Designing Activism

Spontaneous Interventions: design actions for the common good is the theme of the U.S. Pavilion at the 13th International Venice Architecture Biennale (Fall 2012). In recent years, there has been a nascent movement of designers acting on their own initiative to solve problematic urban situations, creating new opportunities and amenities for the public. Provisional, improvisational, [...]

Research conducted in collaboration with Peter Randolph as part of the seminar “New Monumentalities – public form / forming publics” with Martin Hättasch.

Aeschbacher, Peter, and Michael Rios. “Claiming Public Space: The Case for Proactive, Democratic Design.” Ed. Katie Wakeford. Expanding Architecture: Design as Activism. Ed. Bryan Bell. New York: Metropolis, 2008. 84-91. Print. There is a “Crisis of Democracy” created by the twin agendas of neoliberalism and militarism – “individual responsibility” and national security”. By prioritizing market [...]