The aspect of community had been grossly neglected in modern architecture. The recent discourse focuses on ecology/technology, neglecting cultural heritage and the fact that humans are both natural and cultural animals. As an answer to climate crises, ecological needs have been considered in recent architectures; their focus has been mainly technological, in emphasising the technical optimisation of the built space – such as making buildings more energy-efficient, using new materials, inserting plants into the urban fabric, and so on. These attempts culminated in the ideal of the so-called green city. The key idea behind such attempts is the wish for a ‘natural’ city. It is a wish that is deeply embedded in our (occidental) cultural heritage, with relations to utopia and the myth of paradise.

A natural city for humans means to consider not just the aspect of ecology, but also of culture. To bring culture into the discussion again and not to focus solely on a technologically perfected ‘green’ architecture is a main aspect of our workshop: We want to widen the perspective, to see the whole picture, not just the eco-technological part of it which is so strongly favoured today.

It is not enough to build technologically perfected eco-houses – what we do with our cultural heritage? Taking the fact that humans are both cultural and communal animals, not just technologically perfected, eco-adapted solitaires. Next to ecology, our workshop wants to address the recent social and economic ecology: What does it take for a new architecture that inherits these aspects, and considers the community-aspect of architecture?

Different topics in the field of a future ‘natural’ city will be tackled in a combination of presentations and moderated discussions. The focus will lie on the discussion, whereby after each presentation, a discussion of the topic presented will take place. For presentations and discussions alike, there is the possibility to participate online.

All presentations and discussions will be live streamed online on the ECC YouTube channel. If you wish to participate actively to the workshop you can join the conversation on Zoom here, meeting ID: 573 123 9139

For more information and registration you can contact ulrich.gehmann@idealspaces.org.

Programme

13:15  – 13:45
The framework by Jateen Lad
Building Green is not enough: Sharanam Centre for Rural Development

13:45 – 14:10
Discussion

14:10 – 14:20
Short break

14:20 – 14:45
Recent concepts of ‘natural’ cities, overview from practice by Claire Weisz
How is a ‘natural’ city conceived today, and why so?

14:45 – 15:15
Discussion on:
– Key assumptions behind these concepts
– Are ‘natural’ cities possible in the age of urban agglomeration?
– Non-Western approaches? How, and why, they differ from Western concepts?

15:15 – 15:30
Short break

15:30 – 16:00
Cultural heritage and community by Hong Geng

16:00 – 16:30
Discussion on:
– Recent concepts explicitly considering community as a key factor
– Recent ‘natural’ city concepts explicitly considering cultural heritage
– Key assumptions behind these concepts

16:30 – 16:40
Short break