After discussing the work of RE-ST (www.re-st.be) last year, Tim Vekemans finished with the words: ‘yes, we are an activist architectural practice’. The clear assumption is the start for the sofa-talk this year. We want to know how exactly the work of RE-ST merges architecture and activism. It would be easy to locate activism in the written work of the office, including ‘The Plea for Un-Building’ and ‘Zwerfruimte/Wanderspace’. The real question is: How does activism function in the recent built work of RE-ST, such as De Harmonie in Antwerp and Brouwerij Atlas in Anderlecht (icw KempeThill). Many questions follow: How do we recognize activist architecture and how does it differ from business-as-usual? What are the strategies that activist architecture has at its disposal and how do these fit the code of conduct prescribed by the Order of Architects? What sort of client does the activist architect cater and how do you convince them? Can you make money with activist architecture or is it voluntary work for the good cause?
Date: Thursday 17 October 2024, 6pm
Venue: the bar of Meurop, Paleizenstraat 65
The sofa-talk program is part of the Architecture & Activism seminar organized by Gideon Boie and Lieven De Cauter. Poster by Sherman Lam.
https://www.instagram.com/architectureactivism_kul/
https://www.instagram.com/restarchitecten/
https://www.instagram.com/arch_kuleuven/
Read more on the transformation of De Harmonie in A+ 309. https://www.instagram.com/aplusarchitectureinbelgium/