1:1 [one to one]: considering new modes of engagment through making, improvisation, and working on site

Abstract

This thesis is an exploration of alternative positions to traditional architectural practice. As a point of departure the architect’s changing role throughout history and its current state is presented. In these current uncertain times of global and local crises, new trajectories for architectural practice has become a necessity in order to remain relevant. Considering the theoretical discourse on making, improvisation and architectural ethnography, the thesis reconsiders these theories as operative methods to pursue experiments of doing otherwise by curating spaces while working in the context of two on site testbeds: Chalmers and Virserums Konsthall in Småland. Furthermore, the thesis focuses on the intrinsic processes in action based work, and utilizes reflection-in action to assess and reflect throughout the progression of the project with the purpose of locating new embodied knowledges. The work conducted is assisted by both operative and reflective methods running in parallel: making and thinking. Acts of making, improvising, performing, event- and place-making continually inform, and vice versa, reflective methods of case studying, interviewing, and process documenting. Throughout this process knowledges collected will continuously inform the work done at Chalmers, and Virserums Konsthall. Explorations of how an architect can work out in the field, curate and embody knowledge, are carried out within the scope of this thesis. New modes of engagement with space as a counterpart are sought when considering and testing what happens when the architect becomes situated and activated on site. Through improvised acts of making support structures, and curating activated spaces at Chalmers, representing an initial testbed, the learnings from these investigations are applied, with the same initial modus, in a public situation at Virserums Konsthall, representing a commencing progression of moving practice to the site. The work results in a proposed redefinition of the architect’s role as a curator and a compilation of initial guidance for future on site work. In order to counter an architectural practice struggling to remain relevant in uncertain times, this thesis aims at exploring an alternative method through acts of making on site in order to redefine the role of the architect as an action-based curator of spaces for making together.