Ecosystems and Reflection (AUL)
Interdisciplinary Architecture-Urbanism-Landscape Architecture 8-week project
‘If you are a poet, you will see clearly that there is a cloud floating in this sheet of paper. Without a cloud, there will be no rain; without rain, the trees cannot grow: and without trees, we cannot make paper. The cloud is essential for the paper to exist. If the cloud is not here, the sheet of paper cannot be here either. So we can say that the cloud and the paper inter-are.’ - Thích Nhất Hạnh
An ecosystem is a complex of living organisms, their physical environment, and the web of interrelationships in a defined space, varying from something as small as a drop of water all the way up to vast landscapes.
In an interdisciplinary research course with first-year master students in architecture, urbanism and landscape architecture, we would like to dive into a wide range of ecosystems and to start developing a vocabulary on how to capture and reflect on specific ecosystems – from a garden to a room, from a neighbourhood to a landscape, from biological to other systems – exploring the web of relations that exists therein.
Are you an inspiring, critical, motivating researcher and/or designer? Do you want to help students explore what an ecosystem is and discover the web of interrelationships, and how to articulate that growing knowledge? Do you want to challenge yourself in working with a small group of professional students and help them reflect on their work? Then send us your ideas!
We are looking for nine tutors and envision the structure of the course as follows:
week 1 The course will launch with a Conference, a moment during which all tutors are invited to present the selected research topics and trajectories and opened to an initial conversation with the whole group of students and tutors.
week 2-7 Research on the chosen topic, resulting in a reflection piece of about 500 words and other formats if applicable.
week 8 Final Presentations.
If you’re interested in guiding an interdisciplinary team of first-year students, please send us:
- a short introduction of yourself as a teacher and professional designer and/or researcher (max 300 words).
- a brief description of your approach and methods, the goals you want to reach and a suggestion for a topic you would like to research (max 500 words).
The course will take place on Friday mornings 09:30-12:30, March 31 - June 9th, 2023, at the Academy of Architecture at Waterlooplein in Amsterdam. Please note that all research & reflection work by the students needs to be completed during the course hours.
Please send your proposal by February 17th, 2023, to education manager Henri Snel: henri.snel@ahk.nl.
If you have questions, please get in touch with Henri Snel (henri.snel@ahk.nl).