Architectural portfolio. Nielsine otto. Royal Danish Academy of fne arts, school of architecture.
Nielsine Otto Architectural Portfolio, 2015
Content
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PERSONAL STATEMENT
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RESUME
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PROJECT SAMPLES
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WRITING SAMPLE
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Drawing made as part of an analysis of the social housing project in Albertslund, Denmark. Later used in the exhibition ’Housing and Welfare’, KADK (2015)
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PERSONAL STATEMENT NIELSINE OTTO
With this small book I try to outline the different projects i have been working on; different in scale, methodology, strategy, media of representation; And alike in little couplings of the exact same terms. My work is always strongly researchbased - weather it be phenomenology or demography - and for me to be passionate about a project, it must depart from a social, political or philosophical angle rather than aestetic. Inspiration is found in equal amount in ethnological/sociological/anthropological research as in archtectural proposals. This portfolio consists of 1) Studioprojects (Titles, assignment, tutor) 2) Single pages of small work samples (workshop/courses/other -) Thank you. -
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LANGUAGE SKILLS Danish, English, Swedish, Norwegian, German and Spanish.
EXPERIENCE 2011-present
EASA - EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURE STUDENT ASSEMBLY n Participant in Spain (2011), Finland (2012) and Slovenia (2013) n Danish National Contact 2012-present. Konferences; Vienna, Austria, 2012 and Bucharest, Romania, 2013 n Workshop Tutor/director: / Umbrella Magazine, Bulgaria, 2014 / Lyrical City - A radiocinematheque, Malta 2015.
2013-present
DANSK BYGNINGSARV (Danish House of Heritage) Working with cityplanning in coastal towns through participatory design processes. n Completed course in project management and process facilitation (Implement Consulting Group)
DIGITAL SKILLS Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), SketchUp, Rhino, 3D Studio Max, AutoCAD. CONTACT INFORMATION Nielsine Otto nielsine.co@gmail.com +45 61 66 44 40 Søllerødgade 35 DK - 1366 Copenhagen N Denmark
2014 2011-2013
3XN ARCHITECTS, modelworkshop DANISH ARCHITECTURE CENTER, Bookshop and Exhibition. EDUCATION
2014-2016 2010-2013 2009
2005-2008
ROYAL DANISH ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS, SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE n Master in Political Architecture: Critical Sustainability n B-Arch from Department 2 (City and Building) KUNSTHØJSKOLEN I HOLBÆK A semester at an art school studying installation art, ceramics and designprocceses. ØSTRE BORGERDYD GYMNASIUM, Social Science OTHER
2012 2013
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FRØKEN MARIE MÅNSSONS LEGAT Grand given to talented students of architecture for the purpose of travelling; n Russia to study Soviet material culture. n Biennale de Architeqtura di Venezia, Italy (2014).
2014
UNKNOWN FIELDS DIVISION, Summer expedition to Madagascar with Architectural Association. (Fieldwork, writing, filmmaking)
2011
DIALOGMØBEL 2nd place in the contest of designing and building in wood a 1:1 Dialog Furniture for an urban context.
PROJECT SAMPLES
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PERI-URBAN CONDITIONS Political Architecture, fall 2014 Assignment: Project work based on three-week fieldwork in Chittagong Bangladesh - reasearching informal areas in the periphery of a rapid expanding megacity. Professor: Niels GrønbÌk & Dag Peterson
The rural-urban divide is evident globally and in Bangladesh in particular, where environmental issues forces a lot of people to leave their villages behind and search for paid work in the big cities. In the case of Chittagong up to 1000 people migrate every day saturating the city beyond its capacity. In the context of Boxirhat, Chittagong, talking about formal and informal with the purpose of drawing a distinction between the people living there legal and illegally, seizes to make sense when their conditions of life otherwise is much the same, as the legal tenants too will be moved as urban development begins and the state is governing as little in the formal as in the informal. The insecurity, the temporality, the porousness of the condition is outspoken. The inhabitants are building sheds and setting up structures to facilitate drying fish. Some drive a rickshaw – some have a paid job. They all come from somewhere, and home is not Boxirhat.
01 Condition Between Liquid and Solid; Retaining wall
Scene 02 Condition Between Liquid and Solid; Soil Island
RESTORATIVE NOSTALGIA PUTS EMPHASIS ON NOSTOS AND PROPOSES TO REBUILD THE LOST HOME AND PATCH UP THE MEMORY GAPS. REFLECTIVE NOSTALGIA DWELLS IN ALGIA, IN LONGING AND LOSS THE IMPERFECT PROCESS OF REMEMBRANCE. SVETLANA BOYM
Q Could actively sustaining this hybrid landscape in the urban-rural interference lead to elevation of the migrants, figuratively speaking; And could elevation, literally speaking, contribute to creating a landscape of a composite nature able to accommodate the temporal occupants residing in this infrasolid condition whilst mediating the path to firm ground? How would a hybrid root net able to accommodate the needs of the uprooted look?
H Y B R ID
SE C T I O N ( a) 1: 5 0
SE C T I O N ( b ) 1: 5 0
( c)
(d )
(b )
( a)
R O O T N E T
SE C T I O N 1: 5 0
SE C T I O N ( c) 1: 5 0
SE C T I O N 1: 5 0
SE C T I O N ( d ) 1: 5 0
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STAGE ONE
Between two forces moving in to the area - industrial development from left; residential from right - is a yet untouched piece of Boxirhat. This is the site for step one of the proporsition towards arriving at a new hybrid rootnet for the uprooted.
PRINCIPAL DIAGRAM Boxirhat The colliding forces framing the new point of entry and defining area of focus. (Re)introducing infrastructure
PRINCIPAL DIAGRAM. Boxirhat The colliding forces framing the nvew points of entry and defining area of focus. (Re)introducing infrastructure.
PRINCIPAL DIAGRAM Boxirhat The colliding forces framing the new point of entry and defining area of focus. (Re)introducing infrastructure
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MODEL The site is almost condensed into a crossing between two lines, and the idea was to expand this point into a spatial meeting point. A literal crossover from rural to urban.
STRATEGY/IES The idea is for the strategy to answer to the pressure of development with sort of an injection of resistance. The intention is to slow down the process in relation to urbanisation at this exact site, but also on a human level in the form of creating mediation or a hybrid between rural and urban life. At this site migrants from rural Bangladesh will continue to arrive with livestock and and not much more as this is one of very few crossings over the Karnapuli river which materialises the rural urban divide. By reintroducing the stream of water, which was previously here, the spot is made accessible by boat, as well as by road by creating a road from north to break this very linear site Central in the strategy is a cemetary which will stop all developement by law. Around it there will be a small harbour, which will establish a relationship to the villages on the other side where boat is a primary transportation. And also accommodate the people who still support themselves by fishing as they know it from their home villages.
A A Limnial Space Strategy
B A Protected Heart Strategy
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F I R E AT T H E F I R E S TAT I O N BArch project, spring 2013 Assignment: To works with the tention between two programs the firestation and a contemplative space. Professor: Marianne Ingvartsen
Initial case studies included two buildings representing the two oposing typologies present in the program; that of the church (the contemplative room) and that of the firestation (the functional room). In these two drawings I have studied San Carlo A La Quattro Fontane in Rome and the firestation of Bergen, Norway. In the intersection between these two typologies the program started to unfold: A building serving both as a firestation and a public space and eatery. The objective of the project is to combine spaces of speed and functionality with contemplative rooms for firemen living as well as working here, and spaces that enables interaction between firemen and the public.
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IF ONE WERE TO SUMMARIZE LIFE IN A CITY AND LIFE IN A BUILDING IN ONE GESTURE, IT WOULD BE THAT OF PASSING THROUGH BOARDERS PIER VITTORIO AURELI
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STRATEGY + METHODOLOGY By identifying thresholds and borders in the urban landscape within the the radius of land covered by the firestation, I developed five typologies to be translated into scale of a building. The objective of the project is to study similarities between life in a city and life in building - and to (re)create urban typologies within the firestation much like the way a firestation otherwise simulate its context in order to provide training facilities.
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CONCEPT +METHODOLOGY PLANS Methoddological process drawings in plan, integrating the ideas of the boundary of the city into the typology of the building
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PLAN, SECTIONS & ELEVATION Plans of the single level of the public spaces and the two levels of the firestation. Sections show the way the two programs meet ind the building. Original drawing by hand in A0 format, but unfortuately missing before I had a chance to scan it properly, hence the poor quality.
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SCHLESISCHES STRASSE
FALKENSTRASSE
OBERBAUMSTRASSE
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SECTION + PLAN (A) A section through the dorms and rehersal tower in the firesttation
MODEL Individual parts of the model. The rehersal tower (a). The common facilities (b). The dorms (c). The spaces of contemplation (d). The intersection of the two programs (e). Full building with facade (f)
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SECTION + PLAN (B) A section through the fireplace and contemplative rooms for both public and firemen.
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A R E C R E AT I O N A L C E N T E R I N G R A N A D A Fall 2011 Assignment: Selfprogrammed project based on a fieldwork in Granada, Spain. Professor: Niels Grønbæk
“CASE”STUDY + FIELDWORK Through initial studies of the way wasp´s nest function, in relation to constant phases of demolotion and regenration, a method of investigation and a preliminary strategy for the project was developed. The aim of the project was to work with a decaying building and integrate the findings in the studies of the nest into a way of analysing, drawing and propose.
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Stills from the film made on fieldwork on the site; Letting a string explore the detailing of the decaying house. Giving certain elements an importance. THE BUILDING An old decaying hotel, became the site of proposal - A proposal developed through several phases of simultaneously taking apart and regenerating in the process of drawing. This drawing showing the string - the movemet - the decay - put forward in the registration short film, was underlying every new drawing (two of which is shown on p 26-27)
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4. floor
3. floor
ALHAMBRA
CITY OF GRANADA
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2. floor
ground floor
Situation plan of the recreational center in its context, placing itself between the city of Granada, and the Palace of Alhambra. Above; the four levels of the building in plan.
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ISOMETRIC DRAWINGS Like this particular process of drawing - building the proposal layer by layer - the proposal consists of phases; a structure developing over time, growing as the building crumbles.
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Work experience: Ă˜ster Hurup, Denmark Dansk Bygningsarv.
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The two visualisations in these pages are from a project for the small danish town of Øster Hurup. The strategy of the project is to highlight characteristic features of the physical and cultural heritage of this traditional fishing village as well as create space for new functions related to tourism. The illustrations show two focal points - the harbour and the square - of the planning concept, which was developed through a process of participatory design workshops with the inhabitants. The plan was awarded ‘Best Concept for Coastal Towns’ by Danish Center for Coastal Tourism.
Other projects I have participated in: •
“Plan of Potentials: The Danish Riviera” _ Strategic planning of five coastal towns and their interrelation.
•
“Tourismpotentials in Hvide Sande & Søndervig” _ Placemaking through a three part strategy; physical, social and identity.
•
“Transformation of closed churches” _ A inspirational catalogue and presedent case studies.
•
“Planning Strategy for Odsherred” _ Analysis and strategy for regeneration of a district and its individual towns and landscapes.
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ORDER/DISORDER Spring 2011 Assignment: Rethinking the modernist social housing komplex of Albertslund Syd, Denmark. Professor: Niels Grønbæk
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Anita Bonde Elle Hagar Lörinc Emil Ottar Riise Nielsine Otto Kunstakademiets Arkitektskole, afd. 2 2012
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1.
Analysis of a pubic space in Albertslund Syd.
2.
Handdrawn boxplan of a house in Albertslund Syd, focusing on the elements referenced in an interview with a resident.
3.
Drawing of the suburban housing area focusing on common areas and talking about a way of behaving.
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A study of phenomenological transparency - challenging the perception of the facade. The social housing of Albertslund Syd, Denmark Axonometric drawings: Space being generated through a method of fluctuation between interpreting facade and space.
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Atelierhouses, Emdrup, Denmark Analysis in model February 2013
Part of a model made with the intention of understanding the row housing of the existing Atelier Houses in Copenhagen, Denmark. Studying the syntax of the space, and the relation between materials and function.
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Easa-workshop: Para-mat Sumemr 2011
1:1 PARA-MAT Experimentations with old bicycle tires as construction material ruselutet in an installation in a public square in Cadiz, Spain. The mat was left here for kids and plyaful adylts to enjoy throughout the summer
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Competition: Urban Dialogue Furniture April 2011
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1:1 URBAN FURNITURE WHEEL Proposed for and build in Copenhagen. The wheel can be occupied in numerous different ways: al of which invites to - and is only possible by - interaction between occupants. A Urban Dialogue Furniture. (awarded 2nd prize)
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A HOUSE FOR A SHIP Spring 2011 Assignment: Through investigations of a specific ship and its characteristic,s to make an interpretation of a house in relation to the scale of a ship and the human scale. Professor: Kristian Balle, Nicholas Bjรถrndal.
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This project began with an analysis of the specific sailing trawler ’Masterhand’ in drawings and models. a
Section B
As a dry dock is flooded when the ship is at sea, this whole ship yard is only accessable when ship is in dock and water is low. With an entrance below water level, a water lock is created for the archive of measurements and research which is conducted while the ship is in dock.
Section A
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Section A
Section B (2)
Section B (1)
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1st year fieldwork, Malta A Knifegrinders workshop 2010
On a fieldtrip to Valletta, Malta, I followed the daily routine of the 63year old knife grinder Salvu. Based on these observations and registrations a project about erotion, wear, the repeated action and time manifistated in layers took shape. A study of time as a visible presence and the notion of changeability of space.
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Workshop: Through the canvas. Flores Prats arquiteqtos. January 2012
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Through the Canvas. Workshop with Flores/Prats Arquitectos. Analysing and interpreting the concept of ’Home’ in dutch 17th century paintings through drawing and model. Working with perspektive, views and blind spots towards a new interpretation of a home for a photographer.
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#05: Workshop special
EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS ASSEMBLY VELIKO TARNOVO
2. 3. 4.-6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.-23. 24.-25 26.-29. 30. 31. 32.
VOL. 14 - ISSUE 05 TUESDAY AUGUST 1ST
Buzludzha
Looking for the recipe? Find it here!
EASA is drawing to its end and it’s time to recap and see the vast mountains of work that has been done during these two weeks by all the participants, tutors, helpers and organizers. With this in mind umbrella got hold of all the workshops and reports on this issue on the most recent developments. Offering this small in-
The Sangria night
The big workshop special
sight is in no way substitute for exploring, but we are hoping it will give the overview needed to make your own way through the forrest of experiment, installations and exhibitions on saturday. Unfortunately a few workshop didn’t pass our path but we are sure they have been doing some amazing things as well and you shouldn’t forget
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ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK
AT
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While the other umbrella’s went on an excursion to the much talked about Soviet monument, I decided to get my hands - and eventually feet, clothes, hair - dirty in the Antiroom workshop. Some sort of sadomasochism let’s say. I must admit I didn’t get up as early as the hardcore Antiroom workers, and I also took time for a long shower, but that proved to be irrelevant already after half an hour of working. I joined the group of Antiroom that is working on the basketball court, preparing and painting not less than 200 pallets and 48 wooden
YEP, THAT IS A LOT OF SANGRIA. IF YOU CALCULATE THE 321 REGISTERED GUESTS AND DIVIDE THEM EQUALLY FOR 750 LITRES OF SANGIRA, YOU GET 2.33644 LITRES PER PERSON. THATS ALSO ALOT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT A WHILE.
HO OF UR PA S RT Y
SLICES OF PIZZA
FOUR HUNDRED
ENDING AT 06:00HRS
ST AR 22:0 TIN 0H G RS
BUT WE DON‘T REALLY KNOW. WE CAN‘T REMEMBER
INSIDE 50 PIZZA BOXES
321
50
PRE-REGISTERED GUESTS
KILOGRAM OF FRUITS
PAYING 14 LV IN ADVANCE
ALL CUT BY HANDS AND WITH LOVE
breakfast
9:30 AM
workshop exhibitions
12:30 AM from the tutors 19:00 PM
dinner group photo and workshop presentations
23:00 PM Tehnopolis
to check them out on Saturday. We want to thank you all for amazing two weeks and an especially massive thank you for all the contributors of Umbrella - you are the people who made Umbrella possible! Over and out - can’t wait to see you all in sunny Malta! And some of you already in Berlin for INCM!
farewell party
weather saturday
The Spanish team organized one of the wildest nights of this year’s EASA on Wednesday. The party was held by the river and the location turned out being perfect with the starlit sky and plenty of room for dancing. Not even the police seemed to mind our good times which has been the main problem on some of the previous parties. Let’s hope the good luck on that department continues till the very end.
lost: Skywalk have lost their notebook
found: appiness on finishing on time Excitement for EASA 2015 - Malta
lunch
20:30 PM
sunday
monday
WANTED
Not surprisingly, the dance floor soon filled up after everyone got around their first glass of sangria and stayed that way all the way till the sun got up. Everybody has been craving for some crazy dancing fun and an open bar with 800 liters of sangria - which was all finished by the way - made sure that everyone was on the mood for some serious boogying. We even got some pizza mid-way
doors. Around noon we got the bad news that the sangria party was taking place at the exact spot of Antiroom’s pallets, so everything had to be moved. Seeing tutor Elena’s desperate face, the espanish people called a group of helpers together to move pallets, so that we could continue painting. Several hours and several paint cans later, with the constant noise of drilling and sanding in the background and the scorching sun on our heads I as officially destroyed and covered in red paint. I never thought moving a brush up and down would be such a
ArchiTOUR
Although the Spanish sangria is delicious, other nations have their editions of the
through the night to keep our energy levels up. The spicy Spanish atmosphere, kissing game for shots and the looming end of EASA made sure that the night was not short of romance and heat. Emotions were whirling also because some early birds are already starting to leave the lovely Veliko Tarnovo causing some early EASA blues – even some tears were spotted on people’s faces.
drink as well. Check out the recipes for the real thing and these two alternatives so you can have a sangria night every night! Sangria
let it brew. Remember to let some air in the bottles every now and then to prevent them from exploding. Brewing time depends on the yeast you use and how strong you want it to be, around a week should be fine. Get ready to enjoy your cheap drunk!
6l red wine 6l of Fanta 1l gin 1l rum 1l vodka 500g sugar 1 kg fruits
Traveling friends for Leena, the Finnish helper, her flights home are from Bucharest on the 8th of August. You can find eena usually at the I la info-point.
Fingria, also known as kilju
Dangaria
10 liters of water 2 kg of sugar Lemons Yeast
Quote of the day
Strawberry jam Milk Vodka Mix the ingredients for your liking. Enjoy from a large canister together with friends.
Mix everything and put in bottles. Keep at room temperature and
(about Thursday’s dinner)
Dear EASA people! We would like to spread the word about the supercool FB group ArchiTOUR Booklets! https face book.com/groups/archiTOUR/ Currently we already have 45 fantastic booklets from different architectural excursions around the world with itineraries and selected built masterpieces. It would be great if you would join and share ArchiTOUR Booklets from your faculty trips or others that you came across! Let us make together the best library of architectural excursions booklets in the world!!! Welcome to join, share and spread the word also back home at your home universities! Best and enjoy the fantastic EASA 2014!! EASA Dino - Jernej
“This pasta is so overcooked I can almost drink it.”
survival of the fittest
the last remaining party people at umbrellanewspaper@gmail.com
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EASA 2015 hard job. On the upside, painting requires only one hand. Some of the participants have mastered the technique of having a beer in one hand and a paint brush in the other. Even after one short day of manual labour compared to other days of interviewing and typing - I can see what drives the construction workshops. The lunch, the ice cream break in the afternoon, a bottle of ice tea and several bottles of water, a cold shower, a semi-cold rice dish, a not-so-cold beer and eventually the softness of a mattress never felt as good as today.
The Maltese team
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INCM – Intermediate National Contacts Meeting – is the backbone of EASA. It’s what makes it all possible. It’s a week long meeting where, just as for EASA, a different country with different organisers accommodates the event every year. It takes place in the fall, which gives time for post EASA-reflection and pre-future-EASA engagement. A part of it is making decisions on who the future EASA or IMCM organisers should be. These decisions are not taken lightly. In fact, inside this
Onion participant Madli Kaljuste made continuation story last night at the bar. Read and enjoy! umbrellanewspaper@gmail.com
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On Tuesday we got enjoy a presentation by the Maltese about next year’s EASA which will be held in Valetta with the theme of links. The room was filled with excitement as they showed off how far they’re in the organizing of the event. The standard has been set high by this year’s assembly and the Maltese have high ambitions for next year so it will surely be an EASA not-to-miss.
Stopover in Berlin for INCM
NUMBER OF COUPLES THAT HAD A SHOT EACH FOR A KISS
6
Sangria recipes
The Spanish feeling was through the roof on Wednesday’s party
A day in the shoes of a construction workshop
LITRES OF SANGRIA
IN NUMBERS
8:00 AM
SANGRIA!
LOST AND FOUND
umbrellanewspaper@gmail.com
2
NAME OF EVENT
saturday august 2nd
EDITORS’ NOTE
Umbrellacursion
SANGRIA NIGHT
WHAT’S ON?
Contents / introduction What’s on? / weather / Lost and Found / Wanted / Quote of the day Sangria / ArchiTOUR A day in the life of a construction workshop A story by Onion EASA 2015 / INCM 2014 Typography timeline Workshops, workshops, workshops and a few more workshops Experiment Balkans Excursion to Budludzha _Lapse Humans of Veliko Tarnovo Photo of the day
choice lies a larger discussion on ”What do we want EASA to be?”, ”Where are we going with this?” and ”What makes it important to us?”. All NC’s together decide between -in most cases- two bidding teams, who already have put a lot of effort and passion into a proposal. The emphasis really lies in ‘together’ as all decisions are made through the process of consensus discussing until everyone agrees. This can take hours and hours, but in the end the decision will reflect our common idea
on what EASA is – and that is very fulfilling Last fall NC’s met up in Bucharest for 10 days, where the Romanian team had prepared an event under the theme ”Eastern Lab”. They created the framework for discussions, inspirational talks and social events. Not to mention parties. This fall Berlin will, according to last years decisions, be the host of INCM. In the beginning of November at the latest we will all know where EASA016 and INCM015 will take place.
umbrellanewspaper@gmail.com
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Lightype tutor Vincent Devillard has created a timeline of architectural styles and typography umbrellanewspaper@gmail.com
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Think tank _ differently
Also Imaginarium has lost a few working days for being sick but the great participants together with the tutors have managed to pull of some seriously
They were planning to work with a tank but didn’t get one so the workshop was all about improvisation and experimentation. At the beginning it was stressful and impossible to plan. But with the frame work created by the limited materials available they’ve gone far and results seem
the gallery who have been a great help in building the new stair that form the cultural venue. Go and check it out! Walden
Up, Down & Stairs
into the structure as well, so this turned out to be a perfect match. Fran is pretty experienced with these kind of constructions, so when asked about it he’s pretty confident that everything ill get finished on time Looking back, he’d maybe just change some small details on the design, but all in all it’s been a pretty smooth experience. We can t ait for the finished result! Yantra and Chaotium
The symbiosis of Walden with Veliko Tarnovo has already started. It wasn’t planned beforehand, but there’s a hardware store in town whose shop owner doesn’t live far from the Walden site, and charmed by the workshop he’s been coming by and helping them out. Hopefully this is a good sign that the locals will be using the structures of Walden as well as the Boathouse and Back To The Roots. Guerilla Gardening will also be joining the symbiosis, as they’re planning to incorporate some planting into the platforms. Tutor Fran had envisioned some planting
This workshop has done some impressive things during these two weeks. They designed and built a whole new cultural venue by the Taralej art gallery on top of mapping out the existing stairs of Veliko Tarnovo. Tonight, they are having a concert and the official opening by the gallery starting at 7 pm. They have been working together with the locals and the people from
It’s is hard to put into words the effect it has on you, visiting a place, which has for some time been at the top of the to-do list, and for some people has had a great significance or at least has a great amount of connotations. EASA media group plus guests went on excursion to the abandoned, monumental Congress Hall of Buzludzha. Since 1989 it has been abandoned, decaying and left for people to rob and ruin. In 2011 it was given to the
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Socialist Party, but visiting it today – the condition of the roof, mosaics dissolved, the broken glass - it doesn’t look like there is any way of restoring it. Looking at a map it seems, it is not too far away. But the road there is a bit longer than it seems because it is situated 1441 m above ground at a historical peek in the mountains. The view is breathtaking and the volume of the building is awe-inspiring.
On several occasions I have been met with incomprehension, on the edge of disapproval, of our desire to visit such a place. I can’t help wonder the reason behind this strange gap between a large group finding it out of-this-world interesting, and another finding it purposeless. Being clearly on the side with an addiction to ruin porn and an interest in political as well as cultural and material heritage, I wonder what the reason ehind not finding umbrellanewspaper@gmail.com
The building
he pea on hich it is situated is, with its 1441 m above ground, the highest point in the mountain range running from Serbia to the Black Sea.
u lud ha is the name of the biggest ideological monument in Bulgaria.
ne of the leaders of the ulgarian rebels, Hadji Dimitar, was killed at Buzludzha Peak, which is why it would later have its name changed in the memory of him. In people gathered at this historically significant point. They founded the Social Democratic Party. ince the first congress in 1891 the Social Democratic Party, later the Communist Party and now the Socialist Party gathers every year in the first ee end of ugust this Saturday!
LANGUAGE LANGUAGE A map-game of Veliko Tarnovo was distribTOGETHER
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VISION 37
TASTE 16
SOUND 23
SMELL 8
e spac
War e whWll the space m up ar exer enm you firex when yo cise up u No stersecinc seedN first se 2 o sm2elly nced sm ing? elly
ing?
t ki Wha
up
SPACESPACE
wn ?
to easa
rd in
of wo
rm Wa
up
wn sa to
s ea
habit
o1
eN
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exe
nd hat ki
rm
Wa
s
habit
rd in
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EASA EASA W COMMUNITY COMMUNITY
ba lkan METER ba lkan METER
VISION 37
SOUND 8SMELL 23
A map-game of Veliko Tarnovo was distributed to the participants and they were uted to the participants asked to explore Balkan spots of the and city. they were asked to explore The task was to place wordsBalkan in the spots predi-of the city. task was totheir place words in the predispots,The thus express perception fined spots, thusthe express their of Balkan urbanity through medium ofperception of Balkan urbanity the medium of language. The outcome was athrough verbal map language. The outcome was aofverbal map of What unites What unites the Balkans? the Balkans?
TOGETHER fined
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TASTE 16
Can yo MEMORY MEMORY u reca Can yo ll th u reca
EASA is in Balkan territories at last! The 3 conEASA is incommunity Balkan territories last! The 3 continius stops of easa during at2013 tinius stops of easa community -2014 have formed a collective memory of the during 2013 have formed a collective memory of the easians over -2014 the Balkans. Experiment Balkans easians the Balkans. Experiment Balkans aims to reveale the over fragments of collective aims the to reveale the fragments memory through questionnaires and theof collective memory through the questionnaires and the Warm Up Exercise No.2, that occured during Up Exercise No.2, that occured during Saturday 26thWarm of July Saturday 26th of July
0
What diferentiates What diferentiates the Balkans? the Balkans?
Did EASA served as a vehicle to visit the Did EASA served as a vehicle to visit the Balkans? Balkans? 50 100 0
o1
eN
rcis
exe
?
TRADITIONS TRADITIONS MEM MEM ORY ORY BORDERS BORDERS
50
100
YES NOYES NO (GRF ) OUSTERI ERMIONI(GRG)ARRAMONE (GARRAMONE R) ATHINAFOUSTERI ERMIONI G (GR) ATHINA
ONE DAYONE WORKSHOP DAY WORKSHOP
VALENTIN HOFER (AT)HOFER ZANE (LVK)ALNINA (LV) VALENTIN (ATK) ALNINA ZANE PETER PHILIPPEAU DUBRAVKO R) A (BIA H) PHILIPPEAU (FR) UBRAVKO LEKSIC (BIH) PETER (F DLEKSIC GUILLAUME SGTARK (CH)STARK CHRISTOF (ATM ) ATHES (AT) UILLAUME (CH) MCATHES HRISTOF ALICE ESCUDIER ADRIAN R) (ES) POBO (ES) ALICE(FE ADRIAN SCUDIER (FR) POBO TEREZA HAUMEROVA K) GEORGIA (GR) AUMEROVA (SKA ) THANOSOPOULOU (GR) TEREZA H(S GEORGIA ATHANOSOPOULOU MARCELA RACZOVA K) ANASTASIA R) ACZOVA (SK) D NASTASIA (G DIMOULAKI (GR) MARCELA(SR AIMOULAKI
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The place
In as the year hen Bulgaria gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire.
The radio station got off to a rocky start as their antenna got lost on arrival. But there is a silver lining on everything and one the tutors, Joonas, seemed really excited to have learned how to make a ra-
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THE FACTUAL STUFF
Sune Jørgensen
An archive has been collected investigating archive hasidentity. been collected what is the soAn called Balkan Data and investigating what isexhibitions, the so calledfestivals Balkan identity. Data and documents from and documents from exhibitions, books and the most important of all, yourfestivals and books and the most opinion as analysed through the important question- of all, your opinion as analysed the questionnaires of INCM 013 (Romania) and through EASA 014 of INCM of 013 (Romania) (Bulgaria) arenaires the contents the Archive. and A EASA 014 (Bulgaria) the contents of the Archive. A true symbiosis occuredare between Experiment true symbiosis occured between Experiment Balkans and EASA STATS workshop! Balkans and EASA STATS workshop!
EASA is an autonomous society that releasEASA is an pop-up autonomous pop-up society that releases its own spatiality overspatiality the actual of thespace of the es its own overspace the actual hosting city. hosting The 12 participants the workshop city. The 12 of participants of the workshop were asked towere create an to alternative of EASAmap of EASA asked create anmap alternative town, by placing words some in the words overlapse ofoverlapse of town,some by placing in the easa space and the old Turkish city center we have easa space and the old Turkish city center we have been living these weeks. beentwo living these two weeks.
Architecture as a political image
Nielsine Otto ofie evriendt
Easa tv has been shaken up a bit this year, there’s quite a few tutors compared to other years be-
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nd
excursion to Buzludzha
Photos by / Alexandra Kononchenko Anastasiya Andrukovich
EASA Stats has been analysing the easians and finding different ays of how to present those statistics. You’ve seen their stats in Umbrella before, but for example they also made a 3D infographic about the Sangria party. Tutor Arian is quite happy with the results so far. Thinking about the output
ARCHIVE ARCHIVE
Chaotium changed its original plan – to use chaotic patterns from research of Veliko Tarnovo, but instead they are being inspired by the river. As we wrote in the second edition, they are working with Yantra at the moment and planning further symbiosis with other workshops
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EASA park
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like Hard Fiber Fun and Onion. On Wednesday night we saw the result of the great symbiosis by Yantra and Chaotium as they gave us a light performance by the river dam. The effect of moving lights in the dark, the sound of rushing water beneath and the journey from one side of the river to the other was truly powerful. If you haven’t seen the dam yet during day time you should do that. They are beautiful buildings. The performance will happen again tonight so go check it out!
EASA FM
U nfo r tu n ate l y we eren t a le to find these bit guys and girls but we are really looking forward to their presentation!
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The imaginarium
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impressive. Think tank’s house can be found in the park between the participants’ accommodation and the IT-lab. The group is working hard to finish on time and according to the tutors the Sangria party has just made everyone work even faster – something that can’t be said of every workshop.
cause some had to leave early or arrive late and also the group of participants was quite big compared to other years, which hasn’t made the organisation of the workshop easy because it means that more computers and cameras needed to be on hand which wasn’t always the case. At the same time the tutors are really happy that the team has been working this hard. Let the EASA tv episodes speak for themselves!
EASA TV
s
For Artem, one of the tutors, this workshop turned out just as he expected if not even better. He would not do a thing different if he had to start over again. “We did some programming, we were doing circuits and participants learned a lot and liked it – that’s why I’m here.” said Artem. Synthesizer was in symbiosis with Lightype if you consider mutual helping as such, and since they share a workspace with Press Play they tend to do
interesting things during the past two weeks. If you haven’t checked out the fog room in the bar before, you should definitely do that tomorrow when it’s operating again. There’ll be some other installations in the bar and around the camp site as well so go and explore the Imaginarium. The workshop has created great group spirit which shows in a great outcome. According to the tutors they really think and work as one. And who wouldn’t want to work with such cute and friendly people?
of the material was challenging but interesting. “At the start of the workshop we meant to use materials that other workshops weren’t using anymore, but in the end there wasn’t so much leftover material that could be recycled. Also the printer wasn’t working too well so we had to find alternatives, for example publish them online.” The workshop has been working closely together with EASA tv, EASA fm, and also the one day workshop Experiment Balkans. Only thing Arian would change? Maybe find a second tutor
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Synthesizer
some mutual stealing of material – and that symbiosis also, right? With The Imaginarium some real symibiosis is coming soon that includes using movement recognition technology. “But one of the nicest symbiosis was with Up, down and Stairs when we played music on the stairs” he added. Will they have something for Saturday? “Well, electronic parts are finished, programming is done and all that remains is the wiring - so I think so, but unfortunately I will not be there since I have to leave a bit early.”
EASA stats
3 stop
The outcome of the Small Interventions workshop is individual or group projects differing in scale between a small beehive and a large tent. The variety of projects is partly due to participants’ inventiveness and partly an informed choice by the tutors – there was a wish to open up the workshop, which has a long history in EASA, and allow the workshop to unfold its potentials. During the past two weeks tutors and participants have attempted to create symbioses with a few other workshops. Among these are the Up, Down and Stairs who were mapping stairs of the city – a map that might turn into a common map of places and interventions for the two workshops. The biggest surprise to the tutors was the unpredictable nature of the
party factor, but despite this, the work is going to be ready for your visits on Saturday. Reflecting upon the workshop, the tutors describes it as a kind of parasite, because of their lack of materials and dependence on leftovers from other workshops, but isn’t this concept really just a sustainable symbiosis?
Cre8 . bit
The people from Easa Park are building concrete benches with steel seating, some garbage bins and a table on the square with view on Tsarevets fortress. The design of the furniture was made by the tutors before easa, but the exact location and configuration was not fixed. The colours and materials are also slightly different than what they had planned. If they would have the chance to restart from scratch, they would not use concrete, since it is difficult and hard or
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Small interventions
Co.
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Come sense us has been part of EASA for the past 3 years, but this year was a little different, since their concept fits best in a natural environment. Fortunately they found shelter in a house near the architects’ club, which became their own quiet space in the middle of the city. This is where they experimented with the body, did yoga, and looked for a connection between practical exercises and theory. Tutor Patrick explained how their workshop had more of a ‘laissez faire’ approach, giving a lot of room for the participants to decide their schedule. They were not together as a group all day, but left some free time for the participants to read and reflect on some of the theoretical material that was part of the workshop. Patrick describes the eventual result as “something happening in the brain of the partici-
3 stop
The chamber of engineers of Veliko Tarnovo sent professional workers to make the main structure for the cantilevered platform. Yet for the tutors it was still difficult to deal ith everything at the same time part of the group is welding elements in the school courtyard, while others are on site assembling the platform. This project is absolutely site specific he tutors visited Veliko Tarnovo several times in advance to find the perfect spot for their concept providing a platform to look out over the spectacular valley and the city. Even if he would be able to redo everything, tutor Mathieu says he is confident about not doing anything differently. Although, if they would have known about the professional help, they might have created something even more ambitious!
City is my playground
pants”, a connection between architecture and body centred activities such as your morning jogging routine. Expect “something about the body” on Saturday!
exerci se No
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C.L.Tangle’s timber and rubber structure will be fixed into the limestone down the steps at the monument. They worked on two different concepts but finally decided on a structure that starts out small and fi ed and then evolves into a more flexible and open structure. It’s been a design and build workshop where the participants have been completely involved in the design of the project, which does mean that the amount of material and work couldn’t be completely predicted beforehand. The design did turn out to be more com-
The people from Co have been doing several concrete formwork experiments. Right now they are finishing a set of stairs along the river, on the way to the island. The concrete blocks have geometrical patterns, imprints of fabric and we think we even spotted some seashells from the excursion in one concrete block. The project is very site specific he tutors who are Bulgarian, spent a couple of days looking for good locations. When they made an early morning walk along the river in winter, the misty atmosphere convinced them to do a social project here, a staircase to make this path accessible. Eventually, the workshop involved much more manual labour than the tutors expected, since they have to level the entire path. You are all welcome to come help them and get dirty.
Come sense us
map
By the riverbank alongside Boathouse and Walden is Back To The Roots’ woven branch construction that almost seems to be growing between the trees. Next to the woven branches they’ve been constructing a shelter too, made with adobe
What is actually a camera obscura? It is a device created long time ago, back in the renaissance, or as Leonardo da Vinci liked to call it “the art of looking at the world up side down”. This workshop made some smaller experiments in the first week, like the transformation of a room in the IT lab into a camera obscura. They covered all the sources of light and completely darkened the room, except for one little circle on the window. So when light comes through that little circle into the room, the scenery from outside projects onto the walls - upside down. Now they are constructing a pavilion near the Asenevci statue, where everyone can experience Veliko Tarnovo upside down. The tutors admit that is going
City is my playground has been working all over the city - and even inside the easa site and at the beach - with some amazing results. The tutors had no specific e pectations especially not about potential symbioses with other workshops. “It turned out very cool, we collaborated with a lot of workshops”. The most significant sym iosis eing the moss wall painting they did with guerrilla gardening. Veliko Tarnovo proved to be a very inspiring city, with some beautiful locations for site specific works. Workshop Up, Down and Stairs also provided them with good locations. Eventually City is My Playground will have final pro ects done y small groups or individual participants. They look very professional, considering that most participants had no previous graffiti experience. “You have to give them some ‘tools’ to make it look neat”, tutor Andrej says. They’ll probably make a map of their works, so get hold of one of these and go on a graffiti city walk!
map
Back to the roots
C.L. Tangle Something that Boathouse has been experiencing first hand is the difference between conceiving a design and actually building it. The design had been made beforehand and even well prepared, but along the way small changes in detailing have been made to make the construction easier. This doesn’t make it look any less impressive though. It’s a project that resulted from researching Veliko Tarnovo and discovering that the riverbank used to be frequently visited, but became disused in recent years. Tutor Rory hopes that the Boathouse might bring a spark back to the river, creating a platform that will enable leisure and water sports to re-use the river in a modern way, especially in combination with Walden and Back To The Roots’ projects. Asking Rory what they’re planning to do once the pavilion is finished he said et it on fire haha e ll see
plicated than anticipated, and a lot more timberwork was involved. The design process might also have been slowed down in the end by a laptop that may or may not have been used for a DJ set and got soa ed in eer The tutors tested the strength of the rubber joints beforehand, and in the final result some joints will be used to their full (hopefully not beyond) capacity. The good thing about the rubber is that it can handle small imperfections. On the symbiosis side of the workshop finally, they’ve been working with a lot of other workshops “that is, if symbiosis means hanging out and helping each other” assumes tutor Cooey.
verbal
Antiroom might be one of the toughest workshops around this year. The par ticipants and tutors have been courageously slaving away, excavating the terrain or painting the never-ending pile of pallets. Tutor Karl expected it to be tough but unexpected issues such as the power cable cut last week or a massive limestone stuck in the ground that needed to be drilled through, slowed down the progress. They’re working on two locations, preparing the doors and painting the pallets at the basketball court, and then moving them to the final location where the rest of the team continues the preparation of the terrain. The presence of the forest around Veliko Tarnovo has been determining for the project and the room
was conceived with these surroundings in mind, on the outskirts of the forest where both the forest is still present but the terrain is flat enough to use. The final result ill e a circular room in which small performances can be held for about 120 spectators. They hope to be able to organise a performance there - Karl is dreaming of a violin performance, so if anyone here is a violin virtuoso, let him know!
much slower than they anticipated, but they have fantastic participants and “being together is enough as experience”.
Cameraobscura
exerci se No
Antiroom
Boathouse
verbal
Umbrella spent an entire day walking around visiting all the workshop - having a talk about the progress, reflections and plans. Not far into the fieldwork it became clear that however small or extensive the interviews were, together the gathered material forms a pretty substantial document on this year’s EASA. Not to mention important for future organisers and tutors. So we have been thinking about how to present it best to you, and decided to write a summary of the words said, the experiences had and reflections shared. For several tutors, the workshops have been a great learning school, in terms of organisational experience, construction skills or interaction with participants. For others it was a way to pass on their knowledge or ideas to a group of eager easians, in the hope to infect more people with the virus of their fascination. We hope you all got infected somehow, be it with the construction bug, the performance bug or just the easa spirit.
bricks a.k.a. bricks out of mud and shit. Tutor Hristo notes that the techniques they’re using are not necessarily Bulgarian, but part of a bigger Balkan tradition. The materials and techniques are usually the same, with only small differences between countries. The workshop had gotten the specific assignment of creating an entrance pavilion to the riverbanks. The design hadn’t been made beforehand but was conceived together with all the participants. Hristo had prepared a back-up design just in case, but in the end he thinks it turned out into something exceeding his expectations. The progress has been going pretty well, not counting the “Spanish stick in the wheels” from Wednesday evening. Hristo is especially grateful to the guys form Skywalk, Walden and Boathouse for helping out with material and the lifting of the branch construction into the trees. Visit them on Friday evening or Saturday for a little barbeque, or maybe even ask them about their special adobe mud mixture for a small spa treatment.
BU LG A RO RIA MA NIA SL OV EN IA BU LG A RO RIA MA NIA SL OV EN IA
Workshop insights
It as uild et een 1981 after drawings by architect Georgi Stoilov. he uilding as uild y Army troops and volunteers. he omehall has a diameter of 42 and is 14,5 m high. It is decorated ith m of mosaic representing the fight of the Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP) and the building of the socialist community. The work took 18 months with contributions from 60 artists.
“I got to pet a horse” - Sune (Denmark) such a place interesting is. Is it the political image which is a thorn in the eye? Is the decay embarrassing? Is it a will to look forward instead of dwelling in old stuff? The Buzludzha Monu-
he to er is m high and the two pentagrams at the top are each 12 m high.
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ment is together with a lot of other buildings from the same period part of a heritage. And it’s not just Bulgarian heritage. It’s a European heritage, which has in one way or another, in different degrees depending on place of birth affected the way we live and think today. It’s worth acknowledgi n g t h at just as the
Vernacular architecture of Veliko Tarnovo is important heritage, which should be preserved and appreciated, monuments such as Buzludzha carries stories and has a value which are important to study. There were many factors that made the place worth the visit. As mentioned there was the view, the mountains, the flowers, the fog and in general the surroundings. Secondly there is the building it self with its UFO looking character and impressive
structure and enormous (one almost wants to say potent) tower. And the third really interesting part is the so present notion of a relationship between politics and our material culture, between past, present and future. When we arrived on the site on Wednesday another film crew was already there shooting. Only two days earlier they had been there shooting as well and could – to our big regret – tell us that had we been there on
that day we would have met the now 85 year old architect behind the building. They had brought him there for an interview, and have most probably shot some really intense and sentimental pictures of an architect visiting his work
that is not only monumental in its physics but also has monumental significance in his own life. While the monument has become increasingly popular destination for decay obsessors, urban explorers, thrill-seekers
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and others interested, the architect himself has not been there since the dissolution of the Bulgarian Communist Party in 1989. He probably has the same difficulty as I have putting in to words what it feels like visiting Buzludzha. 2nd of August Every year in the first weekend of August The Bulgarian Socialist party gather for a congregation next to the monument. Around 10.000 people participate, and are you up for it, you can be one of them this Saturday the 2nd of August! The congregation has been taking place here since the Social Democratic Party was founded in 1891.
_ Lapse have been drawing views from the city. Here’s a small selection of some of their participants drawings.
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Opposite page Pages from one of the publications produced during a writing/magazine workshop I tutored at EASA 2014
WRITING SAMPLE
A CONDITION BETWEEN LIQUID AND SOLID
Sustainabi lity Issues In T he Rapi dly Changing A r eas W her e D evelopi ng U r ban A nd Rur al W or ld M eets N I E L SI N E O T T O P A : C S, D is cour s e M tu ation T he or y , 2014
N O T E. T ex t as illustr ation: I am using pi eces of tex t, which com es f r om another pl ace than the essay – f r om pe r sonal obs er vation and inter est in the contex ts. T hey clear ly tak e on another shape than the r est of the tex t body . T ogether they dr aw 1) a dif f er ent r eading route for the paper and 2) another contexts specific collection of interests which, initiated the r esear ch f or the pape r .
T eh r ur al- ur ba n di vide is evide nt gl oba lly and in pa r ticul ar in B angl ade s h w eh r e envir onm ental is s ue s f or ces a lot of pe opl e to leave the ir village s be hi nd and s ear ch f or pa id w or k in the bi g cities . I n the cas e of C hi ttagong up to 1000 pe opl e m igr ate ever y da y s atur ating t he city be yond its capa city . Often the periurban is defined as a transition zone where urban and rural land uses meet. From a European perspective this fringe will often be characterized by cer tain land us es w hi ch ha s eith er pu r pos ely m oved aw ay f r om the ur ba n area, or require much larger tracts of land, but the definition will inevitably shift de pe ndi ng on the gl oba l location. I n the cas e of C hi ttagong tha t w hi ch is pur pos ely m oved aw ay f r om the ur ba n ar ea is as m uc h indus tr y as it is pe opl e. T hus the pe r iur ba n cons is ts lar ge ly of f actor ies and w or ke r s living unde r poor condi tions . T h e w or ke r s ar e of ten m igr ator s f r om village s , w hi ch the city is una bl e and/ or unw illing to accom m oda te. I n r elation to a s us tainabi lity di s cour s e the pe r iur ba n ar ea is of inter es t due to is s ue s of m igr ation and c om m ut ing. “(..)the concept is sometimes used to fill the gap between suburbanisation and ex ur bani sation and thus r elates m or eover to the m ovem ent of pe opl e in spac e.” 1 T eh s e ar eas w he r e the ur ba n m eets the r ur al ar e cr uc ial in ter m s s us tainabl e urban development, as they are the battlefields of rapid changing conditions. In phys ics the ter m inter f er ence de s cr ibe s tw o item s attem pt ing to occupy the s am e s pa ce, and by doi ng s o cr eating a thi r d condi tion. T hi s s pa ce of inter f er ence is w he r e pe r iur ba n is s itua ted. B ut unl ike inter f er ence, pe r iur ba n envir onm ent is lar ge ly cons ide r ed a s tage in a pr oces s r athe r tha n a s pa ce in its elf - A s tage tow ar ds the ur ba n cons um ing the r ur al. O r put into othe r w or ds , a condi tion s us pe nde d be tw een tw o oppos ing pa r ts in the pr oces s of be com ing. “ A s ur bani z ation occur s, tr aditional activities ar e withdr awing. A gr icultur e, f or estr y and natur al ar eas even having their own pl ans have be en r ather neglected in classical spat ial pl anning.” T alki ng about the di vide eb tw een r ur al and ur ba n in de velopi ng count r ies is pe r ha ps , as indi cated by J ul ia K ing in an inter view w ith A r chD aily 2, a m is nom er ,
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w eh n the nu pl anned, m ixe d us ed ( and m is us ed? ) pe r iur ba n ar eas ar e w he r e the que s tions op s es and a ttention is neede d. Condition “ T he countr y side is the pl ace of pr oduction and oeuvr es. A gr icultur al pr oduction gives bi r th to pr oducts: T he landscape is an oeuvr e. T his oeuvr e em er ges f r om the ear th slowly m oulded, link ed or iginally to the gr oups which occupy it by a r ecipr ocal consecr ation, later to be desecr ated by the city and ur ban lif e ( which capt ur e this consecr ation, condense it, then dissolve it over thr ough the ages by abs or bi ng it into r ationality ) .” 3 A t a s ite in the city of C hi ttagong - on the edge of the r iver - in the pe r iphe r y of the ur ba n ar ea – pa s t the las t bus s top of the com m ut ing bus es – acr os s f r om the villag es on the othe r r iver ba nk – in be tw een w ater and land – is s om ethi ng taki ng f or m . Sedi m ent is s ettling, s ettlem ents r is ing f r om gr ound bot h liter ally and figuratively, and the city is just around the corner. It is the southern ward of B oxi r ha t, and it is the r eas on f or m e talki ng about pe r iur ba n. T o talk abo ut f or m is pr ecis ely w ha t is que s tioned the r e. B ecaus e w ha t alr eady exi s ts he r e doe s – even if it is not on the m ap and even if r es ide ntial de velopm ent is – doe s tha t not ha ve a r ight to exi s tence? T he land we live on. W e ar e told not to go ins ide . N or m ally a m ud hous e of thi s type needs to be r es tor ed and adde d on ever y thr ee m onths . T he dr y s oil f r om unde r the ir f eet is m ixe d w ith w ater f r om the near by pond. T hi s is the bui ldi ng m ater ial. L aye r af ter laye r , ye ar af ter ye ar , the m ud is adde d on and ke eps the s ur f ace s m ooth and las ting. T hi s s ur f ace ha s s ever e cr acks and entir e m is s ing pa r ts , w hi ch lead us to the initial conclus ion tha t w e cannot enter f or s af ety r eas ons . T hi s is not the cas e. T he hous e doe s not look like thi s due to ill m aintenance but due to natur al di s as ter as the y put it. W e ar e expl ained tha t the f am ily is not abl e to live in the hous e anym or e, but it is s till the ir hom e. T he y ke ep it, vis it it and r ecollect in it f or nos talgi c r eas ons . T he w ater is s low ly evapor ating, but the s oil is s till s atu r ated w ith t he m em or ies of the f or m er occupa nts . M cu h like the gr ound be neath the ir f eet in the s out he r n w ar d of B oxi r ha t, lif e is characterized by being a condition between two conditions. Somewhere in be tw een liqui d and s olid, and s om ew he r e in be tw een ur ba n and r ur al, the ir lif e there is characterized by being temporary. In other words defined by to opposing condi tions , lif e in the pe r iur ba n be com es a pr oces s r athe r tha n a pl ace. I t is a ver y vul ner abl e condi tion - V ul ner abl e to cha ngi ng condi tions in bot h ends of the s pe ctr e. V iew ing the pe r iur ba n s pa ce as exa ctly tha t – a s pa ce as oppos ed - enabl es us to talk about it as s hybr id lands cape containing elem the r ur al and the u r ba n and the pos s ibi lity of thi s f os ter ing its ow n s cha r acter is tics . A di s cus s ion on s us tainabi lity in the pe r iur ba n f r inge in thi s pe r s pe ctive be about s us taining tha t w hi ch is othe r w is e tem w hi ch i s not eithe r or but bot h.
to a pr oces s ents of bot h tr engt hs and ar eas coul d por ar y . T ha t
T he land can thus be view ed as a condi tion of its ow n r ight , and tr eated A condi tion f or ge d by the inter action – pe r ha ps m or e accur ately; collis tw een the ur ba n and the r ur al land us e. A m pl if yi ng the inter es ting pe r s of w or ki ng w ith in- be tw een- condi tions , in the cas e of C hi ttagong, is the di vide be tw een ur ba n and r ur al condi tions m ater ialis ed by the r iver and pol itically by e lectr icity r egul ations .
as s uc h. ion – be pe ctives , exi s ting enf or ced
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T ih s w oul d ul tim ately eb a s us tainabi lity di s cour s e concer ned w ith s us taining the tem por al, accom m oda te it or even r einf or cing it. - I t be ing the f r agm ented condi tions of s tage s of pr oducing spac e in L ef ebvr e ter m inology . A condi tion be tw een liqui d and s olid is in m y ter m inology a m etaphor not only f or the condi tion of land inha bi ted at thi s pa r ticul ar s ite as w ell as cha r acter is tics of B angl ade s h as a w hol e, but als o f or the tem por al s ocial condi tion of lif e in the r api dl y cha ngi ng inter f er ence be tw een the tw o solids of ur ba n and r ur al lif e. I s is pos s ibl e – a nd r eas onabl e – t o talk a bout s us taining t he inf r asolid? ” ( .) one does not live in a neutr al and white spac e; one does not live, die, or love, within the r ectangle of a sheet of pape r ’ . Rather , ‘ one lives, loves, and dies in a spac e that is gr idded, cut up, var iegated, with light and dar k z ones, dif f er ences in level, stair s, holes, bum ps , har d and f r agile r egions, pe netr abl e, por ous.” 4 Exodus C om ing f r om the w es ter n w or ld, enga gi ng in B angl ade s h, it is inevitabl e tha t w e r ead the lands cape ( di s cur s ive, phys ical, ar chi tectur al) in a di f f er ent w ay . E m br acing he r m eneut ical r eadi ngs ins tead of de nyi ng it, r equi r es tha t w e ar e aw ar e of the im pl ications of the qu es tions w e as k. F or ins tance the d is cour s e ar ound m ixe d- us e is com pl etely di f f er ent in a de velopi ng count r y s uc h as B angl ade s h. I n E ur ope w e talk about m ixe d us e as a pos itive thi ng to achi eve, w he r e as in Bangladesh mixed-use is in contrast to zoning which equals cleaning up. When zoning means creating residential areas to meet the housing shortage it m ake s pe r f ect s ens e f r om the ir poi nt of view –t hr ough our eye s it m ight pr om pt a di f f er ent que s tion: I s it pos s ibl e f or cities in the de velopi ng w or ld to lear n f r om the expe r iences of othe r cities in our pa r t of the w or ld, or doe s thi s city in que s tion need to go thr ough a cer tain pr oces s in or de r to ar r ive at the pe r ha ps s am e conclus ion? D oes thi s city need to m ake the s am e m is take s as othe r cities ha ve d one pr ior to it? I n continua tion, the r e ar e di f f er ences w or th clar if yi ng in the w ay w e s pe ak of the r ur al exodus in W es ter n E ur ope and in de velopi ng count r ies . T he r e ar e di f f er ences in the tw o pr oces s es , w hi ch ha ve each t he r e ow n cha r acter is tics . I n W es ter n E ur ope the aba ndonm ent of r ur al ar eas n f avour of cities ha s be en gr adua l, due to indus tr ial r evolut ions . H er e the r ur al exodus coincide d w ith a period of dramatic modernization on farms, which freed up labour for industry and s er viced t ha t w er e r api dl y de velopi ng. I n de velopi ng count r ies on the othe r ha nd, and in pa r ticul ar not in B angl ade s h, thi s gr adua l cha nge is not the cas e. O n the contr ar y it is f actor s s uc h as pr ice volatility, lack of modernization on the farms and deterioration of the environment, w hi ch ar e the f actor s in r ur al exodus and the m ovem ent of m igr ants to the bi g cities in hope of be tter living c ondi tions . P iled soil and tr ees in line. T he r e ar e no m or e tha n 60 centim etr es b etw een each tr ee. T he y ar e s tandi ng en tw o m or e or les s s tr aight lines . T he tr ees the m s elves ar e not as s tr aight . F r om
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the r oots and about a m eter up the y be nd qui te dr as tically af ter w he r e the y s eem to try and straighten up but only make it to a fifteen degree tilt as opposed to the pe r f ect ninety . T he tw o lines tilt aw ay f r om each othe r alm os t as if to f or cef ul ly pul l the gr ound f r om be tw een the m tow ar ds its elf , or pe r ha ps to s tr aight en up the por ous s oil pi led in s pa ce be tw een. T he y ar e pr otecting the pi le. H oldi ng on to it and m aki ng s ur e tha t the r e w ill continue to be pa s s ing be tw een the m and tha t to w ater on the othe r s ide s of each if the lines w ill ge t a hol d on s oil unde r the r oots . T he r oots bui ld a r etaining w all be tw een the pi led s oil and t he w ater . R ru al E xodus is r oughl y s aid ur ba nis ation f r om the r ur al pe r s pe ctive. T he s epa r ation of the tow n and count r y is , L ef ebvr e ar gue s , one of the m os t f unda m ental di vis ions of labour , along w ith age , s ex and tools and s ki lls . 5 T hi s m anif es ts its elf in a pl ace w he r e r ur al labour is tr ans por ted into an ur ba n context . T he r e is a clear s hi f t f r om living of f the land t o living on t he land. “ ( .) the envir onm ent is m uch m or e than the natur e we of ten im agine to be in som e pr ehum en and pr istine f or m ; it is com pos ed of subnat ur es pr oduced by social, pol itical and ar chitectur al pr ocesses and concept s. “ 6 These subnatures compose the nature of the city. One significant part is soil. Soil in its many conditions; As dust; As building material; As brick; As pile; As fill; As ground. From taking the shape of dust in the air or landfill in the pond, to taking on a symbolic significance as a brick, defining territories – it is the nature of the city . I n the end the gr ound is w he r e w e put our de ad. F r om G r eek exodus m ean “ a m ilitar y expe di tion; a s olem n pr oces s ion; de pa r tur e; de ath,” liter ally “ a goi ng out ,” f r om ex- “ out ” + hodos “ w ay” . I f B oxi r ha t is the entr ypoi nt to the city , the n the gr ound i s the exi tpoi nt f r om it. Nostalgia M cu h like the tr ans por t of the ter m inter f er ence and its definition in physics helped me to talk about the urban scale, I want to import the definition of the ter m in ps yc hol og y to di s cus s a s m aller s cale. I n ps yc hol ogy I nter f er ence the or y is the inter action be tw een new ly lear ned m ater ial and pa s t lear ned be ha viour , m em or ies or thought s . I n thi s text it w ill be us ed to de s cr ibe the tr ans lations of pa s t hom es in r ur al m inds into ur ba n context . T eh upr ooting m any m igr ants expe r ience w he n f or ced to leave the ir hom es leaves a space or a void to possibly be filled by a new sense of home, belonging and ide ntity . O f ten the los t hom eland w ill ke ep pl ayi ng a cr uc ial pa r t in the ide ntity , r educ ing the new ly inha bi ted land to a ter r itor y , a s he lter and s tr uc tur e as oppos ed to a hom e. I n m y obs er vations it ha s tw o – but s ur ely m or e – r eas ons . The first one being a lack of security and ownership. Secondly a nostalgia for the homeland, and a difficulty in translating past ways of living into a new context – c r eating a living i n inter f er ence. T he gr ound we live in. Som etim es s m aller or lar ge r pl ots w ill be w alled w ith w ais t hi gh laye r ed O the r tim es the y r es em bl e s m all hous es . T he y ar e the hom es of the de las t pi ece of bui ldi ng a pe r s on leaved on the land. A pl ace pe r ha ps as m the pe r s on in the gr ound as f or pe opl e above . F or the body of the de ad
br icks . ad. T he uc h f or the s oil
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itself is sufficient. For the living the materialisation of the place of the buried body i s im por tant; A bui ld s tr uc tur e to envelop m em or ies . Two kinds of nostalgia characterizes ones relationship to the past, to the imagined community, to home, to one’s own self perception: restorative and reflective. T he s e tw o ki nds to be view ed not as abs olut e type s , but as tende ncies is w ha t Svetlana B oym addr es s es in he r boo k T he F ut ur e of N os talgi a. 7 What she discusses, and what I find interesting, is not the inner spac e of an individual ps y che but the inter r elationship be tween individual and collective r em em br ance. A nd in continua tion the w ay in w hi ch the r api d upr ooting and r elocation ef f ects the m igr ator s and how to accom m oda te tha t. R es tor ative nos talgi a put s em pha s is on nostos and pr opos es to r ebui ld the los t home and patch up the memory gaps. Reflective nostalgia dwells in algia, in longi ng a nd l os s the im pe r f ect pr oces s of r em em br ance. 8 Restorative nostalgia is what materializes in reconstructions of monuments of the past; Reflective nostalgia lingers in ruins, the patina of time and history. I be lieve tha t gl oba lis ation ha s encour age s a s tr onge r local attachm ent, and a ye ar ning f or continui ty in a f r agm ented and acceler ated w or ld, and s o I choos e to talk about nos talgi a as a condi tion in s ociety and nega te the of ten nega tive connotations . T o be abl e to talk about r es tor ative nos talgi a, I w ant to di s tingui s h be tw een the ha bi ts or the lear ned m ater ial of the pa s t and the ha bi ts and the tr ans lated m ater ial in the r es tor ation of the pa s t. T he r es tor ation ha pe ning in the inter f er ence – both special and mentally speaking – will be characterized by a higher degree of symbolic formalization than the actual peasants customs after which they are pa tter ned. 9 M os t im por tantly the pa r adox is tha t the m or e r api d the pa ce and s cale of ur banization, the more conservative and unchangeable the new r estor ed condi tion tend t o be . W hat we walk on. It is not asphalt, and not just dust either. Here it consist of soles from shoes; T he r e, of ga r m ents f r om the near by f actor y . O the r pl aces it is be aut if ul ly cover ed in gr een gr as s tha t alm os t s uc ceeds di s gui s ing it as natur e. I n f act it is manmade trash – piling, filling, stemming. It is the urban nature; the sub nature. A r r iving at the conclus ion tha t the pa ce of ur ba nis ation ge ner ates an unchangeabl e condition is inevitabl y pr obl em atic, as it leaves the m igr ants s tuc k in a condi tion be tw een liqui d a nd s olid. I ha ve now m oved into the ter r itor y of the inf r asolid, w he r e, I w oul d ar gue , the inhabitants seem to be living on porous ground of a transitional zone. Working with urbanization in this context will require a renewed engagement in individua l and collective m em or y in the tr ans ition. P er ha ps a s low ing dow n of the pr oces s or intr oduc tions of m edi ation or in- be tw een condi tions . Hybrid I n the context of B oxi r ha t, C hi ttagong, talki ng about f or m al and inf or m al w ith the pur pos e of dr aw ing a di s tinction be tw een the pe opl e living the r e lega l and illegally, seizes to make sense when their conditions of life otherwise is much the s am e, as the lega l tenants too w ill be m oved as ur ba n de velopm ent be gi ns and th e s tate is gov er ning as little in the f or m al as in the inf or m al. T he ins ecur ity , the tem por ality , the por ous nes s of the condi tion is out s poke n. T he inha bi tants
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are building sheds and setting up structures to facilitate drying fish. Some drive a rickshaw – some have a paid job. They all come from somewhere, and home is not Boxirhat. “Place names open up mental maps and space folds into time.” 10 Could actively sustaining this hybrid landscape in the urban-rural interference lead to elevation of the migrants, figuratively speaking; And could elevation, literally speaking, contribute to creating a landscape of a composite nature able to accommodate the temporal occupants residing in this infrasolid condition whilst mediating the path to firm ground? How would a hybrid root net able to accommodate the needs of the uprooted look?
Notes: 1. 2.
Wikipedia: Periurban http://www.archdaily.com/529934/introducing-potty-girl-the-architect-of-the-future/ 3. Writings on Cities, Henri Lefebvre 4. http://www.architectural-review.com/essays/troubles-in-theory-part-vi-from-utopia-toheterotopia/8670494.article?referrer=RSS 5. Writings on cities, Henri Lefebvre 6. Subnature. Architecture’s other environment, David Gissen 7. The future of Nostalgia, Svetlana Boym, 2001. 8. The future of Nostalgia, Svetlana Boym, 2001 9. The future of Nostalgia, Svetlana Boym, 2001 10. The future of Nostalgia, Svetlana Boym, 2001.
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