IDW 2020

12 13 Commoning through animals #6 by Ellen Verbiest and Laura Meulemans This workshop builds on the paradigm of ‘the com- mons’ by challenging students to reflect on common- ing through animals and the role of humans in this process (e.g. from herds of cattle, shared fishing, local dog walking communities, shared waste processing chickens, to city hives). Which rights, rules, spatial boundaries (public, private, common) and sanctioning must be set for commoners and for animals? Which spatial features make the practice explicit? How does this result into a social production of space? Two suburban, residential areas, Luchtbal and Lambrechtshoeken, Merksem, are located to the north of Antwerp. Today, the northern ring road forms a physical and social barrier between the two neighbor- hoods. ‘Ring project 5’ (buur – latz – s333 – greisch – levuur) 1 visualizes a local cap of the ring road through which the existing open space can be intertwined and developed into one extensive communal park to increase the social cohesion of both neighborhoods. This workshop explores the potential reciprocity of both neighborhoods by means of real and imagined commoning practices through animals. How can a temporary intervention (on site) or dream exercise (from masterplan to object) attract multiple users/ target groups, tackle neighborhood-scale challenges and meanwhile inform them about the neighborhood/ target group? Depending on the chosen scale students are stim- ulated to explore ‘the common ground’ through the chosen animal (species) between the two physically separated neighborhoods and the mutual impact from one to the other, for example by means of an in situ installation. Trial Balloon – The sky belongs to everyone #7 by Roland Fuhrmann and Phoebe Blackburn Pilot projects, like trial balloons, are sent out as new ideas to generate reactions and send signals to con- nect people. The term trial balloon is inspired by the name of the “Luchtbal” district, which stems from a historical hot air balloon landing. These trial balloons can become ‘condensation cores’ which generate clusters. The projects can foster human interactions for the prototyping of future commons between the two linked districts. The required projects will rise above horizons and connect across borders, providing vision and over- view. Trial balloon can be taken literally or interpreted metaphorically as a model of thought. Modular, ex- tendable or mobile structures as commons landmarks to create new realities can be envisioned. These vertical modules can be used as viewpoints along the “over de ring” construction site. They could be covered by vertical gardening and usable as pavilions to meet, eat, play and laugh together. These trial modules can be designed for the meantime, and can be mobile, relocatable, deployable or permanent. Each self-chosen group of 3 or 5 students will cre- ate their Trial balloon by using art, design and archi- tecture – involving self-defined aspects of commons. PROJECT CRITERIA - creating modules, structures, devices, vessels, towers, city gates, landmarks, entities, pavilions or walk-in sculptures - involving residents with diverse cultural and social backgrounds of both districts - prototype building in reduced scale or partly in life size - building with a circular economy mindset; re-used, transformed and recycled materials are recom- mended - visualisation of the projects in any media - creating a padlet of ideas and inspirations, which can be published afterwards. image 01 Peter Birkenholz: “Kugelhausstadt”, sketch, 1927, credit: TU Munich, Architekturmuseum image 02 Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP: “Kamikatz Public House” (100% recycled), Japan, 2015 image 03 Ólafur Elíasson: “The cubic structural evolution project”, Tate Modern, London; photo: Roland Fuhrmann, 2019 1 2 3 1 Antwerpen Morgen. (n.d.). Ringproject 5 - Groen Hart Luchtbal — Lambrechtshoeken. Retrieved from https://antwerpenmorgen.be/projecten/ overkapping-project-5-noord/over [2019, October 21]