International Workshop in Mexico City

Transcription

1 International Workshop in Mexico City Winter Semester 2007/08 International Workshop with architects and artists from Mexico, Austria and Germany as well as students from the Technical University Darmstadt, Technical University Graz and Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana.

2 Sitios 08 is an initial project targeted at the creation of an international network at the interface of architecture, urban research and art. The cross-functional / international workshops pretend to start a lab for public spaces. Interventions in public space: Transformation and/or temporary adjustment of niches, unusual or unused space but also well-known sites in a subtle critical fashion; calling the attention to the usability of unusual sites. During two days of the workshop projects were developed for a total of three sites the Ministry of Culture had made available. After discussing the proposals all participants voted democratically for one project for each of these sites and then developed them in detail. Project 1: Fair Trade The Plaza de la Constitución (also called Zocalo), the central plaza of Mexico City steeped in history, also features the ruins of the Aztec Templo Mayor and adjacent to it the Fototeca building. The Fototeca is a public museum dedicated to photography and history of Mexico City. The Ministry of Culture made the roof of the museum available for a temporary intervention. The idea was to create a temporary street market on the roof of the Fototeca in order to trigger a discussion about new regulations for ambulantaje or street commerce in the historical downtown area of Mexico City. The practice of periodical evictions shortly before elections does not offer a sustainable solution for the problem. Some of the street vendors will sell food and beverages. A line of market stalls on the roof continues over the edge of the rooftop and vertically on the wall. The urban intervention gives shape to a social sculpture that points to the complex problem of street vendors, their social situation, the intimidation of its mob-like structure but also to their denotation, which is part of the urban identity. The subject of street vendors at the historical downtown area is currently one of the most discussed subjects on the domestic front in Mexico City. The eviction of street vendors gives rise time and again to con- 2

3 flicts in many cities in Latin America, since they do not see other possibilities to make a living, but accor- ding to official points of view disrupt the urban image. After announcing the project the Ministry of Culture decided it does not have sufficient powers to decide on temporary installation art at the Zocalo and has to request authorization from other institutions. Thus, the project is currently in a- nother stage of authorization. In response to the recall of the permit the team distributed permits for the enjoyment of public spaces to passersby between the Fototeca and the Plaza Alhóndiga. For this purpose the merchandise (flowers) that were supposed to be used as decoration for the market stalls were handed out as flower chains. 3

4 Project 2: Man on Top Plaza Juarez This square is a public space, shielded form the main street through a high fence and guardsmen. The plaza is the entrance space to the Ministry of Foreign Relations. The Ministry of Culture had made this plaza available to Sitios 08 for temporary a- daptation. The plaza lacks any public quality. The water mirror with the pyramids dominates this space and makes it almost impossible to take possession of the plaza. Furthermore it leaves a lot to be desired regarding the quality of the pyramids shape and the water mirror. The suggested intervention: a tiny bronze figurine pees from the top of one pyramid into the water mirror, painting the water yellow with pigments. Said intervention handles 3 levels. On the one hand it represents the polemics related to the deficient quality of the water (and therefore of the entire plaza), and it is a statement on the claim to power and social behavior of some who have reached the top. And on the other hand it achieves to fracture the uniformity of the pyramids and via the individualization of a single pyramid makes the rest of them distinguishable as potential unique pieces. Also in this case the permit was challenged after announcement of the project. In common with the Fair Trade project Man on Top is anew in process of authorization. 4

5 Project 3: Little Venice The Plaza Alhóndiga is characterized by a filled up water channel and lined by retail businesses that sell tools and clothes. Some of the businesses are under strong suspicion to sell stolen goods, and therefore strong police presence and raids are not the exception. The project Little Venice stages the creation of a work site for a huge shopping center in Venetian style, including the reconstruction of the water channel, that still existed some 20 years ago, with gondolas and similar sceneries. This project was executed immediately. The plaza was fenced of and a huge construction sign was installed. Our film team documented the whole action and following discussion. The reaction of the population ranged form concerns and potential eviction of their businesses to hope for new jobs due to this astonishing development. In spite of many hints on the construction sign the genuineness of the project was never questioned. osa, archexperience, transkitects Technical University of Darmstadt, UAM Azcapotzalco, TU Graz Team: Oliver Langbein (osa/tud)+ Anke Strittmatter (osa), Bernhard Rehn (archexperience), Gudrun Wallenböck, Christof Göbel (UAM), Luis Damian Sánchez Filmer, Julio Orozco, Artist, Ulrike Stehlik Fotografie/ Grafik, Margit Schlosser Translation Students: Mercedes Gaona Ayala, Peter Becker, Martin Egger, Ilse Ximena Pérez Espinosa, Karla San Martín Gómez, Dina Herrmann, Kim Joppen, Philipp Kammerer, Veronika Kraljic, Aimé Saynes Lopez, Gabriela Mondragón, Alfonso Rojas Paniagua, Terra Rosignol, Berenice Sanchez, Leonie Stützle, Maren Werndl 5

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