FORTHCOMING

PRAXIS 10: URBAN MATTERS

The double meaning of "Urban Matters" refers to the relevance of urbanism for architecture and reciprocally to the effect of the materials that comprise the contemporary urban condition (only one of which is architecture) on the city. We are interested in the interplay between the urban as a site for architecture and the impact of architecture on those sites.

First and foremost, to dedicate Praxis 10 to Urban Matters begs the question of what comprises or defines our notions of urban today. In the past century, contemporary culture and its attendant apparatus-- automobiles, televisions, cell phones, and the internet have socially, culturally, environmentally and physically reshaped the urban fabric, calling into question the very definition of urbanity. And what are the implications for public space in an era of increased security and risk mitigation?

Most urgently, though, we must address architecture's ability to effect change when the materials that structure our contemporary cities such as zoning plans, infrastructure, finance, and real estate legislation often escape aesthetic consideration. How can architects direct the various invisible forces which give form to the world around us? The rise of landscape urbanism in the last ten years has provided one means for the architect to be effective through collaboration with landcape architects. Virtually all of these projects remain unbuilt, however, as they are vast in size and scope. Are there other, more immediate ways of operating effectively outside of this model?

See 'Submit' for Guidelines - Submission Deadline Closed
Praxis 11 - Submission Deadline TBA