Upcoming Courses
The Independent School for the City is a school in, of, and for the city. It builds on the conviction that strategies for the city - architectural and economic, spatial and social - should be based on real, first hand, empirical research. The Independent School for the City offers a variety of post-graduate educational programmes ranging from shorter one-day workshops and masterclasses, one or two-week studio's to an intensive 3 month programme on contemporary Urbanism. Below we'll give you and overview of our upcoming activities.
05 Sept - 06 Oct 2022
Film & Architecture Studio 2022
The Independent School for the City and the Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam (AFFR) have joined forces again to organize the next edition of the famous Film and Architecture Studio, supervised by architect, curator, and filmmaker Jord den Hollander. The Film and Architecture Studio has proved itself in the past years as one of the most acclaimed courses on film and architecture in the world. It offers a comprehensive way to use cinematic language as a way to explore the relationship between film, cities and architecture. It is a hands-on studio that focuses on learning and understanding the narrative of filmmaking as a research tool to better understand our urban surroundings. Participants in this course are introduced to the essential elements of filmmaking and learn how to relate these to architecture and the city. The focus of the studio is not so much on the technical aspects of filmmaking and postproduction, but rather on film as a tool to structure your thoughts and to turn your findings into a gripping narrative. More info here
22/23/29/30 September 2022 – On the future proof planning of housing in the Netherlands with Kristian Koreman and Elma van Boxel of ZUS
Just like many other countries in the world, the Netherlands is currently facing multiple crisis: a housing shortage, sea-level rise, soil inclination, a shortage of energy and materials, to name a few. Initiated by Kristian Koreman and Elma van Boxel of ZUS, The Ministry of Make! is calling on 100 architects, engineers, and designers to test the possibilities for the future proof planning of housing in the Netherlands trough the design of 10,000 homes at one of the 100 selected test locations. During this studio we will work as a team to research one of the test sites, using a specially developed Test Kit which will eventually be united with the other 99 models in an exhibition at the 10th International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam (IABR) that shows the magnitude of the upcoming reconstruction of the Netherlands. More info here
7, 8, 14 & 15 October 2022 - A Research by Photography studio with Charlie Koolhaas
While being nicknamed ‘Manhattan on the Maas’ mainly because of its shiny skyline, Rotterdam might truly be the most American city in the Netherlands. At least, that’s what artist, photographer, and writer Charlie Koolhaas noticed when moving to Rotterdam some years ago. In this research-by-photography studio, Charlie will take us out into the city to explore where and how this Americanism reveals itself in Rotterdam, what it means and for whom. From car cruising and hip-hop culture to the city’s entrepreneurialism that pervades everyone. Armed with a camera we will together explore the city of Rotterdam, where Cultural dynamics are high and as Charlie puts it: “where life casually reveals the undeniable vitality, successes and failures of Europe's multi-cultural project at a moment in history when it's under siege.” The joint production of photographs of all participants will be edited into one visual narrative. More info here
14 - 18 November 2022- A one week studio with BURA urbanism
Spatial development and urban planning have throughout the past decades become largely driven by a focus on economic growth and the effects are undeniable in our cities and spatial planning practice: the shortage of housing and the ever-rising house prices, speculation with land and real estate, the impact of urban development on our climate, the depletion of natural resources for building materials, and the subsequent pollution and spatial segregation are just some of the examples. Within this one-week studio with BURA urbanism we aim to come up with alternative models for an urban development that is not aimed at economic growth, but which considers a better balance between people, animals and nature. A model that focuses on a habitable and just living environment, on the sustainable use of food, water, energy, and materials, and on meaningful work for as many people as possible. What impact could a post-growth economy have on the way that we plan and develop our cities and villages? What is needed to make a radical change? And what models and inspiring case studies already exist as an alternative to the current growth-centered model? Together we will look for answers and ways out. More info here
06 FEB - 28 April 2023 - A unique 12-week education programme on contemporary Urbanism. Application deadline: 20 Nov 2022
Dirty Old Town; Learning from Rotterdam
In the winter of 2023, the Independent School for the City will again start its intensive 3-month course in contemporary urbanism that takes the modern city as its subject and Rotterdam as its testing ground. Participants in the course are confronted with the inescapable contradictions and complexities of the modern city, while focusing on topics such as social inequality and climate change. We will explore these urban dynamics by bringing together different disciplines, from historical research to artistic expression. In parallel the participants get the opportunity to develop their own project in order to further develop their position towards the major urban challenges of our time. Participants in the programme get the chance to work together in a community of learning to deepen their knowledge, to develop their ideas and to learn from Rotterdam. They will be offered weekly lectures, excursions and exercises focusing on specific disciplines and methods, tutored by a diverse team of specialists, designers, and researchers. Two thematic workshops allow them to dive deeper into the topics of climate change and superdiversity, to eventually develop their own project. More info here
