WORKSHOP 4 Vienna / AT 17th May 2012
PRESS RELEASE
Organizers
EUROPEAN FORUM FOR ARCHITECTURAL POLICIES FORUM EUROPﾃ右N DES POLITIQUES ARCHITECTURALES
platform for european architecture
Supported by
This work programme has been funded with support from European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible of any use which may be made of the information coutained therein.
www.underconstructions.eu
HOW TO WORK WITH THE CITY AUTHORITIES?
PARTICIPANTS Jens Brandt Supertanker, Copenhagen, DK Collectif Etc architects, FR Marie-Hélène Contal Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine - Directeur adjoint, Paris, FR partner project manager of underconstructions Patrizia Di Monte 2009-2010, director of Estonoesunsolar programme, Zaragoza, ES Yvette Masson-Zanussi EFAP a.i.s.b.l, manager, Bruxelles, BE project manager of underconstructions Celia Picard wonderland, platform for european architecture, Vienna, AT partner project manager of underconstructions Lorenz Potocnik Umbauwerkstatt, Linz, AT Hannes Schreckensberger wonderland, platform for european architecture, Vienna, AT partner project manager of underconstructions Marco Stathopoulos EFAP a.i.s.b.l, manager assistant, Bruxelles, BE project manager assistant of underconstructions
Workshop How to work with city authorities? The 4th underconstructions workshop, taking place in Vienna, connected representatives of various architectural practices coming from different generations. The topic of focus was creating strategies to improve collolaboration with the decision makers of the city. Participants exchanged their experiences and knowledge on the topic and presented diverse innovative forms of architecture and urban planning tools which could be used for discussion with stakeholders. The processes revealed can be seen as prototypes which had a certain impact on local authorities throughout Europe and helped foster more civic cities.
> Jens Brandt, Florent Chiappero, Lorenz Potocnik, Hannes Schreckensberger, Marco Stathopoulos, Cédric Bouteiller, Yvette Masson-Zanussi, Célia Picard, Patrizia Di Monte, Marie-Hélène Contal
Umbauwerkstatt Linz, Austria Lorenz Potocnik kick-started the workshop by presenting the process of transformation. Together with a group of architects, urban planners and social scientists, he is engaged in the transformation of the empty Tabakfabrik, a huge former Tobacco Factory located in the heart of Linz. Umbauwerkstatt (transformation workshop), which was initiated in February 2010, is described as follows: „it is thought to be a think tank providing the necessary ideas and the stimulus required to counter the predictable inertia off municipal institutions by being a research lab for the future of the factory. Furthermore, Umbauwerkstatt aims at providing independent information and therefore transparency to citizens.“ The professional initiators used their expertise in several process-oriented projects to bring people together and give an impulse to the city. They utilized tools of communication to create a situation and provoke a reaction by city authorities. Despite all the energy invested however, it took quite a while for the local authorities to acknowledge the situation and take part in the discussion. This experience portrays the important role city authorities play in the management of the potential of energies.
> Tabakfabrik, Linz
Supertanker Copenhagen, Denmark Supertanker was founded in Copenhagen as a movement against urban renewal projects. It is a close-knit network of urban-social entrepreneurs working on the borders between action research, process design and urban development. For them, architecture is a tool for discussion. Supertanker has now established itself as an association and limited company and is funded through various social, arts and research grants. The network first unfolded as a civic urban laboratory in an otherwise antagonistic political climate surrounding the redevelopment of the Copenhagen harbor in 2003. They came to the realization that the contest process is not satisfactory enough, and more civic involvement is needed. They then set up the basis for a constructive dialogue between the city and its citizens. After this first experience, the group developed the process in medium scale towns where open discussions were still taking place. They functioned as commissioned mediators. Such a task is not easy for them however, since they have to ensure that they remain independent and objective, and refrain from being used as the communication tool of the authorities.
Estonoesunsolar Zaragoza, Spain Partizia Di Monte presented the process she managed, which took place in the historical quarter of the city of Zaragoza between 2009-2010. The outstanding aspect of this process is that it start from a local employment of a plan with spatial consequences, the creation of public space in abandoned plots. Partizia Di Monte explained how political involvement allows the achievement of so much despite the time and budget restrictions. This is a sample case of how the city made the difference by trusting the architect in charge and providing him/ her with technical and juridical support.
> Estonoesunsolar, Zaragoza > Jens Brandt, Florent Chiappero, Hannes Schreckensberger, Marco Stathopoulos, Marie-HÊlène Contal, Yvette Masson-Zanussi, Olivier Menard, CÊdric Bouteiller, Patrizia Di Monte, Lorenz Potocnik
> Supertanker
Collectif Etc France Collectif Etc is a group of young architects, urban-planners and graphic designers who collaborate with landscape designers, artists and social workers. They believe in the creative capacity of citizens and provide them with tools and simple techniques to ensure they are involved in the development and change of their own urban environments. Their actions are 1:1 tests and are not made to last, but rather to readapt or replace with others within few years, based on the response they receive from citizens. After setting up a city commissioned temporary public space in Saint Etienne, they are currently busy traveling throughout France for a whole year. Their agenda is based on meeting and working with the stakeholders and actors of the production taking place in the civic city. They see their practice as urban activators through action, education and discussion. They are now looking for long time projects rooted in local problems, and they would like make environmental changes to help achieve their desires.
ROUEN
10
9
REIMS METZ
STRASBOURG
PARIS
OCTOBRE 2011 DEPART SEPTEMBRE 2012 ARRIVEE
JUIN 2012
BREST RENNES JUIN 2012
LE PROJET
BALE NOVEMBRE 2011 NANTES MAI 2012 CHALON-SUR-SAONE
LYON BUSSEOL SAINT-ETIENNE DECEMBRE 2011 GRENOBLE JANVIER 2012
BORDEAUX AVRIL 2012
TOULOUSE
MONTPELLIER
MARSEILLE
FEVRIER 2012
LE PROJET
AOUT 2012
JUILLET 2012
LE HAVRE
EFAP, organizers of Underconstructions in partnership with platform Wonderland and the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine, stressed the need for facilitating these experiments. Giving visibility to these isolated processes is at the core of EFAP’s mission. They would like to help integrate them into common practice and improve policies by bringing them into public discourse. For example, the EU’s Cohesion Policy Le Détour de France commence en has 2011 adopted approach which allows structural funds from octobre et s’étend surthe presque une année. Le départ et l’arrivée se font à Strasbourg, sectors ville de créationto et be mixed or united for experimentation. In different d’émancipation du collectif. framework, role as a platform is also to function as Dthis ans plu s i e u r s v i l l e s e n F ra EFAP’s nce émergent de plus en plus d’initiatives d’implication des usagers dans la gestion a space for negotiation and to be an activator, by notably exploet l’aménagement de leur cadre de vie. Ce phénomène participe à une nouvelle lecture et fabrication de la villeways en général. for funding urban experimentation. This can ring multiple Selon les cas, ces initiatives viennent de la part d’acteurs très différents : become a comités, powerful tool for all the actors of the city who would habitants, associations, artistes, professionnels, institutions, élus, … Nous partons à la rencontre de cesmake possible the processes such as those like to wanting to différents acteurs afin de participer avec eux à la fabrique citoyenne de la ville. tackled during this workshop.
1. ItInéraIre
BRUXELLES
LILLE
Conclusion The testimonies point out the crucial role local authorities play and how their support is essential in the existence of innovative processes in cities, regardless of how they may initiate or support them, whether it be in a financial, technical or juridical way. Nevertheless, an independent status has to be established for the practices in charge in order to make possible a critical point of view, and to develop innovative processes.
L’itinéraire a été fixé en fonction des contacts déjà établis. Il garde tout de même une certaine flexibilité pour laisser place aux rencontres et aux opportunités qui naîtront au cours de la préparation et du voyage.
> Olivier Menard, Lorenz Potocnik, Jens Brandt, Florent Chiappero
> Détour de France