If I can make it there - On cities and their promises
International Lecture Series in Berlin
WILD RECAPTURE – THE POST-SOCIALISM BUCHAREST
Lecture by Stefan Ghenciulescu (Bucharest, RO)
Moderator: Kai Vöckler (Urbanist, Berlin) and Markus Bader (raumlaborberlin)
Bucharest was a paradigm of totalitarian town planning and architecture. That has now come to an end and the city is being recaptured through rude means by individuals, the church, investors and authorities. The brutal transition from forced collectivism to the domination of individual dreams makes Bucharest an ideal case study for prevailing developments, which are not limited to former Eastern Bloc countries. These include increasing privatization of public spaces, competing identities and the interplay between up-grading and rejection of post-war modernity. The lecture describes these developments and poses the question, how can one, in defiance of present circumstances, promote collaborative thinking and a turn around.
Stefan Ghenciulescu is an architect, editor-in-chief of the ‘Architecture’ magazine and in 2006 was a part of a team of authors of the Rumanian Pavillon at the Architecture Biennial in Venice. “Transparent City. On limits and dwelling in Bucharest” was his most recently released work.
Kai Vöckler is a freelance researcher of cities and publicist based in Berlin.
Markus Bader is an artist, architect and member of the raumlaborberlin (Space Lab Berlin) group.
12 April 2010, 7.30pm
HAU 1
Lectures in Berlin
WILD RECAPTURE – THE POST-SOCIALISM BUCHAREST
Lecture by Stefan Ghenciulescu (Bucharest, RO)
Moderator: Kai Vöckler (Urbanist, Berlin) and Markus Bader (raumlaborberlin)
Bucharest was a paradigm of totalitarian town planning and architecture. That has now come to an end and the city is being recaptured through rude means by individuals, the church, investors and authorities. The brutal transition from forced collectivism to the domination of individual dreams makes Bucharest an ideal case study for prevailing developments, which are not limited to former Eastern Bloc countries. These include increasing privatization of public spaces, competing identities and the interplay between up-grading and rejection of post-war modernity. The lecture describes these developments and poses the question, how can one, in defiance of present circumstances, promote collaborative thinking and a turn around.
Stefan Ghenciulescu is an architect, editor-in-chief of the ‘Architecture’ magazine and in 2006 was a part of a team of authors of the Rumanian Pavillon at the Architecture Biennial in Venice. “Transparent City. On limits and dwelling in Bucharest” was his most recently released work.
Kai Vöckler is a freelance researcher of cities and publicist based in Berlin.
Markus Bader is an artist, architect and member of the raumlaborberlin (Space Lab Berlin) group.
12 April 2010, 7.30pm
HAU 1
Lectures in Berlin
