learning from the fringe
︎ ABOUT
Promoting direct involvement, collective action and participatory practices, Learning from the Fringe seeked to transform contemporary public life. We learnt from local ecosystems and the language of the commons, exploring natural and reclaimed resources and vernacular knowledge. Working across scales to generate happenings, prototypes, strategies and affect policies, we will look closely at the communities, species and stakeholders which make a place.
︎ PROCESS
The studio explores design through immersive performative acts, critical curation, hands-on thinking and situated interventions. We begin with an on-site visit, to gather knowledge and identify local opportunities, limits, spaces and stakeholders. Charting a site according to a set of macro-subjects and questions, you will be working collaboratively to produce a collective Atlas of Marginal Ecosystems. You are to define a site, object and subject, to share with your studio through a “propositional act” which will generate an intervention: an artefact, a choreography, a situated drawing etc. leading up to your project declaration. Further research tailored 1:1 prototypes, drawings, models and further actions will define your process towards a liminal architectural intervention (Stage 2/3) and a critical neighbourhood strategy (Stage 3).
︎OUTPUT
The territory of Epping Forest, provides a unique opportunity to investigate the revival of the urban-rural fringe, located in and around thriving ecosystems. Understanding the forest as a liminal space, the Studio seeks to learn from and celebrate the semi-urban/rural. To rediscover a collective purpose and re-engage with the present ecosystems we will be developing Spaces for Learning which offer new public programmes for Epping Forest. While year 2 focussed on understanding the off-grid resourceful nature of a liminal architectural intervention, year 3 developed a critical neighbourhood strategy defining a new multi-layered vision for the Forest.
“The studio explored Epping Forest. A 2,400-hectare of ancient woodland that takes a marginal location against the metropolitan settlements of north-east London, presenting a territory that is rich in wildlife and biodiversity. Predating National Parks by nearly 80 years, the Forest is one of the earliest publicly accessible landscapes in England. Whitin the studio, we defined a shared site of intervention for year 2 projects whilst year 3 students chose a specific site of action.”
“As the climate crisis builds a sense of increased urgency, the exploration of how human settlements come to be in relation to vulnerable, ecological contexts, is ever so important. ”
︎︎︎FOCUS
Expanding the meaning of architecture by learning from natural ecosystems
︎︎︎LOCATION
Central Saint Martins, BA Architecture, London, UK
︎︎︎TEAM
Spatial Practices, Central Saint Martins, Vertical Studio 3 cohort
︎︎︎COLLABORATORS
Forest School, Lethaby Gallery
