sounds of Belgrade city while using the psycho-geographical approach coined by Guy Debord. The idea is to listen to the city and collect its sounds while letting the city itself guides us to our next path. This way we shall capture a unique audio portrait of Belgrade. The concept of listening to a city comes from John Cage’s ideas on sound and silence and it’s also rooted in Pierre Schafer’s work with the sound collage. Both artists used field recordings in their work and opened a door to a whole new scene of contemporary sound artists and musicians that work exclusively with these tools. Today with the help of new media and modern technology the art of field recording has sprung a variety of mixed media art forms and offers artists from different fields a new and rather refreshing way to express their ideas. During the walks throughout the city we shall try to capture as many specific and authentic sounds that are in our opinion fragments of the urban symphony of Belgrade. This cacophony of sounds will mostly come from organic or mechanical sources but we hope to capture at least a few notes of Goethe’s frozen music as well. In order to participate in this workshop you do not need any previous musical knowledge just opened mind, adventurous spirit and willingness to be quiet and listen to the sounds that form the soundscape of Belgrade. As an output we will create a sound collage piece that will serve as an audio time capsule.
TORRE DAVID documentary Markus Kneer and Daniel Schwartz
As an offiical part of BELGRADE.SCAPES:LAB / BiG PROJECT we are proud to present a short film by directors Markus Kneer and Daniel Schwartz - TORRE DAVID documentary, released by The Urban-Think Tank Chair of Architecture and Urban Design at ETH Zürich, D-ARCH. In 2012 the associated exhibit “Torre David/Gran Horizonte,” was awarded the Golden Lion for the Best Exhibit at the 13th International Architecture Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia. Now, the U-TT Chair brings this story to audiences around the world with an unprecedented cinematic portrait of life inside the tower. In one way or another, the third tallest building in Venezuela has been under construction for over twenty-one years. While Torre David (formerly known as the Centro Financiero Confinanzas) stands at an impressive 45 floors in the heart of Caracas’ former central business district, it is unlikely that the building will ever be finished—at least not in the conventional sense. After the developer, David Brillembourg, passed away in 1993 and the financial group supporting the construction collapsed in the wake of the 1994 Venezuelan banking crisis, the tower was abandoned and became a magnet for squatters. Today, it is the improvised, continually revised home for more than 750 families living as a selforganized community in what some have called a vertical slum. That this community has not been riven by the contradictory and potent forces that surround and impinge upon it—that its members have, with great ingenuity and determination, turned a ruin into a home, albeit a precarious and marginal one—is nothing short of astonishing. Torre David, with its magnificent deficiencies and remarkable assets, presents the opportunity to consider how people can create and foster urban communities. This short film is the result of a cinematic collaboration with Profs. Alfredo Brillembourg and Hubert Klumpner, who along with members of the U-TT Chair in the Department of Architecture at ETH Zürich, spent a year studying the physical and social organization of this ruin-turned home. Where some see only a failed development project, the U-TT Chair has conceived of it as a laboratory for the study of the informal. With the support of the Schindler Group, the U-TT Chair also explored innovative design solutions to address new models of vertical mobility. This study resulted in the book, Torre David: Informal Vertical Communities, which was named one of the best books of 2012 by The Financial Times.
FURTHER INFORMATION www.torredavid.com www.u-tt.arch.ethz.ch http://www.u-tt.com
PERFORMANCE OF ARCHITECTURE and (or) ARCHITECTURE AS PERFORMANCE
Two years ago, with two of my friends and colleagues, I participated at the national competition for the Serbian exhibition at the Venice Biennial 2012, without any formal success. It was not surprise at all – we know very well that approach we develop for years in architectural education in Novi Sad is not generally acceptable, not even in our one environment. Surprise came later, last autumn, when I was invited to be a member of the national Programme council (at the same time, National jury) and participate in decision who (and what) is going to represent Serbia in Venice 2014. I accepted without any doubts, taking opportunity to observe, analyse and try to understand the ways of thinking on architecture (not only in the relation to „Fundamentals“), in Serbia, today. In my focus stepped-in not only 29 proposed entries, but also (or, in the first place) discussions among the jury members during the evaluation process. Once again I witnessed a general understanding of architecture as a visual, or as a conceptual art. That brought me back to the questions: what is the essence of architecture, what is its raison d’être, its substance, what is fundamental in (and about) architecture? And, once again, Roland Barthes’s profound idea that Photography does not touches art through Painting, but through Theatre1 reminded me that, vice versa, architecture reaches art through its functions, not through visuality. “This is why function of architecture is not only utilitarian (having in mind the fact that without utility there is no architecture), but is a complex system of answers about different existential needs – economical and ecological, aesthetical, social, cultural, psychological, philosophical, ethical, political etc. Architecture as a system of thinking about space establishes relation towards all of these problem aspects simultaneously and becomes an ideological category per se. Since human life represents a basic and essential object of architecture2, structure and final form of architecture need to be concerned as a machine3, not as a scene, sculpture or designed artefact.”4 Thinking about the function of instead of function in architecture led me to understanding of the word “function” as pluralia tantum, or even as material noun. At the same time, I understand architecture as a framework for event, a liminal space of existence. If we accepted that the event “is a dot”5, i.e. the basic element of space-time continuum, it is clear that the four-dimensional space of our existence is the space of spectacle. Radivoje Dinulović, 2014 (Fragment of text “Scene Design in Architecture”, written for Romanian architectural review “Arhitectura”, edited by professor Dana Vais)
1 Barthes, Roland: La chambre claire: note sur la photographie, Gallimard, Le Seuil, 1980 2 Milićević, Slađana: A study of architectural structure in function of experience regenaration, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, 2008 3 Le Corbusier: Toward an Architecture (Vers une architecture, translated by John Goodman) Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles, 2007 4 Dinulović, Radivoje: The ideologycal function of architecture in the Society of spectacle, in: Architecture & Ideology (ed.: V. Mako; M. Roter Blagojević & M. Vukotić Lazar), Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade, 2012 5 Hawking, Stephen: Kratka povest vremena (A Brief History of Time), Alnari, Belgrade, 2002
Alessandra Cianchetta Conference Lecturer & Guest critic at Workshops Alessandra Cianchetta is a leading architect and founding partner of AWP, Paris, the award-winning practice that works across scales and genres - from the 160 ha strategic masterplan for the Paris CBD to pavilions, landscapes, interiors, exhibitions and publications. Currently visiting critic and adjunct professor at Cornell University, Columbia University and The Berlage, Alessandra gives equal weight to the substance of building and its intangible effects, addressing sensual and perceptual experiences at large urban scales. Current works include a 85,000 square-metre housing and mixed-use sector project in Lausanne, which will transform the landscape of the city, a 70,000 square-metre public space adjoining the Grande Arche de la Défense, including a unique series of new buildings, the masterplan of Paris’ CBD, and Poissy Galore, a sequence of public buildings and follies set in a park by the Seine.
Vesna Jovanović Conference Lecturer / (Un)conscious Belgrade - A City-archive of Big Ideas Workshop Tutor A practicing architect involved in territorial urban research and teaching at ETH Studio Basel since 2011. She obtained her Master's degree from the University of Belgrade, and a Postgraduate degree from the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam. She has worked as an architect in Rotterdam on several projects including a MATRA capacity-building government collaboration between Holland and Turkey in Diyarbakir, on the topic of restructuring the development of the city, governmental housing, and the preservation of the historical city core. Subsequently, she has worked in Brussels for the office of 51N4E, on large scale urban studies for Istanbul (a collaboration between the municipality of Istanbul and the Rotterdam Biennale 'IABR 2012: Making City'), an expansion project on the right bank of the Garonne in Bordeaux (competition), and on a restructuring project for the Brussels Metropolitan Region. She has guest lectured at the UdK, Berlin, MARCH, Moscow, and the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS), Rotterdam, in 2011.
Haris Piplas Conference Lecturer / Neglected Bigness Workshop Tutor Haris Piplas graduated from the University in Sarajevo in 2008 in Landscape Architecture. He was granted the German DAAD-scholarship for postgraduate studies, receiving a MSc. in Urban Design Master studies at the Technical University of Berlin following a n academic stay at the Politecnico di Milano. He has worked as an Editor for the Journal of the “European Federation for Landscape Architecture”, and on the Steering Committee at the UN SCBD Network “MediverCities”. He has published several articles in magazines and contributed to various publications incl. “Forest and the city”, TOPOS Magazine, and JoLA Magazines. He has been guest speaker and jury critic at several institutions including Harvard, Prince of Wales Foundation for Built Environment, MIT, TU Wien, UN ECE, Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau as well as professional events including AESOP (Association of European Schools for Planning), ECLAS (European Council of Landscape Architecture Schools) annual congresses. Since 2011 he is affiliated with ETH Zurich D-ARCH Urban-ThinkTank Brillembourg&Klumpner Chair for Architecture and Urban Design where he figures as a Doctoral Candidate and coordinator of the “Urban Design I/II: Urban Stories” Lecture Series.
Ana Nikezić Conference Lecturer / High Line Workshop Tutor After finishing her studies at the University of Belgrade - Faculty of Architecture, obtained her MA (2001) and her Ph.D. (2006) with the "Transforming the concept of an urban house under the conditions of regenerating the city center" thesis at the University of Belgrade - Faculty of Architecture. She covers the following subjects: Master design studio, Workshop on the 1st year of Master studies, the Seminars on the 2nd year of Master studies, as well as elective courses at the undergraduate, master and doctoral studies. As a part of the design studio she examines the effects and the limits of the abilities of architecture in the complex context of postmodern urban landscape. Through these electives she promotes contemporary everyday life and city lifestyle, as well as various architectural strategies of regenerating the city center. She is an active member of the team of researchers engaged in scientific research projects funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia. Her professional and scientific papers were published in national and international professional corpus at the conferences, monographs and journals. She serves as a mentor for many architectural workshops, most important of which are "Architecture and nature" / Summer School of Architecture in Petnica (2012), "A Garden To Go" / Belgrade ECOWEEK-a (2012), "Child Friendly City" / Belgrade Festival of Flowers (2013) and "St. Petersburg"a part of the field trip - Faculty of Architecture (2013).
Marija Maruna Conference Lecturer / Agreement Arena Workshop Tutor Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Architecture University of Belgrade, Department for Urbanism. She has 20 years experience of teaching in the field of urban planning and urban design. She is conducting the courses Urban Structure, Urban History and Theory, Integrated Urban Planning, Urban Research Methodology. She is the Head of Master program Integrated Urbanism at the Faculty of Architecture. She participated in several scientific research projects of the Ministry of Science of Serbia and in development of several urban development plans, strategic plans, urban studies and urban projects. She was a mentor in many international and national student workshops. She is engaged in specialists and doctoral studies at the Faculty of Architecture as a mentor and co-mentor of many specialists’ works and doctoral dissertations. She has won several awards at the national urban-architectural competitions and exhibitions of professional achievements in urban planning. For her doctoral dissertation entitled "Application of Unified Process Methodologies in Urban Planning" she has received the annual award of the Belgrade Chamber of Commerce. For her publication "Urbanism of Belgrade: Guide for Research the Process of Space Production" she has won Second prize at the XXII International urban planning exhibition. She is the co-author of the book "Strategic Urban Design and Cultural Diversity" (with Nada Lazarevic Bajec), and author of many published papers in scientific publications as well as national and international conferences. She is the redactor and editor of several national professional publications in the field of urban planning.
Nicolas Ziesel Conference Lecturer / Le festin de Belgrade Workshop Tutor Lives and works in Paris, France. Co-founded KOZ architectes in 1999 with Christophe Ouhayoun, and have since been building pop and committed building like the Saint Cloud Sports and Leisure center, and the « Tête en l’air » wooden frame housing project in Paris - One of the 2014 « Building of the year » ARCHDAILY awards. In 2001 he was co-founder of the collective office PLAN01 and the environmental engineering office PLAN02, who have been doing a variety of projects from organizing competitions to building specific programs such as the Thiepval Memorial visitor center or the Rennes Crematorium. In 2007 he co-founded the collective FRENCHTOUCH dedicated to promote internationally the specificity of today’s french architecture. FRENCHTOUCH edits the « optimistic architectural yearbook » and was co-curator of the french pavilion at the 2008 Venice architectural Biennal. Since 2012 he is teacher at the architecture schools of Paris-Belleville and Lille, and has also been doing workshops with elementary school children near Paris and architecture students in Mumbai.
Marko Macura Program Editor / Conference Moderator / Neglected Bigness Workshop Tutor From 2007 he is active as a practicing architect in Serbia, whatever it means. He has founded Center of architecture (CA) in 2008. together with Milica Leković and Milica Stojšić as an initiative for a broader investigation of resources and methodology in education and research process. He coordinated strategy implementation as a program editor of several educational platforms aimed at architecture students from Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina. (FLATscapes 01, 02 and 03 / 2009-2011 in The Netherlands, EScapes / 2012 in Spain, FRearCH / 2013 in France and Switzerland). These programs have preceded and shaped the SCAPES:LAB initiative with the aim to synchronize capacities strength built through intense production in separate programs. He directs all of SCAPES:LAB actions and activities conducting collaborative platforms which furthers critical thinking among young professionals in transitional realities in the Balkan region. He has been moderator, guest lecturer and/or producer at many panels, site explorations, conferences, exhibitions and workshops (ETSAM, ETSAB, COAVN, COAC, IaaC, Pavilion de L'Arsenale, Campo de Cebada, NDSM, ETH Zurich, ETH Studio Basel, TU Graz, VITRA company, ...) He is also an independent researcher interested in social sculpture and critical theory.
Milica Leković Neglected Bigness Workshop Tutor / Panel Moderator Co-founder of Center of Architecture (CA), as well as a moderator and guest lecturer at EScapes and FRearCH educational platforms. Architect (University of Novi Sad, 2009). From 2008-2010 she worked on the project of Social Inclusion and Housing Improvement in Roma Settlements in Vojvodina, Serbia as a member of the Roma Resource Centre, EHO team. In 2010 she was granted a scolarship for specialist studies at Institute of Cooperation for Basic Habitability (ICHaB) at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM). Since 2011, her activities focus on urban and territorial research. While studying for a master degree in Urban Studies at the School of Architecture of Madrid (ETSAM, UPM), she was affiliated to Social Housing, Basic Habitability and Urban Heritage investigation group as a researcher on the Atlas of Social Housing in Madrid, 1939-2010 project and the revision of 1997's Master Plan of the City of Madrid. Currently, she is a PhD student at the Department of Urban and Regional Planning (ETSAM, UPM), shifting her interests towards the field of urban complexity.
Iva Čukić Panel Moderator / (Un)conscious Belgrade -A City-archive of Big Ideas Workshop Tutor (1983) from Belgrade. Graduated in 2008. from the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade. Same year, she attended the phd studies. Field of her research includes melting points of public space, public arts and spatio-cultural discourse. She has participated and initiated several workshops, exhibitions and projects in this manner. She is a member of both Ministarstvo Prostora collective and Mikro Art, from Belgrade.
Dragan Marinčić Panel Moderator / SCALE Workshop Tutor A practicing architect, founder and leading architect at “M+”, studio for architecture, since 2004. He obtained his master degree from the University of Belgrade, and subsequently has worked as Teaching assistant both at the University of Belgrade and the University of Novi Sad. Devoted to the research approach, with his team, he participated in more than 30 competitions (many of which were awarded). Always curious to understand the phenomena of the city, he elaborated the theme of the river bank even in his degree thesis project, for which he was honored by “Sister Bulaic foundation” in 2003. Other honors: 1997_ Association of Novi Sad Architects Salon of Architecture Award for student project; 2000_ Belgrade Salon of Architecture Award for competition project (architectural competition for Square - Gallery in Belgrade) 2008_ “RankoRadovic” Award for the best realized building of the year in Serbia, for “LEVY 9” office building.
Daša Spasojević Le festin de Belgrade Workshop Tutor Graduated from the Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade. Currently active on a research project dealing with translation of the complex data sets into a physical Model for Savamala; as coordinator of the organization team ofSummer School of Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture; as team member and coordinator on several projects within the School of Urban Practices, operating in Belgrade; as coordinator on the project of alternative ways of farming in cities. Interested in the sciences of the city, and the meaning and forms of public space. She has participated in projectssuch as City Acupuncture, seminars at Petnica Research Center, as a participant, mentor, organizer of many workshops and conferences dealing with the city and architecture. In her spare time, she enjoys the most inventing and writing the stories and illustrating them. At the BG Scapes Lab,Daša is in the role of Workshop guru.
Predrag Milić Le festin de Belgrade Workshop Tutor Lives and works in Belgrade. In addition to actively working on several architectural projects in Belgrade, he has been active in Savamala, neglected area in Belgrade, on different projects: partner and projects coordinator of School of Urban Practices, researcher on Model for Savamala and coordinator and team member in Urban Incubator. He was a member of the organizing team of theSummer School of Architecture in 2012, and is now in the role of team coordinator of the Summer school 2014 at Faculty of Architecture. He has won numerous awards and recognitions at various competitions, participated in more than twenty workshops, which is why in the BG Scapes Lab Predrag is in the role of Workshop guru. Highly interested in everything related to nutrition in the cities, he is currently working on a project of alternative ways of farming in cities.
Dragan Marković High Line Workshop Tutor Dragan Markovic (1987) is a third year student of doctoral studies at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade. Since 2009 he was engaged as a teaching assistant at the Department of Architecture within the introductory courses, elective courses within the BA studies and architectural engineering and design studio within the MA studies of architecture. Since 2012 year he is receiving a scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia and is a member of the team of researchers engaged in scientific research projects funded by the Ministry. His student and award-winning competition entries were exhibited at Belgrade Salon of Architecture, as well as numerous group exhibitions. He was a mentor to several architectural workshops, most important of which were: "Architectural Student Congress" in Novi Sad (2012), "Architecture and Nature" at the Summer School of Architecture in Petnica (2012) and "A Garden to Go" at the Belgrade ECOWEEK-a (2012). He is one of the four members of the editorial team of the architecture portal "Super Space" (www.superprostor.com).
Nataša Janković High Line Workshop Tutor Nataša was born in 1985 in Krusevac, Serbia. She became a Master of Architecture in 2009th year. Scholar of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia since 2010th to 2013th, from 2013th works as a research assistant and teaching associate at the University of Belgrade - Faculty of Architecture, where she is currently attending her PhD studies. She served as a mentor in a few workshops: 2013: "City Measured for the Children", Belgrade (organized by: Belgrade Flower Festival and SWECO Architects AB, Stockholm); 2013: RIBA “Polyport international workshop” (Belgrade University ofArchitecture and Urbanism ‘Ion Mincu’ Bucharest, Romania, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Architecture and University of Brighton, Architecture Programme, Brighton, UK); 2012: “Waterliving Kids” (organized by: Megatrend University, Politecnico di Milano, City of Belgrade). She also actively participates in presentation of student works through exhibitions and festivals (Eme3_2012, International Architecture Festival, Barcelona; EduZone, Mikser Festival, Belgrade; etc), but also she was a part of organization committee for two important scientific international conferences both held in Belgrade: Architecture of Deconstruction/The Specter of Jacques Derrida (2012) and ISSUES? Concerning the Project of Peter Eisenman/Discussions with Peter Eisenman (2013) with its distinguish guests (like Peter Eisenman, Bernard Tschumi, Mark Wigley and others).
Daniel Schwartz TORRE DAVID documentary co-author and presenter / panel discussion guest speaker Daniel Schwartz is a filmmaker, photographer, and urban researcher. He studied Urban Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania and Radio Journalism at the University of Botswana. His photography and writing have appeared in numerous publications such as the New York Times, The Guardian, and Domus. He has directed documentary short films that have screened at the Venice Biennale, the World Urban Forum, and the International Documentary Film Festival of Amsterdam, and been broadcasted on numerous channels in Europe and the U.S. He currently serves as associated director of Urban-Think Tank Films and manages multimedia research at the Brillembourg & Klumpner Chair for Architecture and Urban Design at ETH Zürich.
Nina Radosavljević Neglected Bigness Workshop Tutor She graduated from the 2009th Faculty of Architecture in Belgrade. She had a chance to work with one of the best young European architecture offices in Austria and Italy, where learned to work with parametric design in an urban design projects. Her particular interest in the field of art and exhibitions is perhaps most clearly depicted by the most valid architectural prize in Serbia "Ranko Radović" in 2010, which she was awarded with professor Danko Selinkić and a group of colleges for the multimedia project “Architectural Exhibition”. She was a part of Bauhaus Kolleg XIII "After Levittown" Program, where she gained specialization in the field of Suburbs. Exhibition " After Levittown " was held in July- August 2012, the Bauhaus Building in Dessau. Also, she had a privilege to have a research project at the Summer International school at ETH University Zurich in a Programme "From Suburb to City"; where she has collaborated with the greatest experts in the world scene of architecture and urbanism. In cooperation with the Ministarstvo Prostora in Belgrade , she led the workshop "Belgrade 's Dream" in December 2012. As a result of her work in in Serbia , Canada , France, Austria, Italy and Germany, she has explored and interacted with different cultures and customs in field of architecture
Radivoje Dinulović Architecture of Performance and (or) Performance of Architecture Panel Discussion moderator Professor of Architectural Design, Scene Design and Ephemeral Architecture at the Faculty of Technical Sciences; Chair in Art Applied to Architecture, Technique & Design. Founder of BA, MA and PhD Studies in Scene Design, Architecture & Technology at the University of Novi Sad. Curator of the national exhibition of Serbia at the PQ 2007 and National Commissioner at the PQ 2011.
Snežana Timotijević Neglected Bigness Workshop Tutor She defines her home as a transitional foggy-like structure in between Kaluđerica and the centre of Belgrade. In 2009 she graduated with a BA studies in Art Production Management from Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade; In 2012 she graduated from the University of Arts, UNESCO Chair in Cultural Policy and Management; MA Thesis on Public event as a generator of social value changes, Case study: Kaluđerica. In the period of 2012–2013 she was working as a teaching demonstrator for the course Media Relations at Academy of Fine Arts, and courses Contemporary Media and Presentation and Placement of Artworks at the New Academy of Arts. From 2010 she was participating in various projects in Belgrade such as: Construction Site Theatre, Maastricht Summer School: Culture and the City, Failed Architecture: Belgrade’s Savamala, Scenic sites of Savamala and Creative Engagement: Using city as an action tool. From different angles these experiences triggered her aspirations for complex relations between urban and socio-cultural aspects of the city, public space, community-art, site-specific projects and related. In 2012 she initiated a project Blejakt: Kaluđerica – photo workshop and exhibition for the local youth. She is involved with informal group Radio.nica dealing with small-scale events, instalations and workshops based on creative use of light. As of October 2013 she works as program assistant in Cultural Center of Belgrade exploring her interests and gaining new skills by engaging in the wide spectrum of cultural programs. Belgrade.Scapes:Lab brings her back to the local activism.
Goran Govedarica SCALE Workshop Tutor updating CV
Vladimir Radinović Lost in Vibration Workshop Tutor updating CV
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BELGRADE.SCAPES:LAB / BiG PROJECTS To be continued.