Round 1 the vid'

Here is the video retracing the event.

Battle’s orientation.

The aim of the event is to develop micro projects activating the site during the period separating the current state of the site and the time when all the buildings will be built.
What does motivate the uses of the city beside expensive programs trying to set a city on the world map (Dream of the Bilbao effect, wish to have skyscrapers…).
The soul of a district is not only the result of its structure/architecture but also the way people uses the unplanned fragments and how they do appropriate a territory. Architects/artists/users may reveal potentials of a place by creating low-cost temporary installations. By revealing its potential the site is no longer seen as a finished product but as a ground were life and activity may grow.
In that perspective the architect/artist/user takes the role of a gardener planting seeds for the future.

The site of Lövholmen

Lövholmen is the last industrial remain situated in the inner city of Stockholm. During the second half of the 19th century the industrial revolution shaped the city that we today try to transform according to our new standards of living. Lövholmen used to be situated then on the outer border of Stockholm and close to the communication infrastructures of the time.
Since the end of the second half of the 20th century Lövholmen has become more and more part of the center of the city. The industries are slowly leaving the site and the only activity left are a cultural center, Färgfabriken, a cement factory, Cementa, a secondhand shop, Stadsmissionen, and a few artists’ studios.
By its situation Lövholmen represent a lucrative potential residential area. And as a matter of fact plan of building 850 apartments are already in the mind of Stockholm City.
The question is how a site can be handled in order to keep or develop its identity even if radical changes are operated on its structure. Can the uses of a place be led by architects, artists or more generally by its users?
The uses of a site are as important as its structure and both inform each others on different levels. But unlike the structure the uses are seldom planned but more a result that is depicted or just lived.

Architecture and battle?

What does hip-hop battles and architecture haves in common?

Architects are fighting against each other in order to win international competitions and hopefully be published in magazines showing amazing images of hypothetic buildings.
If spectacular images are the key of fame, why should the architectural process not be spectacular?
Hip-hop battles are all about style, representation and acknowledgement of the crowd and their peer. The game is simple, show your skills in front of your peers and the crowd, have a good time and the best will be named winner of the battle.
Back to architecture. Architects are people wanting to communicate their visions with the “common people”, but are stuck in their offices, trying to find the best idea or concept that will improve people’s everyday life. At the same time the architect wants to gain the respect of his colleagues by showing its ability to create innovative architecture.
As a matter of fact, an architecture battle is the perfect platform to show the world the way architects thinks and produces projects for a better future. The event enables the participants to evaluate and judge the level of their opponents.
Last but not least, architecture becomes a jolly process where people are happy to compete and share ideas.

Just an image

Rules!

-Each team/crew should be composed of 3 persons working together and having enough "digital skills" to illustrate an idea via a computer. (Knowledge of Microsoft Paint is far enough)
-4 teams will "battle" against one other in order to produce an idea/image that will be projected "live".
-The theme will be given and each teams will have a restricted time to produce the idea (between 1 and 2 hours - it will be defined further on -)
-In the end of the producing process each teams will have 5 minutes to present their project and convince the audience and jury.
-Cheating is part of the game.
-The jury may be corruptible.
-Have fun.

The Lövhomen Battle

The Lövholmen Battle will take place on Lövholmen, close to Liljeholmen in Stockholm, Sweden, the last week-end of April 2009.
The Battle is opened to everyone interested in architecture and the practices of the city shaping our future. Anyhow everyone is very welcome to participate and cheer your favorite team.

People interested in taking part to the event are very welcome to send an e-mail to architectural.battle@hotmail.com