BACHELOR

Design Studio: Space

The studio Raum begins by inviting students to rediscover their everyday routines and their everyday environment as interlocking actions and experiences of making space and appropriating space. The seemingly familiar disappears in favor of again-to-be-discovered and redesigned spaces of possibility. Routiniers become discoverers and designers of the surprising in everyday life.

Appointment: Mo-Fr, 02:00 PM–05:30 PM, R127 (Building 11.40)
First meeting: Wed, 18.10.23, 02:00 PM, R127 (Building 11.40)
Excursion: 03. – 06.11.23
Submission/Exam: Wed, 14.02.24
Language: Deutsch/Englisch

Seminar: Basics of Design Theorie

As accompanying exercise to the lecture series «Grundlagen der Entwurfslehre» selected buildings are analysed. The aim of the exercise is to study concrete architectural buildings from different times under specific aspects such as spatial structure and functional structure and to present them with drawings and models.

Entwurf: Tabula Rasa?

In 1923, exactly one hundred years ago, Le Corbusier published his book “Vers une architecture”. Like no other he blatantly and polemically promoted his vision of an architectural tabula rasa. The demolition of large parts of historic Paris became the center piece of his visual argument. Recently, a century after Le Corbusier initiated his aggressive campaign for the tabula-rasa, the “Abrissmoratorium” has been published demanding the re-use and re-appropriation of existing buildings thus putting an end to an endless process of architectural eradication and erection.

There are important reasons for a radical re-appropriation of the existing built fabric. That acknowledgement triggers an important question though for today`s architectural production: Is the idea of the tabula rasa dead? Even toxic?

The concept of tabula rasa takes its name from the Latin term for a smoothly chafed wax-tablet. Based on a rigorous and imaginative exploration of various interpretations, readings and manifestations of this concept each student will embark on a design exploration in search for a meaningful role of the tabula rasa in todays architectural, social and ecological reality. Building upon the allegory of the wax-tablet critical questions emerge: What is the perimeter of the tablet? What is being smoothly chafed? By whom and to what end?

MASTER

Design Studio: Tabula Rasa?

In 1923, exactly one hundred years ago, Le Corbusier published his book “Vers une architecture”. Like no other he blatantly and polemically promoted his vision of an architectural tabula rasa. The demolition of large parts of historic Paris became the center piece of his visual argument. Recently, a century after Le Corbusier initiated his aggressive campaign for the tabula-rasa, the “Abrissmoratorium” has been published demanding the re-use and re-appropriation of existing buildings thus putting an end to an endless process of architectural eradication and erection.

There are important reasons for a radical re-appropriation of the existing built fabric. That acknowledgement triggers an important question though for today`s architectural production: Is the idea of the tabula rasa dead? Even toxic?

The concept of tabula rasa takes its name from the Latin term for a smoothly chafed wax-tablet. Based on a rigorous and imaginative exploration of various interpretations, readings and manifestations of this concept each student will embark on a design exploration in search for a meaningful role of the tabula rasa in todays architectural, social and ecological reality. Building upon the allegory of the wax-tablet critical questions emerge: What is the perimeter of the tablet? What is being smoothly chafed? By whom and to what end?

Seminar: Inquiry about ZKM

Im Forschungsseminar werden wir anhand des ZKM-Entwurfs von OMA die Vielschichtigkeit der Architekturproduktion erkunden. Während das Studieren eines Projekts nur ein Ansatz ist Architektur zu verstehen, werden wir zahlreiche andere Quellen entdecken, die ein neues Licht auf die Abhängigkeiten und Komplikationen dessen Produktion werfen. Durch das Eintauchen in die Tiefen dieses Prozesses, wollen wir die Gründe für die unerwartete Absage des ZKM-Projekts nur wenige Monate vor dem geplanten Baubeginn entschlüsseln. Mit dem Erkunden von politischen Debatten, Kostenplänen und zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen werden wir eine alternative Geschichte schreiben, die eine neue Perspektive auf dieses faszinierende architektonische Projekt eröffnet. Ziel ist es konventionelle Erzählungen in Frage zu stellen und verborgene Wahrheiten rund um das ZKM-Projekt aufzudecken.

Seit 2019 forscht der Lehrstuhl an der reichen Geschichte des ZKM-Gebäudes.

In diesem Seminar leiten wir die Teilnehmer an, wie sie ihre eigene Forschung effektiv organisieren und vorantreiben können. Sie lernen wertvolle Techniken zur Auswahl interessanter Fakten aus dem umfangreichen Archivmaterial, das im Rotterdamer Archiv gesammelt wurde. Das Seminar endet mit der Veröffentlichung eines Zines, in dem unsere Ergebnisse präsentiert werden.