Back to School with… Paulien Bremmer #2

The other construction site

Back to School with… is a series of research-based lecture evenings, where we invite an inspiring guest to design and curate a program around a question or theme that is currently on their mind. For this edition, we’ve invited architect Paulien Bremmer to take us along her ongoing research project 'The Other Construction Site'.

“There is no alternative,” was the political slogan of Margaret Thatcher, who argued that liberal capitalism is the only viable system. It fits the traditional construction site like a glove. The existing system - driven by time and money, extractive, and masculine - is seen as universal and justifies the way of working.

But is this truly just? And does this way of working align with the urgent issues and transitions of our time? Shouldn't we focus on other values instead of primarily those of money? Can we move beyond a system that seems unshakable and believe in an alternative?

Session #2 - the Alternative

The second evening explored contemporary architectural practices that embrace alternative, hands-on approaches to building, using natural or reused materials, writing demolition specs, developing new products, or actively participating in construction. First Cesare Peeren of Superuse Studios talked about his work, emphasising how they empower local communities through participation in construction while minimising waste and the environmental impact. Afterwards, the Swiss designers of Ellipse Architecture presented their philosophy of shaping their designs based on the characteristics of natural materials, and Pauline Lefebvre challenged the conventional notions of “maintaining the building” and questioned the idea that an architect’s responsibility ends once construction is complete. The evening concluded with a collective panel conversation that also included Jille Koop and Ninja Zurheide, who answered questions by Paulien and the audience. Read more about the full series here

About the speakers

Césare Peeren is an architect and cofounder of Superuse Studios - a pioneering international architecture collective for circular and sustainable design.

Pauline Lefebvre is an architect and researcher at the Architecture faculty at Université libre de Bruxelles. Her work is focused on the role of the architect in the design process, with a specific focus on architects that engage more directly in fabrication and construction.

Mattia Pretolani and Yannick Claessens are founders of ellipse architecture - an architectural practice in Lausanne, Switzerland, that explores new and old ways of constructing and inhabiting, starting from the idea that architectural projects are necessarily transformation processes of preexisting contexts. Whether material or theoretical. Yannick and Mattia recently also cofounded Origo; a construction's cooperative that is actively pushing forward bio-geo sourced materials and local practices.

Jille Koop is an advisor for circular, climate-adaptive, and nature-inclusive construction at the Central Government Real Estate Agency (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf). He will talk about the tender for the project Kantoor Vol Afval (Office Full of Waste), designed by Popma ter Steege Architects.

Ninja Zurheide is is an architect whose philosophy is based on the idea that you learn by making. This allows designs to emerge through making. Design decisions emerge during and through the process of making. This allows her to design and experiment with materials not typically found on the shelves of a hardware store. After working at SLA for a long time, she now works on her own small projects, primarily for private clients. For a special project like the interior of bureau SLA, she worked closely with Peter van Assche (bureau SLA) as a designer, contractor, work planner, foreman, and construction worker.

Programme

18.00 – 19.00 Doors open and dinner served. 

19.00 – 19.15 Introduction on ‘The Other Building Site’ by Paulien Bremmer

19:20 - 19:40 Presentation by Cesare Peeren, Superuse on Site

19:45 - 20:05 Presentation by Mattia Pretolani & Yannick Claessens, Ellipsearchitecture (Lausanne)

20:05 - 20:15 Short break

20:15 - 20:35 Presentation by Pauline Lefèbvre on temporalities

20:35 - 21:00 Conversation with Jille Koop, Ninja Zurheide, Césare Peeren, Mattia Pretolani & Yannick Claessens.