Workshop III
Spaces of Negotiation
07/10 – 12/10/2007

By ifau and Jesko Fezer (D)
With Kerstin Höger (CH), Dorit Margreiter (A), muf architecture art (GB), Riklef Rambow (D), Christian Schmid (CH)


What is the relationship between architecture, everyday culture and place? When does form determine use and when does use determine form? In the context of a globalised life-world, generalised typologies and media-disseminated models determine a production of architecture that is geared above all to principles of market strategy. The result is a language of architecture that is independent of place and that no longer requires local contextualisation. This contrasts with approaches that see everyday life and use closely linked to place or that interpret the reference to everyday life in the sense of overarching social or ethical demands. Here again, an aesthetic evolves that is ultimately model-like and exportable.
Exploring the relationship of aesthetic and use based on selected examples of architecture in Graz is the starting point for a discussion of the social performance of architecture. The discursive analysis of differentiated design strategies – from the socially ambitious buildings of the Grazer Schule to the emblematic projects of the Cultural Capital – aims to analyse relationships and dependencies of formal expression and informal appropriation, identifying deficits and potentials, and discussing possible action.
This relationship between aesthetic and use on the basis of selected examples of architecture in Graz is the point of departure for the discussion, that will also focus, above all, on possibilities of action.
###

In its core, ifau (Institute of Applied Urbanism, Berlin) has been working as a group of architects on installations, architecture, urban planning and research projects since 1998. Depending on the particular subject, ifau forms working groups with interdisciplinary co-operations. In recent years, they have worked with Ulrich Königs, b&k+, realarchitektur, Bittermann & Duka, Claudia Burbaum, among others. www.ifau.berlin.heimat.de

Jesko Fezer (*1970), Berlin, is co-operator of the “Pro qm” bookshop and co-publisher of the architecture magazine “An Architektur”. He was editor of various publications, including “Hier entsteht. Strategien partizipativer Architektur und räumlicher Aneignung” (with Mathias Heyden, 2004). He is currently working with ifau on several architectural projects.

Dorit Margreiter produces installations and videos dealing with aspects of representation in architecture and film. Projects: 2007 (selection): "die stadt von morgen", Akademie der Künste, Berlin; "Exil des Imaginären", Generali Foundation, Vienna; 2006 (selection): "Original Condition", Stampa, Basel; "10104 Angelo View Drive", Moravska Gallery, Brno; "Dark Places", Santa Monica Museum of Art; "Analog", Museum of Contemporary Art Leipzig; Publications (selection): "Der Gruen Effekt" (with Anette Baldauf), Wien, 2006; "Dorit Margreiter. 10104 Angelo View Drive" (ed. by Matthias Michalka), Köln, 2004. Since 2006 professor at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. She lives in Vienna and Los Angeles

Riklef Rambow (*1964) works as a psychologist at the chair of Architectural Theory at BTU Cottbus. His fields of research are: Architecture education: communication between experts/laypeople, architecture in schools, architecture in exhibitions. Participative planning ###
procedures, building evaluation particularly of schools and day-care centres for children. Psychology of mobility behaviour. Experience and behaviour in the public space.


» Application Form Download