Ewig Ephemer

Abstract

Architecture embodies duration and time. Material, construction and use have different temporalities and dates of decay. The elective is about the question of what lasts, how does architecture choreograph everyday life, what does "ageing well" mean, and what prolongs durability? The aim is to work on a joint collection of texts and representations on durability.

Objective

The students deal with different temporalities and durability in architecture. Questions of temporality are discussed in the seminar with invited guests on the basis of selected architectural elements, material ageing and cultural techniques of the durable. The students write short texts on the terms and develop specific representations.

Content

Architecture embodies duration and time. Material, construction and use have different temporalities and dates of decay. The elective is about the question of what lasts, how does architecture choreograph everyday life, what does "ageing well" mean, and what prolongs durability? How do narratives about temporality and expiry dates determine how we design as architects and build as a society? We would like to collect contemporary answers to these questions discursively in the elective. The aim is to work on a common collection of texts and representations on permanence. We start with concrete examples and develop abstract thoughts. Through the examination of selected elements, materials and cultural techniques, the questions of permanence and durability are discussed critically and in depth. We collect and document the thoughts in the form of short texts and architectural representations. Together with invited guests from the fields of architecture, monument conservation, material sciences, restoration and art, we will discuss and develop new positions and images. At the end, we will present all contributions as part of a glossary and image atlas in a small exhibition. For architects, the challenges of the climate crisis provide impulses for new design, planning and building.

Resources