In addition to the previous post ‘A Brave New Europe’ I’d like to share what inspired me to do this project in the first place. Theo Deutinger’s SNOG (Snapshot of Globalization) Eutopia.(click to enlarge the image) The accompanying text goes like this: While in 1950 10 of the world’s 30 largest cities were European, by 2015 only one – Paris – will remain. The metropolises of the earth’s most densely populated continent will soon cease to be of central importance to the global discourse on the city. In Asia, Africa, and South America where some cities continue to experience double-digit annual population growth, the definition of the metropolis is now being re-written.Perhaps the continued relevance of the European city is dependent on the same sort of alliances that have allowed the once fractured continent to become a political and economic unit…. With an urbanisation rate of over 90% at its core, with an already existing network of infrastructure that provides easy access to its multiple centers, with its well-defined peripheries, Europe has the potential to re-establish itself as a single, interconnected urban core – city on a continental scale.
In the framework of the Flux culture workshop at EASA 2008 I wrote a sort of manifesto, constitution or poem of a generation. To be precise my generation of Europeans. The text not so much geared towards setting a goal to strive for but rather it wants to articulate the feelings, the mindset of a generation. This texts wants to radiate hope and optimism about a generation of new and hopefully brave Europeans.
We are the brave new Europeans
We don’t inhabit houses but dwell a continent
We are not members of nation states, rather we are citizens of a state of mind
We roam our continent like a vast metropolis
Where the periphery is pregnant of the future and the centers condensate the past
We are the easy jetset, the inter-railers, the couch-surfers, the children of Erasmus
We know our town like the inside of our pockets
Daily we cross its streets, take its short-cuts and meet up on the other side of town
Our city surprises us by its unusual flavours of beauty
Our city is hard to grasp, its limits uncertain and its centre unstable
Our city is harsh for newcomers, an arrogant fortress for those outside its walls
Citizenship to this Polis is privileged, and comes at a price
Our Europe is a brave one, one that hasn’t made up its own mind yet
One that embraces the merits of uncertainty and welcomes the potential of change
We are the citizens of a city the size of a continent
We are the citizens of the Brave New European State of Mind
Upcoming, SimCity Societies, I just watched a demo and it’s really the architects petri-dish for Utopia’s, Dystopia’s, Disneylands and Wastelands. Read this quote from 1up:
“As the working title implies, Societies adds a new layer of emphasis on the city’s citizens. The game introduces six “social energies” (such as Wealth or Obedience) that influence your city’s look and feel. Buildings and aesthetics change depending on how these six values develop. Focus on Obedience, for example, and your buildings will start automatically adding security cameras to monitor your citizens’ movements, Orwellian-style. Different energy balances unlock different building types, too.”
It reminded me of a debate in architectural discourse about whether just purely physical changes in the built environment can really change the social characteristic of an area. Herbert Gans replied in his essay ‘Urban Vitality and the Fallacy of Physical Determinism’ (part of the book ‘People, Plans, and Policies‘, with criticism on city planning as a vehicle for social reform, such as proposed by Jane Jacobs
In spring 2008, together with Marten Dashorst I started prss release, a so-called 'paper blog aggregator'. The main premise of this project is "We want to disclose all the goodies that are posted in the blogosphere to an audience that doesn't keep track of blogs on a daily basis, an audience that hates reading more than a few sentences from their computer screens."
Website I designed and developed for The Lost Room workshop which was held summer 2007 in Beirut in the context of the 'Public Space Summer Workshop' of Studio Beirut. The workshop was organized and developed by Partizan Publik
The new Archis website is project were I worked on 6 months or so, and still is an ongoing project. In the course of time new features will be developed released. This work (developing the editorial framework) I did in close collaboration with Resource Studio (design and scripting) and of course Archis. The Archis site is designed in such a way that it can grow and expand with in various ways with additions like satellite websites, blogs, etc. This is possible through the WordPress MU platform where it is built upon.
In Fall 2006, together with some students of Taşkışla, the Architecture Faculty of ITU (Istanbul Technical University) we founded Difüzyon (diffusion). A platform for designer in Istanbul. The first events we organized was dörtyüzsaniye (fourhundredseconds, an event where 10 designers, each presenting their projects in 6 minutes and 40 seconds (400 sec). The presentation has been derived from the Pecha Kucha format. Every edition the event is held in another venue. After that also Mimarlık Savaşları (Architecture Battles), an event where 4 groups of architecture students are making projects on a certain theme in 45 minutes. Creation, presentation and jurry stages, alltogether finished in 60 minutes.
Short film I made about a radio that travels around in Istanbul. The radio receives only one street that condenses the sounds of Istanbul. The dial tunes in to various locations and there associated sounds along this street which is Istiklal Cadesi.
Architecural design proposal (Center for Contemporary Urban Culture), Kagithane, Istanbul. Riverside Dreams Project in the framework of European Capital of Culture 2010 , at the Istanbul Technical University, Fall 2006.
EASA 2006 in Budapest provided Roelant ten Kate and me the opportunity to test our potential as workshop tutors. Quite an experience I must say. Our workshop was called 'LED attack'. We invited our participants to think about ways how we could use LED+3V battery in diverse ways to create events and unexpected moments in the city of Budapest.
The Projective Landscape Stylos Conference wanted to research and explore the similarities between a few -at first sight- seemingly diverse developments within the architecture debate taking place in Europe and the United States. These developments appeared to offer a fruitful strategy for architecture in the 21st century. Because this specific debate was (still is) very scattered, the conference aimed to map and clarify these different developments and hoped to come to a clearer formulation of what was being referred to as projective practice. By which we meant an architecture that is engaged with the reality of the society in which it is embedded, but focuses on its own discipline instead of looking for legitimatization of its practice in just societal criticism or in disciplines outside itself like sociology and philosophy.
2007 - Internet leest voor uit eigen werk (interview met Jonathan Harris)In de helder verlichte erker van Lust, waar Paulus Potter ooit zijn beroemde stier schilderde in 1647, praten wij met Jonathan Harris (1979), Jonthan’s fascinatie is het menselijke gezicht en de poëtische kracht van het Internet ontsluiten.
2006 - Revising PracticeA short essay addressing the problematic relation between architectural theory and practice as discussed in the discourse around Projective or Post-Critical practice. The essay does this through comparing the writings of Allen with Somol and Whiting.
2006 - Exploding Practice (lecture, easa006 - Budapest)What would an architecure practice look like if its liberated from building? What if architecture would expand its boundries and approach the whole world as its working terrain? What if architecture would not wait anymore for clients...
2004 - Na kritiek komt... - Pantheon 2Dit artikel is een korte inleiding zijn op een ambitieus project van Stylos dat een onderzoek instelt naar de meest recente ontwikkelingen in de architectuurtheorie.
2003 - 'Criticus, ken uw taak!' - Pantheon 5Critici, de hogepriesters der architectuur treden niet meer buiten hun kerk. De architectuur gaat in de recente geschiedenis ‘kritiekloos’ voorwaarts. Immer blijven dezelfde klanken klinken vanuit klooster der moraalridders, ...
Archis is an experimental think tank devoted to the process of real-time spatial and cultural reflexivity and action. The Archis Foundation comprises three departments: Archis Publishers (publishes Volume magazine), Archis Interventions and Archis Tools.
Studio Beirut is an NGO operating as a social and cultural engine, presenting itself as a public platform that facilitates and initiates cultural projects and interventions through local and international networks.
DJ crew from Delft I am affiliated with. Expect to hear everything between dancefloor jazz, the freshest hip hop, good old soul and latin; long forgotten hero's and the newest funky tunes. From New Orleans to Rio, from Nigeria to Kingston, the Rundfunk dj's deliver you 50 years of high quality black music. Always with one objective: rocking the dancefloor!
Rundfunk podcast: de beste jazz (die ik niet heb)
Muziekblogs zijn de beste plekken om allerlei obscure / onbetaalbare / nooit heruitgebrachte platen te ontdekken, en dat geldt zeker voor jazz. In de loop der tijd heb ik al flink wat jazzplaten opgevist uit het wereldwijde web - meer dan eens van het inmiddels ter ziele gegane Orgy In Rhythm blog - die ik [...]
Seun Kuti @ Paradiso 29-9 / Femi Kuti @ Melkweg 6-11
Twee Fela Kuti zoons staan binnenkort op een Amsterdam podium. Allereerst Seun Kuti, jongste zoon maar mooi wel leider van papa’s oude band Egypt 80. Heeft net een album uit en gaat eigenlijk verder daar waar Fela Kuti ophield. Verwacht dus op het podium een energieke en stomende show in de beste afrobeat traditie.
Tweede Fela [...]
Kissmekillme @ de Zwarte Ruiter, Den Haag 18-9
Nederlands beste band? Veel zullen we er niet naast zitten, want Kissmekillme combineert catchy liedjes met frisse en vooral retestrakke funkigheid, grenzeloos enthousiasme en mooie schoenen. Donderdag 18 september staan ze in de Zwarte Ruiter in Den Haag aan de Grote Markt in het kader van de Popronde. Een absolute aanrader van ons adres. TA
Kissmekillme [...]
Bronx River Parkway - San Sebastian 152
LATIN SOUL
Al ruim twee jaar aangekondigd, maar steeds uitgesteld: San Sebastian 152, de plaat van Bronx River Parkway, een samenwerking door de muzikanten van El Michel’s Affair en de Puerto Ricanen achter Candela Records. Uit dit project verschenen wel wat singles uit waarvan ik vooral de volvette latinfunk La Valla regelmatig uit de platentas gevist [...]
Fella Vaughn - Do my thing
HIPHOP
Hiphop gaat niet funkier worden dan dit. Voor mij nog onbekende Duitse beatman met de onduitse naam Fella Vaugn koppelt een fijne Fatback Band (uit hun vroege jaren) achtige discofunk groove aan raps van uit Virginia afkomstige Range Da Messanga. Het werkt als een lekkere boterham met appelstroop op de vroege ochtend. De rest van [...]
Steve Reid Ensemble feat. Four Tet @ Bimhuis 27-9
De inventieve maar toegankelijke laptop plaksels van Four Tet zullen inmiddels wel bekend zijn. Minder bekend, minder toegankelijk maar zeker niet minder goed is de samenwerking tussen Fout Tet man Kieran Hebden met gouwe ouwe jazzdrummer Steve Reid (check die track Lions of Juda - edit: ik bedoelde eigenlijk een andere, komt binnenkort). Hoewel Steve [...]
The New Mastersounds @ Rotown 6 september
Rotown is weer op dreef. In het verleden stonden in dit mooie cafe/podium al de nodige funk en soul acts van formaat (o.a. Breakestra, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Nicole Willis & Soul Investigators, Chico Mann en onze favoriete Engelse huisvrouw Alice Russell) maar de laatste tijd was het wat stil op dat gebied. Maar er wordt [...]
Budos Band @ Rotown 20-8
Wie de Budos Band in april gemist heeft in Dordrecht krijgt een herkansing in de Rotterdamse Rotown deze zomer + nog enkele andere gelegenheden*. Afrosoul van de hoogste plank, maar niet voor mensen die houden van luchtig vermaak. Bij de Budos Band is afrobeat namelijk een bloedserieuze aangelegenheid, waarbij gedanst mag worden op de stompende [...]
Crate Digging, Don’t Do It! - In woord en beeld door Stefan Glerum
Wijze woorden en beelden van iemand die de gevaren van het vak kent: Crate Digging, het ambacht van het vinden van obscure platen, is ongezond voor de psyche, lijf en leden. Begin er alsjeblieft niet aan.
Check alle 13 tekeningen van Stefan Glerum over het gevaar van het plaatjeszoeken hier.
Crossover alarm 2 : Platinum Pied Pipers - On a cloud
NIEUWE SOUL
Nieuwe single van r&b/hiphop producers Platinum Pied Pipers met potentie voor zowel je favoriete primetime radioprogramma a la Arbeidsvitaminen of de betere funky dansvloer. PPP neemt een klassieke Motown groove (met van die dubbele klapjes) en doet daar iets leuks mee voor de jeugd van vandaag. Enkel jammer dat de blazers uit een kastje [...]
Oghene Kologbo @ Club Rootz - Den Haag 26 juli
Zaterdag 26 juli in het Haagse Rootz: Oghene Kologbo & World Squad, klassieke afrobeat van ex-Fela Kuti bassist.
Oghene Kologbo & World Squad live
locatie: Rootz, Grote Marktstraat 14, Den Haag
aanvang: 23:00
entree: 3 euro
Soul Snatchers @ Haarlem jazzstad 16 augustus
Het hier aangekondigde optreden van de Soul Snatchers op het Jazz Festival Delft gaat helaas niet door, maar 16 augustus zijn ze nog wel in Haarlem te zien op Haarlem Jazzstad. Funky soul en soulvolle funk van deze groep uit Dordrecht die in het buitenland al meer naam lijkt te maken dan hier, al was [...]
Crossover alarm : Stephanie McKay
De funky pop van Stephanie McKay staat al een tijdje op repeat hier (Jackson Avenue of anders Say What You Feel op het aardige maar wat wisselvallige album van Australiër Katalyst), voor een post was Soul-Sides me echter al voor. Dus lees het vooral daar. Binnenkort op de dansvloer bij u in de buurt. TA
Karl Hector & The Malcouns - Sahara Swing
VERSE FUNK
Wie Karl Hector precies is weet ik niet, maar band The Malcouns bevat in elk geval grote hoeveelheden Poets Of Rhythm/Whitefield Brothers. De funknerd weet dan al in welk gezelschap hij zich bevind: wat abstracte maar wel hoogst funky muziek met hier en daar een stevige referentie naar begin 70er jaren afrobeat. De Poets [...]
Black Gold 360 - Suite 17
JAZZ
Gratis is niet altijd rommel. Dat bewijst het Utrechtse jazzproject Black Gold 360 met een gratis downloadbaar album. Sterker nog, Suite 17 is het geslaagdste jazz-ontmoet-electronica product van Nederlandse bodem dat ik ooit gehoord heb. Dromerige en soms bedwelmende jazzgrooves met subtiele electronische bewerkingen van Engelse producer Simon Sixsmith en muzikanten Coen Kaldeway (blaasinstrumenten), Bob [...]
capitalism in crisis - Morris Tabaksblat - financieel dagblad
Capitalist democracies can only thrive if they are economically effective and socially
acceptable. Joseph Schumpeter thought that capitalism would wither away, not because of a
lack of long-term economic effectiveness, but because of a lack of social acceptance. Social-
cultural counter forces would challenge capitalism’s relentless ‘creative destruction’ of old
markets, old products and old ways of being. These counter forces would also oppose the
inequalities that tend to be part and parcel of unfettered capitalist development. The
opposition to capitalism would feed on feelings of insecurity, impotence and even the fear that
people may feel vis-à-vis strong but anonymous and difficult-to-grasp market forces that
change their lives.
A Brave New Europe
This short film is something of a declaration or open-ended manifesto of a new generation of perhaps the first 'true' Europeans. The generation of the 90s, who grew up with the Erasmus exchange program, inter-railing through Europe, couch-surfing each others couches and flying around Europe with budget airlines.
This film was made in as part of the flux culture workshop at EASA (European Architecture Student Assembly) 2008 in Letterfrack, Ireland.
(click to enlarge the image)
