Built Nothing

www.builtnothing.space

(POSITIVE) ABSENCE

Sometimes, things are better when something is removed, rather than added……
In 1927 Anna Wagner Keichline, architect, inventor, suffragist, and World War 1 special agent, applied successfully for a patent for a hollow wall clay brick.
The ‘K’ Brick, by removing physical mass from the centre of the structural wall depth, reduced the weight of external walls by 50%, it allowed for taller buildings, speedier construction, utilised less raw resources and was simpler and quicker to make.
Anna Wagner Keichline had wonderfully succeeded in the often ignored and neglected enterprise of making something better by removing, rather than adding.

‘BUILT’ NOTHING
The studio will create architectural proposals which are defined by the introduction of ‘absence’.
Rather than seeing absence as an omission, the studio will investigate the potential of absence to define, structure, and enrich architectural proposals.
Case Studies will be used as research material into the theme, and design projects to elaborate your individual approach.

NOTHING ‘BUILT’
“Why are things like that made?”
Quote from  Maarten Van Severen : Documentary Film :  ‘Werken | Work’ – 2004 : Director – Terenja van Dijk

How we ‘make’ is intrinsic to how we ‘think’, and vice-versa.

The studio will contribute to the CRAFTMANSHIP ENGAGEMENT, and the material produced will form an important part of the methodology and design investigation in the studio.
The abstraction and reduction inherent in the making of hand-made models, sketches and collages is an introduction into the central theme of the studio.

HOW  –  ABC
Each year the studio results in an architectural design project, carried out individually.
Each year the project changes :  in location, function and introduces an alternative definition of absence.
However, the way we work in the studio remains constant :

A CASE STUDY
A short design investigation into a  (self-chosen)  case study architectural  project.
This is a creative rather than a cataloguing process.
The output to be an abstract model, exhibited on a timber plinth
(work in Duos)

B ABSTRACT
The concept design for a small scale architectural project.
The main output being an abstract model, exhibited on a timber plinth
(individual work)

C PROPOSAL
The further development of your small scale architectural project, through drawing,
and the production of one beautiful artefact.
(individual work)

BUILTNOTHING VI
This last edition of the BUILTNOTHING Studio will involve the design of a small-scale architectural project
(less than 1000m2).
In the previous studios the projects have been :
BUILTNOTHING I, a home for 10 individuals
BUILTNOTHING II, a small city school
BUILTNOTHING III, a library in a park
BUILTNOTHING IV, collective living for 10 families
BUILTNOTHING V, a building to exhibit 10 artworks
For BUILTNOTHING VI  the building program will be different but will, as the previous studios,  require you to consider how absence can enrich the architectural design.
You will wonderfully succeed in  making something better by removing, rather than adding.

All the work of the 5 previous studios can be seen here : www.builtnothing.space
Read the full studio description HERE.
An inspirational project of absence : view the trailer for the documentary film over the Moriyama House here
An inspirational example of craftmanship, please look at the short video (fragment) over Maarten Van Severen here
Image :  Melopee School, Ghent by XDGA, photograph  © Maxime Delvaux
Video :   Melopee School, Ghent by XDGA © arendsoog