Reconstructing Architecture: Inventing Anarchist Spatial Practises

The Reconstructing studio explores anarchism as a theory of organisation (incorporating spatial practises & building processes) through the following:

• Understanding & remapping architectural neo-avant-gardes.
• Reflections on autonomy myths of Italian Fascist (Rationalist) architecture in relation to architectural neo-avant-gardes.
• Design theory research concentrated on inventing anarchist spatial practises.
• Pragmatic demands for the impossible as catalysing students’ continuous project-based experimentation.
• Intensifying tensions between architects’ desires for artistic autonomy and the burdens of use, prefiguring architecture’s reconstruction through the invention of anarchist spatial practises.

In the spirit of anarchist social & spatial practises, students challenge the brief; emphasising parts of it, rejecting others. As generative, not instrumental, the brief accommodates myriad sorts of architectural invention: some students examine most of the topics outlined in the brief, all attend to at least a few — DIY & Spolia investigations for example. Happily, students largely rise to the challenge of open-ended iterative processes of continuous experimentation.

Studio tutors: Dr Nathaniel Coleman and David Boyd

Student Work

Top - Anna Toft, Bottom - Anupa Jacob