I A WAY OF THINKING
The studio's methodology requires an openness towards looking and seeing, dialogue and discussion, and where the value lies in the things we do. We challenge the students to be curious and to embrace freedom without knowing what the outcome might be, which asks for commitment and experimentation. The experience of learning together is as valuable as the outcome and results.

 

II RECORDING THE CITY
We are interested in exploring the city and observing the spaces around us. We want to document the fragmented, incomplete and in-between; leftover spaces that are unforeseen, unplanned, unpopular and vague; spaces that offer non-normative needs/ones we are not used to or pre-conditioned by. We wish to record these spaces and their conditions.

 

The output will be diverse and be undertaken through various mixed media (photography/ film/ audio/ poetry). We want you to develop techniques to convey these observations and tell stories. Beyond passively observing and recording, you might re-construct/ add or remove things/ record active use (people) or absence (emptiness). Walks at night or in bad weather may reveal untold stories. The recording of the city will be developed throughout the semester as a form of continual research and will be the basis of the final work.

 

III VISUAL OUTCOME
We are interested in building physical fragments and elements to imagine and reflect the intangible space. Maybe it's impossible to create something complete that can remain open and undefined. Working incompletely will allow us to understand how we can construct things with an open-mindedness that allows others to complete and appropriate. Methods of taking things away or protecting what is there might be just as valuable as additions to our built environment. This might also call for a questioning and redefinition of value and quality. The fragments are not meant to last; we are interested in the experience of building as a stage for making photographs and generating a collective discussion.

 

IV DISCUSSIONS
We will hold a series of activities, walks and discussions to open up a space for trust and dialogue and to build a sense of community. We aim to provide a platform for the unrepresented and marginalised voices. We want to listen to voices from the boundary and step away from the spotlight.

 

V THE CITY - OUR SUBJECT AND OUR LABORATORY
Our investigations, research, discussions and reviews will be held within and outside the studio. The city is our subject and our laboratory. We wish to use and appropriate the spaces around us as a form of practice through walking and observing as research, developing techniques and ideas on site and holding crits/discussions in appropriated environments.

 

VI TEAM
Proffessor:

• Shirana Shahbazi

Assistants:

• TBC

Workshops/lectures:

• Tirdad Zolghadr (Author/ Curator)
• Etienne Messikommer (Jack of all trades, master of none)
• Querformat (ETH, Zurich)
• Li Tavor (Architect/ Sound Artist)