Off the Grid_Phase III_Reader

Off the Grid Design Studio

Phase III

In collaboration with CIAD, Cologne Institute for Architectural Design, Chiang Mai University, the architects Nikolaus Hirsch & Michel Müller, graphic designer Zak Kyes and the Bauhaus Dessau Foundation.

The Design

We initiated our design studio with the study and analysis of urban-to-rural avant-garde movements throughout the 20th century and their individual communal strategies and practices towards a life in self-sufficiency. The second phase of our semester project gave us the opportunity to visit “The Land” - an ongoing movement in Northern Thailand. Excursion and workshop focused on a more detailed study of a wider spatial and socio-cultural context of ‘The Land’. The field work conducted by the Settlement, Agriculture, Water, Energy and Architecture groups revealed local conditions and potentials, but also current challenges of the daily life and work in such a post-rural context, which is strongly affected by urbanisation processes. Increasing global dependencies impact on the local and contribute to changing land use patterns, increasing land prices and speculation, the generalized deceleration of agriculture as well as the decline of traditional rural traditions and culture. What could it mean to live and work in such a spatial and socio-cultural context for the future?

We are now embarking on the third phase of our urban design studio, which will lead us to develop future scenarios for “The Land”. Based on our field studies, we will critically reflect on history and contemporary constitution of “The Land” project, its relation to the local environment, infrastructure and “villagers” as well as its daily practice. We will base our scenario development on the vision of “The Land” protagonists: To transform the site from sporadic, experimental use to a permanently usable laboratory for artists residencies and workshops/ conferences. Groups are encouraged, however, to explore visions beyond. Can/ should “The Land” develop a stronger interrelation and exchange with its surrounding areas? Can “The Land” become a catalyst for the development of a post-rural future of the Sanpatong area? What could be radical scenarios for an artistic laboratory “off the grid”?

Rice fields next to „The Land“, 2014

02 - 03 Phase III

Eeach group (5 x 3 students) is asked to develop a holistic design concept including an overall vision/ strategy for “The Land” (urban scale) as well as a new workshop building (local scale) to be placed on site. How can the new building project provide an impetus and become a catalyst for the overall development of the land?

The Vision (Urban Scale)

Each group should define a thematic focus, which could help to define a broader scenario. This can derive from the themes, which were introduced to guide the field work in Chiang Mai. Groups are free to deviate as well, find a new focus or work with a set of diverse potentials identified in the field work. The “vision” should include a programmatic as well as a broader spatial idea (urban concept) for the land. Aspects of management, economy, curatorial concepts, etc. could be included as well.

04 - 05 The Vision

D.I.Y. Water wheel on „The Land“

06 - 07 The Workshop Building

Shower at Pun Pun Center for Self Reliance, Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai

The Workshop Building (1:1 Scale)

The new workshop building will move “The Land” to the next stage of self-sufficiency and is essential for making the site habitable. The alternative supply with energy and water for the new building itself and the surrounded structures will play a key role in this process towards a greater independence.

In accordance with your group vision for “The Land” (urban scale) self-sufficiency practices and tools (e.g. collecting and reuse of water, waste recycling, energy and food production) should be addressed and integrated into your design approach. What overall concept for the building structure could be developed and what impact does this have on the design? What materials and systems are necessary to promote a self-sufficient building and what could such a building structure look like?

In addition to the various derivations from your thematic and conceptual focus, a main objective of the new building structure is to accommodate a multifunctional programme. The building should become habitable for at least 8-10 residents (e.g. artist residencies) and should provide for workshops/ gatherings for at least 25 persons for workshops or training programmes. The positioning on site as well as the ground floor area of the building structure derives from your conceptual approach, but should not increase 300 qm.

08 - 09 Building site

The Land II(Building site)

The Land I

Products

Text · Concept/ vision (max. 500 Words)

Drawings · Site Plan (scale 1:1000) · Conceptual drawings (diagrams, pictograms) explaining individual vision for “The Land” · All necessary plans, sections, views supporting your individual concept of the workshop building (scale 1:100) · Graphic representation of utilization concept, program, flexibility and infrastructural provision for the workshop building · Detailed description/ drawings of min. 3 integrated tools supporting self-sufficiency (functionality, construction, materials)

Modell · Modell workshop building (M 1:200)

Spatial visualization · Min. 1 image showing conceptual idea and local context · Min. 2 images showing material use, construction, lightning etc. of workshop building

Please notice, that all products can be adapted in dependence of your individual design concept.

10 - 11 Products

Water treatment system at Pun Pun Center for Self Reliance, Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai

Site visit and field work by students

12 - 13 Review Workshop

14 - 15 Schedule

Wednesday, May 28

9.00 - 12.30 - Review Excursion and Workshop A 202 - Introduction Phase III (The Design) - Individual group tutorials (Research Phase II)

Thursday, June 5 Common Workshop 10.00 - 18.00 - Post-production Phase I and Phase IIA 202 - Individual group tutorials Phase III

June 10 - June 13

Workshop Dessau June 1012.00 - Meeting at Bauhaus Dessau, individual trips 12.00 - 18.00 - Guided tour: Bauhaus, Meisterhäuser, Siedlung Törten and Siedlung Knarrberg18.00 - Lecture/ Presentation by Habitat Unit, CIAD and UCL20.00 - Get-together

June 1110.00 - 17.00 - Research and fieldwork

June 1210.00 - 17.00 - Research and fieldwork

June 1310.00 - 12.00 - Presentation Research - Closing lecture and outlook

Wednesday, June 18

09.00 - 12.00 - Individual group tutorialsA 202

Thursday, June 26

10.00 - 16.00 - Individual group tutorialsA 202

Thursday, July 3

10.00 - 16.00 - PresentationA 202

Thursday, July 10

10.00 - 16.00 - Individual group tutorialsA 202

Thursday, July 17

10.00 - 16.00 - Final presentationA 202

July 18 - July 19 /// IfA Exhibition

Students at Pun Pun Center for Self Reliance, Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai

16 - 17 Review Workshop

18 - 19 Notes

STIFTUNG BAUHAUS DESSAUGropiusallee 38D-06846 Dessau-RoßlauTel: 0340-6508-250

JUGENDHERBERGE DESSAUEbertallee 151 06846 Dessau-Roßlau Tel: 0340-619-803

Wegbeschreibung: Vom Bahnhof Richtung Georgengarten (oder mit kleinem Umweg über das Bauhaus) dann beim Kreisel in die Eberallee hinein und von dort, an den Meisterhäusern vorbei, bis zur Jugendherberge.

In collaboration with:

Chair of International Urbanism and DesignProf. Dr. Philipp Misselwitz

Department of ArchitectureSchool VI Planning Building EnvironmentTechnische Universität Berlin

Strasse des 17. Juni 15210623 Berlin, Germany

P +49-30-314-21908F +49-30-314-21907

[email protected]

Off the Grid - An Artist‘s refuge in post-rural ThailandDesign Studio, Summer 2014

Prof. Dr. Philipp Misselwitz & Hannes Langguth

Students: Denise Baron, Claudia Cortes, Maelle Le Dantec, Malgorzata Anna Golabek, Nour Harastani, Ilektra Mancini, Anthea Mattick, Theresa Piechottka, Franziska Polleter, Simone Prill, Valentin Riese, Maria Suter Warnholtz, Giacomo Tonolini, Christoph Walther, Edgar Verde Nuno