Spontaneous Interventions: design actions for the common good is the theme of the U.S. Pavilion at the 13^th International Venice Architecture Biennale (Fall 2012). In recent years, there has been a nascent movement of designers acting on their own initiative to solve problematic urban situations, creating new opportunities and amenities for the public. Provisional, improvisational, guerrilla, unsolicited, tactical, temporary, informal, DIY, unplanned, participatory, open-source—these are just a few of the words that have been used to describe this growing body of work.

Spontaneous Interventions will frame an archive of compelling, actionable strategies, ranging from urban farms to guerilla bike lanes, temporary architecture to poster campaigns, urban navigation apps to crowdsourced city planning. These efforts cut across boundaries, addressing architecture, landscape, infrastructure, and the digital universe, and run the gamut from symbolic to practical, physical to virtual, whimsical to serious. But they share an optimistic willingness to venture outside conventional practice and to deploy fresh tactics to make cities more sustainable, accessible, and inclusive.

Submission

In the open spirit of the theme, we are inviting protagonists to submit projects for consideration for inclusion in Spontaneous Interventions. Below is a set of criteria for the types of projects we are looking for.

1. project was initiated by the architect/artist/planner/landscape architect/hacker/activist/citizen (in other words, no one asked for it), OR was initiated by an alternative client, for example, a non-profit or a community group
2. project is publicly accessible and serves the common good
3. project improves a problematic condition (solves a problem by making a place more accessible, inclusive, sustainable, beautiful, etc.)
4. project is located in an urban context or tackles urban issues in the United States
5. project is participatory in nature, or open access, and serves an underserved or overlooked constituency
6. project is realized, deployed, in action or use (not theoretical)
7. project may be a physical intervention in an urban context, or an information, communication or digital project that improves people’s comprehension, navigation and access to a city.

We are looking for project that not only meet the above criteria, but also are distinguished by characteristics such as charm, wit, material invention, creative financing, community engagement, effectiveness, and beauty. If your project satisfies several or most of these criteria, please send a short (1 to 2 paragraph) description as well as a few images to clh@ifud.org or venice@ifud.org.

SUBMIT YOUR PROJECT BY FEBRUARY 6 IN ORDER TO BE REVIEWED IN OUR NEXT CURATORS’ MEETING.

The Venice Architecture Biennale  is the most prestigious architecture event in the world. Now in its 13th edition, the Venice Architecture Biennale was formally established in 1980 and is held every other year (alternating with the Venice Art Biennale, which was first held in 1895). For the 12^th edition, held in 2010, 53 countries participated in the Biennale, which was attended by 170,000 visitors.

The 13th edition will be held from August 29 to November 25, 2012 (press preview August 27–28). On December 27, 2011, British architect David Chipperfield was appointed the director of the Biennale, and he outlined the theme Common Ground at a meeting of commissioners held in Venice on January 17. Representatives from 41 countries attended the meeting.

More information >>

Since 2009, the Living Labs Global Award has worked together with cities in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas to present major societal challenges affecting more than 125 million people. In response, more than 800 solution providers have in the past two editions responded with often ground-breakingtechnologies, ready to meet those challenges.

Winners of the Living Labs Global Award are invited to implement a pilot of their solution to evaluate impact, provide input into product development, and improve procurement or regulatory decisions by cities later on. This has transformed the way waste management is planned in Barcelona, the way venture capital is provided to social entrepreneurs in Cape Town, or community healthcare is delivered in New Taipei City.

MAS Context, a quarterly journal created by MAS Studio, addresses issues that affect the urban context. Each issue delivers a comprehensive view of a single topic through the active participation of people from different fields and different perspectives who, together, instigate the debate.

Our next issue will focus on the topic of OWNERSHIP.

The concept of ownership — possessing the exclusive rights and control over a property of any kind — has existed for centuries and in all cultures. Whether by state, collective or personal, ownership is a determining factor not only in our built environment, but in the way we shape our society, too. Yet what happens to ownership when the behaviors and needs of our society shift? What do we need to own, if anything at all? In every change, the redefinition provides new opportunities for our built environment.

For this issue, we are soliciting submissions of unpublished critical articles, design projects or photographic series that examine the significance, opportunities and consequences of ownership in our built environment.

For information on the submission guidelines and other questions, please check this file.
Submissions are accepted until January 9, 2012 and may be sent to MAS Context: submission@mascontext.com

Is that really what we want the Internet of Things to become? According to the Internet of Things Council, we need to find out what could be the opposite of Panopticon. Therefore they have written out a writing contest:

What could be the metaphor of a free society where individuals are endowed with the capability to exploit their talents and realise their dreams, where social groups stand together, and where organisations adopt an ethical conduct? If we accept that Panopticon can be the metaphor for the surveillance society, the City of Control, the human enslaved by his objects, what could be the opposite concept for the freedom society, the City of Trust, the empowered individual?

If you share our analysis and the challenge that we’ve set for ourselves, please feel free to send your ideas to info at theinternetofthings.eu with ‘New Year Contest’ in the header.

Deadline January 31 2012

More information >>

HOME SENSE or ‘Dwelling and the Internet of Things’

http://www.v2.nl/events/one-day-conference-the-internet-of-things

Using digital media technologies for collective urban issues
Our everyday lives are increasingly shaped by digital media technologies, from smart cards and intelligent GPS systems to social media and smartphones. How can we use digital media technologies to make our cities more social, rather than just more hi-tech?

This international conference brings together key thinkers and doers working in the fields of new media and urbanism. Keynote speakers such as Usman Haque, Natalie Jeremijenko will speak about the promises and challenges in this newly emerging and highly interdisciplinary field of urban design. The keynotes will be accompanied by presentations of ‘best practices’ from various disciplines, such as architecture, art, design, and policy.

Join us in February 2012 at Amsterdam’s Westergasfabriek to explore how urban designers, interface developers, app builders, policy makers, housing coorations, artists, scientists and others can use digital technologies to organise citizen engagement, and to contribute to our social cities of tomorrow.

Visit the event website here: www.socialcitiesoftomorrow.nl

Where’s the data? Technology has progressed to the point that we as citizens with concerns or interests can leverage open source hardware and software together with cloud platforms like Pachube to quickly and cheaply build the systems we need to get the data we want. It’s time we put theory into practice and come together as a community to produce a project which illustrates the possibilities available to us.

This workshop, focused on air quality data, will bring together a group of people with different skillsets — some technical, some creative, some with domain expertise — who will move from concept to working plan by the end of the session. We will answer questions like: Why is air quality data important? How will we gather it? Who will build what and how? What will we do with it? How will we fund this? The goal will be to have a persistently available, open air quality sensor network for use permanently and by anyone within 90 days.

This workshop will be followed by a working session/hackathon in December during which the hardware, web services, and deployment will be tackled.

Pachube will be contributing 50 Nanodes as a base for the hardware development.

Coffee, lunch, and a reception will be provided.

Hosted by Casper Koomen (Pachube Amsterdam community mgr)  and Sara Córdoba Rubino of Booreiland.

Casper is a user experience and concept developer. In his company Combustic, he develops new product and business concepts for a wide range of clients (SME, multinational, government) in many domains (mobile, media, web). He loves to connect people, ideas, business oportunities and technology.

Sara graduated as an industrial designer in 2004 and finished a master program on Strategic Product Design in 2008. She began designing interactive exhibitions for children, then shifted to the world of services and packaging. Currently Sara works at Booreiland as project manager and researcher on Meta Products.

Friday, November 18, 2011, 10:00 AM

More information & registration >>

Program Your City: Legal and Governance Issues of an Urban Integrated Open Data API
Marcus Foth, Queensland University of Technology

Tuesday, November 15, 12:30 pm
Berkman Center, 23 Everett Street, second floor
RSVP required for those attending in person via the form below
This event will be webcast live at 12:30 pm ET and archived on our site shortly after.

The physical city is covered with an increasing number of layers of digital information. At the same time, there is a significant trend towards incorporating location data into web and mobile applications: The urbanisation of the internet, and the digitisation of the city.

Recent ‘Government 2.0’ initiatives have led to the creation of public data catalogues such as data.gov.au (U.S.), data.gov.uk (U.K.), data.gov.au (Australia) on federal government levels, and datasf.org (San Francisco) and data.london.gov.uk (London) on municipal levels. In most cases, these initiatives produce mere collections of data repositories. However, proprietary database formats and the lack of an open application programming interface (API) often limit the full potential that could be achieved by allowing these data sets to be cross-queried.

This talk presents the proposal for an information substrate with an integrated open data API – in a way, an operating system for cities that integrates three types of data sources:

• Public government data (traffic, public transport, health, population, etc.)
• Social media data (eg., Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc.)
• Sensor network data (domestic energy monitoring, river gauges, weather, etc.)

The primary goal is to put intuitively accessible real-time data into the hands of citizens and residents and unleash the creative capacity of programmers and end-users who will be able to create, share (or sell) their own custom-made web and mobile based decision-support tools and applications that take advantage of data mash-ups comprising all three types of data sources and tailored to specific needs. The talk will present a number of potential demonstrator applications that illustrate the capabilities of the proposed infrastructure with a view to specifically discuss the legal, policy, copyright and goverance issues and implications that may arise.

About Marcus
Associate Professor Marcus Foth is the founder and director of the Urban Informatics Research Lab, and Principal Research Fellow with the Institute for Creative Industries and Innovation at Queensland University of Technology.

Professor Foth’s research explores human-computer interaction design and development at the intersection of people, place and technology with a focus on urban informatics, social media, ubiquitous computing and mobile applications. More…

Links

• Urban Informatics
• CC and Government

More information & registration >>

(via @yuleheibel)

 http://stroom.nl/activiteiten/lezing_symposium.php?l_id=2472204

Donderdag 27 oktober 2011, 20 uur
Locatie: Hogewal 1-9, Den Haag
Voertaal: Engels
Entreeprijs: € 5,- (overmaken op ING-rekening 605409 van Stroom Den Haag onder vermelding van de naam van de lezing)
Reserveren verplicht: zie formulier onderaan deze pagina

De Amerikaan Mark Shepard is kunstenaar, architect en onderzoeker die in de praktijk voorbij gaat aan disciplinaire scheidslijnen. Hij is met name geïnteresseerd in nieuwe sociale ruimtes en de betekenisstructuren van hedendaagse netwerkculturen. Zijn meest recente onderzoek richt zich op de implicaties voor architectuur en stedelijkheid van mobiele media, communicatie- en informatietechnologieën. Zijn werk is internationaal tentoongesteld in musea, galeries en op festivals. Hij stelde dit jaar het boek ‘Sentient City: ubiquitous computing, architecture and the future of urban space’ samen.

The Knight’s Move
Stroom Den Haag organiseert jaarlijks een aantal toonaangevende lezingen onder de noemer ‘The Knight’s Move’ met internationale sprekers die zich onderscheiden door ongebruikelijke, verhelderende en inspirerende visies op de stad, stedelijkheid en het publieke domein. Zoals het paard – the knight – zich grillig over het schaakbord beweegt, over lopers, koningen en torens heen springend, zo wil Stroom het gesprek over de stad vanuit onverwachte posities nieuwe impulsen geven.

Mediapartner van deze lezingenserie is: De Groene Amsterdammer

The Knight’s Move wordt mogelijk gemaakt door het Stimuleringsfonds voor Architectuur.

The Next Nature Power Show is an intellectual spectacle where artists, scientists, designers, filmmakers, politicians and philosophers present their radical ideas, visionary statements and powerful images on how to design, build and live in Next Nature: the nature caused by people.

After successful editions in Paradiso Amsterdam (2005), Zollverein, Germany (2006) and the Million Dollar Theater, Los Angeles USA (2008), the event returns to Amsterdam. On the museum night of 5th of November 2011 the vintage city theater of Amsterdam is surged with over 20 visions on Next Nature. Expect a mixture of live performances, film, physical experience and virtual imagination. Presenters include Bruce Sterling, John Zerzan, Regine Debatty and Rachel Armstrong.

Practical Info

Date: 5 November 2011 19:30-22:00
Venue: Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam Leidseplein 26 1017 PT Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Route
Tickets: €25,- (Students: €20) Buy Online or call: +31 20 6242311

More information >>

Burgers proberen vastgelopen stedelijke ontwikkeling te redden in ontwerp-game.
14 — 16 Oktober: Play the City! in Amsterdam Noord

Play the City! is een ontwerp–game waar de spelers kansen creëren en verantwoordelijkheid nemen voor de ontwikkeling van de stad. In het spel concurreer je met andere ondernemers, bewoners, ambtenaren, politici, ontwikkelaars, activisten en ontwerpers. De officiële spelers in het gebied en ondernemers, bewoners met ideeën nemen deel in Play the City. Zo kunnen de beste ideeën uit het spel realiteit worden.

Naast de analoog ontwerp-game, wij bouwen aan een plek op internet waar bewoners, ondernemers en andere betrokkenen kunnen discussiëren, hun ideeën kunnen presenteren en elkaar kunnen vinden en helpen bij het uitvoeren van ideeën. Zie www.playthecity.nl open vanaf 14 Oktober

Play Noord!
Play the City’s volgende speelveld is het crisis van nieuwe ‘centrum’ van Amsterdam: Overhoeks met de aanliggende gebieden Van der Pek en Buiksloterham. Op 14,15 en 16 oktober  gaan de spelers vechten tegen bezuinigingen, stagnerende bevolkingsgroei, overbodigheid en algemene richtingloosheid. Ga je voorkomen dat Overhoeks, Buiksloterham en de Van der Pekbuurt verder vermorst worden?

Locatie: Infocentrum Overhoeks [dat is die drijvende kas tussen Tolhuistuin en toekomstig Eye Instituut

Stichting Play the City
Stichting Play the City presenteert Play Noord! Play Noord! wordt gefinancierd door Stichting DOEN en de Mondriaan Stichting. De eerste editie van Play Noord! vindt plaats tijdens Niemandsland, een driedaags evenement over het braakland Overhoeks rond dromen van schrijvers en projectontwikkelaars, buurtbewoners en kunstenaars. Met verhalen, film, muziek, fotografie en eten. Meer info over Niemandsland op www.tolhuistuin.nl
Play the City! is een international stadspel programma. De eerste locatie was Istanbul [2010]. Volgende spellocatie is Binckhorst, Den Haag, [2011].

More information >>

Get involved in a big international event that Virtueel Platform and The Mobile City are organizing in February 2012 in Amsterdam, about the role of digital media in city life.

The mobile phone, wireless internet and satnav have a huge influence on our every day lives in the city. But what does this mean for the various disciplines involved in designing our cities? How can we design livable and lively cities where citizens feel they belong? In February 2012 we organize a workshop and conference on this subject in Amsterdam, with international experts in the field.

We’re looking for an intern to help us make this event a success. Depending on your background and interests this internship offers you an opportunity to gain experience in many of the practical aspects of organizing an event, as well as being involved in publicity. There are also opportunities to sink your teeth into the subject matter and work on the research blog.

Virtueel Platform

The internship is hosted by Virtueel Platform, the sector institute for electronic culture in the Netherlands. Virtueel Platform has a key role in supporting cultural organisations, artists, the creative industries and government. Virtueel Platform  showcases, stimulates and researches e-culture in the Netherlands and internationally. Much of its work is about bringing people together.

In addition you’ll be working with The Mobile City team. The Mobile City is a research group in the field of digital media and urban design. Over the past few years The Mobile City have organized a series of events: at the International Architecture Bienniale Rotterdam, at the Netherlands Architecture Institute and the Dutch Cultural Centre in Shanghai during the World Expo 2010. More information about past events >>.

What the internship entails

As an intern you will work with the team preparing the workshop and conference. Your work will include the following:

• Research in to projects that will be presented at the workshop and conference
• Helping to produce the workshop and conference
• Helping to develop and carry out the publicity campaign and social media campaign,
• Reporting on research and content management on the weblog and via social media.

This gives you a great opportunity to combine hands-on experience of managing cultural projects with  carrying out some research in the field.

Student profile

• The student has an excellent command of written and spoken English. They can either be a Dutch native speaker or an international student with excellent English.
• Is good at working in a team and communicating with clients.
• Is able to take initiative, and can turn their hand to many different tasks.
• Is at home on the www and active on social network sites. Preferably also experience of working with a CMS such as WordPress.
• University/College level with a study background in either management and communications in cultural events, or in the field of new media and urban design (e.g. BA or MA New Media, Communication Sciences, Urban Studies or Cultural Geography).

When?

The internship will run from around mid October 2011 until the end of February 2012. In the beginning we expect the internship to require about 2,5 days a week, but nearer the date of the event (roughly from the beginning of January 2012) you will need to be available more or less full time.

What’s on offer?

At Virtueel Platform you’ll have the chance to develop a fantastic network and learn a great deal about theoretical and policy-related issues in the digital domain. The non-hierarchical structure of the organisation offers you a great opportunity to gain experience of working on many levels within a (cultural) organisation. Our office is right in the centre of Amsterdam, walking distance from Central Station.

We pay a monthly wage of 250 euros based on a full-time internship plus a free, healthy lunch.

Applications

Send a short letter of motivation with cv before 12th October to:

cathy@virtueelplatform.nl

If you have any questions get in touch with Cathy Brickwood

cathy@virtueelplatform.nl

tel: 020 6273758

http://www.ifhp.org/spontaneous-invitation

1 DAY SEMINAR

worldwide examples
Friday 14 October
10:00 – 17:00 at Amsterdam Roest, Czaar Peterstraat 213 , Oostenburgeiland

During this one day seminar eight examples of Spontaneous City development from all over the world will be presented and discussed. Joost Beunderman, Kunle Adeyemi and Luuk Boelens will give a key-note presentation and reflect both on the ideas of Spontaneous City and on the worldwide examples. But also the dynamic location of the seminar, the Oostenburg Island, will be illustrated by Tess Broekmans and Albert Ravestein. The day ends with a round table discussion with all the speakers and the participants. Eight projects have been selected from all that responded to the call. They are situated in China, Cyprus, Brazil, North-America, Belgium, Seoul, and Berlin. The event will be moderated by Bart Cosijn.
Key question for this seminar are:
1. Why are ‘spontaneous cities’ simultaneously so special and yet so difficult to replicate?
2. How can we allow for spontaneity to occur in the face of omnipresent planning controls and which rules and regulations are the most useful (or hindering) to spontaneous development?
3. What are the inspirations, challenges and pitfalls of this model of development that are experienced around the world?

You can subscribe for the seminar by sending an email to events@ifhp.org with
’14 October’ as subject. Participation is free and includes a lunch and drinks.
Amsterdam Roest is in Oostenburg along the Wittenburger Vaart.
Directions at www.amsterdamroest.nl
This Seminar is organized by the The Spontaneous City Working Group
of the International Federation of Housing And Planning (IFHP), together
with Urhahn Urban Design and sponsored by Stadgenoot.

SEE YOU THERE!

More information >>