Vienna Workshop: Nomadic Architecture in the U-Bahn

Nomadic Architecture in the U-Bahn

architecture students design / theory workshop

department of architectural theory - Professor Kari Jormakka

architectural theory
vienna university of technology.

http://puffin.curtin.edu.au/~cowan/wien/u-bahn/

Design Workshop
1. bis 7.Februar , 1999 Institut Baukunst Abt. Architekturtheorie : Wahlfach 7 tage Intensiv

Gregory Cowan Curtin University, Western Australia ("Gastprofessor")
Technische Universität Wien, Institut für Baukunst, Bauaufnahmen und Architekturtheorie. (1999)
Nomadische Architektur im U-Bahn

^{Day 1 Monday February 1}

13:00 hrs Discussion of nomadic architecture, formulation of the exercise.

The design workshop is experimental by nature. An architectural studio exercise, particularly a short intensive workshop such as this- is a kind of hermeneutical experiment. It is not certain at the outset what the range of results will be, other than that there will be drawings and models related to the Vienna Underground System. ("Der Wiener U-Bahn")

No functional programme is prescribed for the U-Bahn workshop. The prescription of a functional programme would be contrary to the idea of an architectural theory workshop.
Form follows function follows form... isn´t this binary a little too simplistic? The two evolve simultaneously. The idea here is an experiment, like many studio exercises, to investigate the possibilities of a theme, in a limited time. In this case, my intention is to find out what the TUW architecture students find would they would most usefully intervene in the Underground System by architectural means.

Languages of words and languages of architecture... which notions do we use and understand? How much latent potential is there is the space of interpretation between the languages, even when I use Austrian German to express these ideas?

Nomadic architecture- that could any number of things... The notions of nomad and architecture are first explored. The images are intended to have a certain leaning towards nomadic systems rather than visual texture or materiality.

Every student has some kind of agenda or interest. The studio works well as a constellation with range of viewpoints, it just requires an investment of design work to formulate a response, to which we can then respond and subsequently develop the process further.

Slide presentation by GC on various thematically related issues defining the terms;

nomads, inhabitation and the notion of Civitas - the City

e.g. camp

architecture,

e.g. the Turkish siege on Vienna in 1529...

A series of Underground systems around the world were shown, from Tokyo to London to Stockholm.

A discussion of the idea of architectural projects as theory and crtique of the city and its culture and architecture. Students work in architecture schools as significant explorations of ideas about inhabitation.

The Vienna U-Bahn System can be understood as a complex architectural work as much as it is a work of municipal engineering. It comprises an extensive arrangement of variously distended spaces, predominantly submerged below the city and occasionally visible above ground. The field, "Greater Vienna" is the City defined for the purpose of this exercise by this U- bahn Network of six lines (five operational lines plus the U5 project);

U1: Kagran - Reumannplatz
U2: Schottenring - Karlsplatz
U3: Erdberg - Ottakring
U4: Heiligenstadt - HÜtteldorf
U5: Aspern - Hernals (project; see http://aardvark.magnet.at/metro/deutsch/lines-u5.shtml)
U6: Floridsdorf - Siebenhirten

The inhabitation of the spaces of each line and the whole, its timing and structure by users relate to diverse rituals within the field "Greater Vienna"
Consider the terms dwelling, inhabiting, hausen, wohnen, besetzen, besitzen.
The prosaic rituals (see Jormakka 1995) constituted by the apparently banal day-to-day inhabitation of the system can be recorded by threads of traceable individuals or groups who weave nomadically and systematically their invisible journeys through this labyrinth.

e.g.

Margaretenguertel U4 - a station

See Falter (Viennese weekly culture newspaper) issue no. 3/99 and issue no. 5/99 for stories reporting on the controversy about unused spaces which were built ("accidentally / incidentally") during the construction of the U3 Underground line - The Art Line (Kunstlinie).

^{The mapping of each tell-tale thread of each journey can be undertaken
as analysis, temporally, spatially and structurally, and each possible
analytical map may be of interest, while complex, especially if combined.
At the same time, the underground network is a complete infrastructural
organism, like the city, where spaces, events and movements (Tschumi, 1994)
occur simultaneously, at various points at any given time.}
^{The spaces are all to some extent "habitable" and their architectural
distorted through the movements and events taking place and the perception
of the spaces by the inhabitants or "users".}

^Nomadism
^{Nuttgens: "The story of architecture begins with the story of
civilisation, when primitive men and women gave up their nomadic ways and
established settlements..."}
^{Großers Modernes Lexikon.: "Baukuenstlerische Betaetigung
setzt seßhaftigkeit voraus; Nomaden haben keine Baukunst geschaffen...."}
^{Historiography of sedentary (settled) and nomadic architecture.}

^{1. research}
^{Participants were asked to read the following essays and make
notes for discussion;}
^{Ein U-Bahn Netz als Entwurfsproblem 1966, in Czech, H.
1978; pp. 38-40 e.g. What are the key issues for the U-Bahn design compared
to other adjacent connected forms of transport?}
^{The Manhattan Transcripts, pp. XVII-XXX (postscript to
the 1994 edition) in Tschumi, B 1994; What are the techniques of notation
in architectural space and how are they used; and}
^{Buildings and Fields Jormakka, K. 1995; pp. 61-81;}

^{16:00 At 4.00 pm the participants reconvened and
Prof. Jormakka joined in.}

^{Groups were formed as follows:}

^{"Plankton" Group}
^{Susanne Hauk 9725320}
^{Gregor Fleischmann 9725546}

^{"Falter" Group}
^{Klemens Bichler 9726149}
^{Claudia Brandstetter ........}
^{Fabian Bembski 9725231}

^{"MÖbius" Group}
^{Andreas Koerner 8727176}
^{Anna Dabernig 9725948}

^{"IAK" Group}
^{Annette Grosskinski 9726229}
^{Claudia Czerkauer 9725752}
^{Petra Graf 9725731}

^{The following themes were discussed:}
^{How could the U-Bahn be architecturally enhanced? What do
the TUW students find lacking? (no immediate response)}
^{Television and video projection - advertising by Info-Screens
in the Vienna U-Bahn}
^{Advertising in Toilets, Hermann Czech´s critique of the
Stephansdom Gents toilet - appropriate adjacencies?}
^{Impression: Clinically Clean (Klinisch Sauber) Aims - too see
one´s path more clearly (Ziele- besser sehen wohin zu gehen)}
^{Nature (natÜrlichkeit) - what it means in this context -
trees, fresh air, natural materials}
^{Food culture in Vienna: the more refined and fine/ subtle in taste
the better- abstraction of the natural}
^{Time factor; what can one do while waiting for about 30 seconds?}
^{e.g. -Karaoke}
^{-smoke half a cigarette}
^-dance
^{-scream (like parks in Japan for release of tension by screaming)}
^{What else could be exploited?}
^{-acceleration}
^{-turning out the light to exaggerate the effect}
^{-movement of the hand grips}
^{What can one achieve in a project only 6-7 days long?}

^Ideas
^{Plankton (name taken from a microscopic animal.... or plant?)}
^{Develop a measurement device - see example from "The Interior"
Dan Austin p.75 slide shown in introduction}
^{possible measurement techniques - seismograph}

^{Falter (newspaper of information and culture, folding as
a possible operation??)}
^{U-Bahn Plan- 1970s graphic of the 5 lines, colour coded.}
^{Questionnaire for people in the U-Bahn. Asking four questions}
^{What is missing in your opinion in the Vienna U-Bahn?}
^{Do you consider the time spemnt in the U-Bahn as wasted time?}
^{Can you think of a way this time could be better occupied in the
U-Bahn?}
^{Can you think of two or three words that spontaneously spring
to mind in the context of the U-Bahn?}

^Moebius
^{South American - Argentinian Film about disappearing U-Bahn wagon
after extension of Underground causing a loop re: Moebius strip}
^{Vienna U-Bahn as a complex system}
^{Building the 'myth' of the U-Bahn after the nature of "The Third
Man"}

^{Houdini/ IAK (mystery name)}
^{Spagetti - plotting complexity of paths taken by many people}
^{phenomenological - each persons own perception}

^{Day 2 Tuesday February 2}
^{13:00 hrs Nomadic Architecture in the U-Bahn: model / notation}
^{Theory discussed: Bernard Tschumi: Advertisements for Architecture}
^{Copies of Advertisements for Architecture c.1974 by Bernard Tschumi
posted in the studio}
^{e.g. Murder in the Cathedral differes from Murder in the Street
in the same way that Love in the Street differs from the Street of Love.
Radically.}
^{e.g. To really experience architecture, you may have to commmit
a murder}

^{Karl S. Chu´s Catastrophe Machines; workshop at TUW Inst.
Wohnbau}
^{(see Architektur und BauForum 5*1998 s.116)}
^{Techniques discussed: Karl Chu "Catastrophe Machines"}
^{see Architektur u. Bauforum no. 196 (September / Oktober nr.5
1998) p. 116-122}

^{Task for presentation Tuesday: Present the results of your experiments}
^{Develop through a series of drawings a method of representing
/ modelling the Vienna U-Bahn System as a three dimensional architectural
composition. Consider mapping and movement notation as used by Tschumi.
Consider further techniques as discussed Monday.}
^{If using sound, ensure the raw recordings have been edited
or treated in some way. Bring preparatory storyboards or sketches you did
prior
to the recording to eable discussion about your intent and outcome of your
experiment.}
^{If using photography, edit the photos and work them over using
photocopying, collage or drawing media of some sort to identify the important
themes.}

^IAK
^{Blue resin block with spagetti and rabbit mesh-}
^{a very abstract idea model}
^{Blue resin used to remove the association with food}
^{Intention to photograph using interesting lighting and enlarge
in colour}

^Falter
^{Interview using the four questions}
^{Sound piece- well produced 45minute mix with Music by Viennese
pop group Attwenger, interesting range of people ages and accents, degrees
of formality}
^{group found ideas content of the responses from the public to
be "superficial"}
^{Chaotically produced copper wire abstractions (extended line vectors)
soldered together randomly, actually according to arbitrary taste- not
truly random.}
^{Problem of unacknowledged aestheticised randomness vs. mathematically
e.g.chaos machine- ´controlled´ randomness.}

^Moebius
^{Ideas for development of mythical U5 line, verbal ideas, interest
in the Film "Moebius" (Buenos Aires)}
^{Develop the myth in a particular station}
^{Intent to get plans and sections of the station as a basis for
the project.}

^Plankton
^{Interesting "machine" devised. One "vibration sample" taken
from a random section of each U-Bahn line, U1, U2, U3, U4, U6.}
^{Measurements made- very subjective. Method of presenting
the data as a mobile was less interesting than the (subjective) data.}
^{Investigate Social project, visit Kruft (Caritas Social project)
with some architectural question regarding the situation of the homeless.}

^{Day 3 Wednesday February 3}
^{13:00 hrs Nomadic Architecture in the U-Bahn: schematic design}

^{Present the schematic design of an architectural object,
event or installation which draws attention to the nomadic and ritual inhabitation
of the architecture of the U-Bahn System.}
^{Explain why the piece is architectural rather than decorative
or structural or philosophical.}
^{Use three dimensional models to convey the spatial concepts.}

^{Arranged the presentation place and time}
^{Sunday 7 February as Aufbaulabor Karlsplatz 13 Stiege 7,
1st Fl when the pieces would be presented and celebrated.}

^Progress:

^IAK
^{Photographs and colour photocopies of blue resin block with spagetti
and rabbit mesh- successfully photographically enhanced, enlarged
in colour looked interesting}
^{Programme sought: Coin Laundry idea discussed with adjacent
coffee house}
^{Bathhouse discussed - see Roman baths}
^{Archigram, Architecture 2000 Jencks c.1970 Peter Cook collage
techniques}

^Falter
^{Attempt to econfigure the graphic for the ´sculpture´}
^{Further consider the value of the sound piece (well produced,
although group found content "superficial")}
^{U-Bahn 5 Lines graphic diagram north orientated}
^{Is this graphic still recognisable in 3D at various scales??}

^Moebius
^{Ideas for development of mythical U5 line, verbal ideas, no drawings}

^Plankton
^{Measurements made- very subjective.}
^{Investigate Social project, visit Kruft (Caritas Social project)
with some architectural question regarding the situation of the homeless.}
^{Interview was not possible, some brochures collected as refernce
material.}

^{Day 4 Thursday February 4}
^{reviews of work to date}
^{13.00 Groups presenting}
^-Plankton,
^-Falter,
^-MÖbius

^{Discussion- what is possible in time available, not much in terms
of architectural or scale drawings available for discussion.}

^{18.00 Groups presenting}
^{-Dawirtz-Graf,}
^-IAK

^{further discussion of possible directions. Friday the penultimate
discussion before Sunday´s presentation.}

^{Day 5 Friday February 5}
^{10:00 Film viewing at the Wohnbau (Housing) Institute (Video arranged
by Andreas}
^{14:00 meeting in the Studio (Aufbaulabor)}

^{evening 17:00 pre-final discussion - sporadic attendance}

assembly drawing by Plankton:

^{Day 6 Saturday February 6}
^{10:00 to 11:00 final meeting- after postponement.}

^{(Moebius absent due to illness)}

^{Day 7 Sonntag February 7}

^{17:00 final presentation}
^{Critics Kari Jormakka, Greg Cowan, Andreas Lichtblau (briefly)}

^{1 IAK / Wash and Stay}
^{Good generating concept. Project remained fresh. Collage
work was successful. An interesting presentation.}
^{Drawings and photos extended the essence}
^*****

^{2 Plankton}
^{Valuable social programme. Very oversimplified understanding
of the programme.}
^{The generating information as not carefully compiled and edited}
^{i.e. Kruft brochure was not abstracted for key information, simply
collaged as is.}
^{Thoroughly investigated colour variations of tent permutations,
however this became a diversion.}
^{Material aspects did not have sufficient social programmatic considerations,
became too much "just another tent"}
^****

^{3 Falter}
^{Strong concept for the U3 Line "The Art Line" as it is known,
unfortunately not architecturally transposed}
^{- see collage sections, made a noble attemt at a generator}
^{this had been needed at the start, pattern of the U-Bahn system
plan didn´t "get its own legs"}
^{project did not gain enough momentum as a 3D architectural exercise.}
^{The drawings produced finally (including various scale photocopies)
were interesting, but became Wallpaper}
^{- this was exactly what was being criticised as "superficial"
in the first place.}
***

^{documentation}
^{Students were asked to arrange to submit three 35mm slide duplicates
(clearly marked with project details) and one A4 photocopy outlining in
English the strategy , result, and self-evaluation of the project. Students
reminded to keep originals for their own records.}

^{Feedback Day 12 Friday February 12 14:00 im Aufbaulabor}

^{These notes were distributed and discussed in the then current
version.}

^{Participants were invited to contact Gregory Cowan when in
Australia or when completing their Diploma project, whichever comes first.}

^{G.Cowan@curtin.edu.au}

^{architecture students workshop http://puffin.curtin.edu.au/~cowan/wien/u-bahn/}

^bibliography
^{Czech, Hermann, 1966; Ein U-Bahn Netz als Entwurfsproblem pp
38-40 in Zur Abwechslung; AusgewÄhlten Schriften zur Architektur
Wien (LÖcker und WÖgenstein, Wien)}
^{Tschumi, Bernard 1994 ed.; The Manhattan Transcripts postscript,
illustrated index 1982 pp XVII - (Academy Editions, London)}
^{Jormakka, Kari, 1995; On Buildings and Fields in Heimlich Manoeuvres;
Ritual in Architectural Form pp 61 - 81 (Verso, Weimar)}

^{footnotes from Introduction}

^{1 Heimlich Manoeuvres argues that embedded in buildings
there are tacit performative rituals which do not represent or symbolise
anything but rather insidiously partition and organise our world. from
the back cover, Jormakka, 1995 ibid.}
^{2 see Colomina, Beatriz 1988; Introduction: On
Architecture, Production and Reproduction in Colomina, Beatriz , (ed.)
Revisions 2 - ARCHITECTUREPRODUCTION, pp 7 - 23, (Princeton Architectural
Press)}

^{Additional sources}
^{Mer, Marc, 1995; !merry-go(es) -round, architecture - stand(s)
- by in PÖchhacker, Charlotte,}
^{ed. 1995 film+arc.graz; 2. Internationale Biennale Film und Architektur
pp 140 - 149 (Artimage, Graz)}
^{http://aardvark.magnet.at/metro/m/ext-u5.gif}
^{Rajchman, John 1991 On Not Being Any One in Davidson, Cynthia
C. (ed.) 1991 Anyonepp. 100-111 (Rizzoli, New York)}
^{Bel Geddes, N 1932 / 1977 Horizons (Dover, N.Y ) Ch 5 p 79 (source
for the b&w poster)}

"Die 1. und 2. Ausbauphase der Wiener U-Bahn : Eine Dokumentation Über das im Betrieb und im Bau befindliche Wiener U-Bahn-Netz." Stand 1.8.1985 / Hrsg.: MA 38-U-Bahn-Bau. - Wien : Compress Verl., 1985. - 207 S. : Ill., graph. Darst.
Wiener Stadtwerke Verhehrsbetrieb, Abt. Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
1030 Wien Erdbergstr 202
Zeitmaschine U-Bahn Eine eise Durch Jahrtausende - Kulturerfahrunen, Kunstgeschichte(n)
avail. Infostelle Karlsplatz U Bahn passage.

Falter 3/99 Article and photographic documentation of about 10,000 square metres of unused space, incidentally produced in building the U3

Falter 5/99 Further article on the same with proposed uses by Viennese citizens.

^{Reference of waht to avoid- NOT recommended;}
^{http://www-c.informatik.uni-hannover.de/~dh/sba/wien/stp_fresko.html}

links
images

updated 1 February 2006 London from original 11 February 1999 Vienna GC

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