AA VISITING SCHOOL WORKSHOP SERIES
Process and Methodology
The Mediterranean Sea is not only situated between continents, but also acts as a historical and contemporary centre and border zone. The social, economic and political dynamics of this zone are complex. In the last century the Mediterranean has been separated through politics, religions, fear of clash of cultures etc. Unified by climate and the history of civilization, the Mediterranean region has the potential to be seen as a geographic unit. Over the next 15 years major Mediterranean port cities expect rapid changes, because of the growth of global trade and container shipping. Regardless of current national borders, cultural and economic transformations the fact is that the Mediterranean Basin is among the four most significantly altered biodiversity hotspots on Earth. Mittelmeerland uses a comparative approach about the whole Mediterranean with detailed case studies of six locations . By analysing current Urbanization and Future developments we aim to generate strong, narrative statements in the field of Urbanism, Architecture, Sociology and Art.
Approaching cities from the sea we initiated a series of workshop sessions in Dubrovnik (Croatia), Tangier (Morocco), Istanbul (Turkey), Alexandria (Egypt), Tripoli (Libya)/ maybe replaced due the political situation and Haifa (Israel). The purpose of the workshop is to examine how the Mediterranean region can position itself as a ‘territory’, one that is based on climatic and economic conditions, and subject to specific social, political and spatial dynamics and experiences. What can each city do to turn the Mediterranean from one of the largest Hotspots of the world into an Eco Spot? How can the Mediterranean Sea region position itself as a ‚territory‘? What does changing and shaping urban space mean for the 1:1 everyday use? What are similarities and differences by comparing cities?
We conduct these workshops together with local and international students of architecture and related disciplines and involve the expertise of professional designers, cities, institutes etc. in the research and design process during the preparation and as well as while being on site.
Process and Methodology
The Mediterranean Sea is not only situated between continents, but also acts as a historical and contemporary centre and border zone. The social, economic and political dynamics of this zone are complex. In the last century the Mediterranean has been separated through politics, religions, fear of clash of cultures etc. Unified by climate and the history of civilization, the Mediterranean region has the potential to be seen as a geographic unit. Over the next 15 years major Mediterranean port cities expect rapid changes, because of the growth of global trade and container shipping. Regardless of current national borders, cultural and economic transformations the fact is that the Mediterranean Basin is among the four most significantly altered biodiversity hotspots on Earth. Mittelmeerland uses a comparative approach about the whole Mediterranean with detailed case studies of six locations . By analysing current Urbanization and Future developments we aim to generate strong, narrative statements in the field of Urbanism, Architecture, Sociology and Art.
Approaching cities from the sea we initiated a series of workshop sessions in Dubrovnik (Croatia), Tangier (Morocco), Istanbul (Turkey), Alexandria (Egypt), Tripoli (Libya)/ maybe replaced due the political situation and Haifa (Israel). The purpose of the workshop is to examine how the Mediterranean region can position itself as a ‘territory’, one that is based on climatic and economic conditions, and subject to specific social, political and spatial dynamics and experiences. What can each city do to turn the Mediterranean from one of the largest Hotspots of the world into an Eco Spot? How can the Mediterranean Sea region position itself as a ‚territory‘? What does changing and shaping urban space mean for the 1:1 everyday use? What are similarities and differences by comparing cities?
We conduct these workshops together with local and international students of architecture and related disciplines and involve the expertise of professional designers, cities, institutes etc. in the research and design process during the preparation and as well as while being on site.
Further, during each workshop a one-day symposium is taking place. For each city we select different areas along the coastline analyzing existing conditions and future projections, playfully utilizing small-scale phenomena, translating found conditions into large-scale urban interventions and envisioning future changes. We produce architectural portraits, urban narrations and imaginative axonometric collages, which ultimately will feature in a publication of the workshop’s research on various waterfront cities around the Mediterranean.
RESULTS
During the workshop for each site we produce a catalogue of existing and future physical conditions and phenomenological situations, a narrative map relating relevant issues to each other and a large perspective line drawings of with ( a future scenario) future scenario, imagining how the site could be envisioned in future
EXISTING AND PLANNED OUTPUT AND PRODUCTS
1. Models: one inverted model of the whole Mediterranean and 6 models of the coastlines of Dubrovnik, Tangier, Istanbul, Alexandria, Tripoli, Haifa.
2. Drawings: cartographic drawings of the Mediterranean, narrative maps of the Coastal sites and Axonometric collages drawings with design proposals.
3. Catalog: showing contextual forms of existing physical and phenomenological conditions and situations.
RESULTS
During the workshop for each site we produce a catalogue of existing and future physical conditions and phenomenological situations, a narrative map relating relevant issues to each other and a large perspective line drawings of with ( a future scenario) future scenario, imagining how the site could be envisioned in future
EXISTING AND PLANNED OUTPUT AND PRODUCTS
1. Models: one inverted model of the whole Mediterranean and 6 models of the coastlines of Dubrovnik, Tangier, Istanbul, Alexandria, Tripoli, Haifa.
2. Drawings: cartographic drawings of the Mediterranean, narrative maps of the Coastal sites and Axonometric collages drawings with design proposals.
3. Catalog: showing contextual forms of existing physical and phenomenological conditions and situations.