EX-CITIZENS

International competition for Young architects EUROPAN 9

Kapfenberg, Austria, 2007

FIRST PRIZE

The proposal aims to be a critical review of the suburban typology of the post-industrial Central European city. We propose a re-reading and re-writing of the elements of the suburban environment, where the contemporary city shows the ultimate consequences of dispersion.

Diemlach is, in this sense, a paradigmatic location: contrary to its rural morphology, it is profoundly urban. It can be read as a vague boundary of a diffused city, structured by single-family homes, fences and private gardens. But we believe that it is still possible to offer a legitimate way of life to its inhabitants, who decided to abandon the modern city, tired of its eternal failure. They thus became ex-citizens, and inhabited what they (people from the city) call suburbs.

This work aims to provide an answer for the dispersed city: we propose to atomize the private property, making it discontinuous, scattered, and interchangeable, even with the public sector. In this way, the new development will become a relations process between  all stakeholders; the suburb is activated, creating a new community of ex-citizens.

>publications:

. ”Panel Layout for Competitions”,DAMDI, Seoul 2010; Tomo 2 pp.

. “Europan 9, European results book. The sustainable city and new public spaces”; Paris 2008; pp. 80 y 81.

. “Europan 9, España”; Madrid 2008; pp 58-61.

. “[ex]citizens”, in AV proyectos 024; Madrid 2008; pp. 5, 8.

. “Ganadores Europan 9”; in Arquitectura Viva 115; Madrid 2008; p. 15.

>collaborators:

. Alejandra Climent