MIM 211E - restless residents

Course Objectives

This studio will continue its search of collaborative, uncompetitive, and unheroic architectures that flourish collective imaginations among us and the society in general. This semester we will start from a geological phenomenon, obruk (how sinkhole is called in Anatolia) to question the relationship of architecture to earth as different balances of spatial, material, structural, cultural, social, political, and ecological becomings. The idea of earth being not a resource to consume but a body of living and non-living collectives, leads us to act with a sense of responsibility to others who inhabits it. We will try to understand how kinships are formed through obruks and propose an architecture that may be restless enough to continuously make connections and be a resident long enough to develop and nourish them.

The site, Karapınar, is a moorland in mid-Anatolia which has been inhabited for at least 9000 years, known for its obruks and practices of land control against large scale erosion. We will visit obruks which are formed due to combination of natural dynamics and human activities of agriculture together with water exploitation. Some obruks are thousands of years old and many more are being opened today. Next to them are new facilities of sun and wind energy harvesting. We will work intimately with this place, carry out collective walks, talks, and drawings. Through collaboration and improvisational performative acts, we will try to make connections to this landscape. Through such an intimate practice of exploration and connection, we will search for possibilities of doing architecture in more responsive and responsible ways.

The studio is called Collective Imaginations, referring to a feminist pedagogy, which encourages egalitarian engagement, active and continuous participation, collective production, and horizontal decision-making. Collectivity is sought in not only physical production but in the spirit by sharing and caring for others. We use feminist methods of storytelling, drawing, and fabrication. We will aim to achieve a transdisciplinary approach, working and thinking through theatre, literature, visual arts, philosophy, and architecture. It is proposed that the studio may be created everywhere and anytime, as long as committed and collective participation is achieved. The tutors organize daily, weekly and term tasks. Yet, the students are encouraged to participate in organization of studio productions, propose alternative tasks and extra-curricular events.

Course Description

The site, Karapınar, is a moorland in mid-Anatolia which has been inhabited for at least 9000 years, known for its obruks and practices of land control against large scale erosion. We will visit obruks which are formed due to combination of natural dynamics and human activities of agriculture together with water exploitation. Some obruks are thousands of years old and many more are being opened today. Next to them are new facilities of sun and wind energy harvesting. We will work intimately with this place, carry out collective walks, talks, and drawings. Through collaboration and improvisational performative acts, we will try to make connections to this landscape. Through such an intimate practice of exploration and connection, we will search for possibilities of doing architecture in more responsive and responsible ways.

The studio is called Collective Imaginations, referring to a feminist pedagogy, which encourages egalitarian engagement, active and continuous participation, collective production, and horizontal decision-making. Collectivity is sought in not only physical production but in the spirit by sharing and caring for others. We use feminist methods of storytelling, drawing, and fabrication. We will aim to achieve a transdisciplinary approach, working and thinking through theatre, literature, visual arts, philosophy, and architecture. It is proposed that the studio may be created everywhere and anytime, as long as committed and collective participation is achieved. The tutors organize daily, weekly and term tasks. Yet, the students are encouraged to participate in organization of studio productions, propose alternative tasks and extra-curricular events.