WORKSHOP 3 Potsdam / DE 30th March 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
PARTICIPANTS Verena Brehm Cityförster, architecture + urbanism, Berlin, DE Tore Dobberstein Planungsbüro complizen, Berlin, DE Florian Köhl Fat Kôhl Architekten, Berlin, DE Clément Mariott Un plus Un, Paris, FR, manager 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 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 Carl Zillich Bundesstiftung Baukultur, Potsdam, D, head of research
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Workshop
The third Underconstructions workshop was hosted at Bundesstiftung Baukultur, Potsdam / DE on the 30 of March 2012. Following the first two Underconstructions workshops taking place in Vienna and Rotterdam, this Workshop was devoted to the topic of „Rethinking inclusive strategies“ as an innovative method of implementing civic engagement in architecture and urban planning in Europe. Inclusive strategies have a tradition which is little-known in Europe. Hannes Schreckensberger and Celia Picard from wonderland offered a short historical review of the Austrian architect Eilfried Huth and his implementation of participatory practices in social housing projects from the 1970s to the 1990s. The participants heard about the importance of the socio-political will of local authorities in realizing such processes and how individual commitment was necessary to challenge and push > Célia Picard, Hannes Schreckensberger, Tore Dobberstein, Marco Stathopoulos,Clément Mariotte, Yvette Masson-Zanussi, Carl Zillich, Verena Brehm, Florian Köhl. > Hannes Schreckensberger, Marco Stathopoulos, Yvette Masson-Zanussi, Clément Mariotte.
the rules, in the past as well as in the present. Clément Mariotte from „Un plus Un“ introduced an innovative housing model they developed. The model allows modest families to own their own place of residency. It aims to provide families with affordable and unique apartments. The association assumes the role of facilitator between home-buyers, local authorities, developers, banks and building material suppliers. With the aid of lawyers, they developed an «uncomplicated state buy» system. They worked with banks in finding the right format of credit. Florian Köhl from FAT KOEHL offered a summary of his experience as an architect in his ongoing processes. He presented different variations of shared authorship strategies co-housing groups implement.
> Tore Dobberstein, Verena Brehm, Carl Zillich, Florian Köhl
Together with his office in Berlin, which has been focusing on this
Following the presentations, a final discussion ensued. It focused on
field over the last few years, he accumulated a significant amount of
how far participation can go and the meta-idea that participation is
experience. Shared authorship is based on a clear definition of roles
about democracy. One of the recommendations coming out of the
between users, architects and the project manager. Its relation to the
discussion was to find and develop adequate conversation languages
city is fundamental for the office, and their work focuses on co-ope-
between the inhabitants and politics. Doing so could create new
rating with groups in integrating this relationship with the domestic
partnerships which foster inclusive strategies. The goal is to make
demand. As citizens actively engaged in their cities, they consider the
possible, the realization of new processes which can generate social
project to be flexible and aren’t afraid of bending some of the urban
change.
rules they find meaningless.
The workshop covered the questions of empowerment and parti-
Verena Brehm, from the transnational architecture office Cityförster,
cipatory practices on different levels in innovative manners, which
talked about the implementation of participation as a method in their
are showcases of good tools, as underlined by wonderland. Invited
practice. She focused on their study of the future transformation of the
architects and experts pointed out that a critically ethical approach,
airport Berlin Tegel area following its shutdown in the summer of 2012.
and innovative processes, were necessary in managing the high
One of the main theses their proposition had, which was prepared for
risk associated with the loss against the power of the construction
the consultation commissioned by the Senate Department for Urban
business and the reluctance of policies. The adaptation of these new
Development of Berlin, was the generation of engagement by changing
strategies require effort by policymakers and a strong will for change.
the tools of planning.
And finally, EFAP stressed that participatory practices play an important
Torre Dobberstein from the Planungsbüro Complizen introduced their innovative and award winning approach of implementing sports in urban planning. The so-called “Sportification” process utilizes sports as a universal medium. It serves as a method for constructing a playful argument which encourages discussions about the city. Inclusion in this process takes place through personal experience and the development of the feeling of belonging. This method brings up an important question: how much power do inhabitants have and how can they react to their social environment?
role in ensuring the evolution of policies that it aims to support. By setting the needs before the project and the rules, these processes give priority to the best solution in a specific situation. Good solutions, projects that work, provide the best information for adapting policies to reality. By disseminating information about possible architectural and urban planning processes, Underconstructions is a powerful tool for designing better European cities.