Raumgestaltung RWTH - Freier Entwurf 'Loteria Tectonica' Internationale Gastdozentur Lieven Nijs

Loteria Tectonica is a design studio organised within the framework of the international visiting Lectureship (Gastdozentur): Lieven Nijs [BLAF architecten, Gent] has been awarded for the lectureship in 2023/2024.

All through the history of construction, the distinction between the visible (‘the ideal’) and the invisible (‘the necessary’) layers has been an design concern “[…]either for reason of greater durability, better preservation of the inner wall, economy, the display of greater magnificence, or for any other reason.” [1]

[1] Gottfried Semper, The four elements of architecture and other writings (Cambridge [England]; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1989), 104 [quoted in: Udo Garritzmann, Modes of Tectonic Thinking. PhD Diss., Aarhus School of Architecture, 2021, 60]

Studio Loteria Tectonica statement:

Nowadays, the debate about architecture and architectural quality seem to be often suffering from illiteracy and Babylonic confusion. As a possible way of remedying this situation, the design studio “Loteria Tectonica” proposes to put in tectonics as a common language to discuss architectural design decisions, on the cutting edge of structure, construction, materiality, and expression.

Tectonics in itself is, however, a confusing notion, that recent scholar research has been investigating. Particularly significant in this regard is the contribution offered by Udo Garritzmann's doctoral dissertation, entitled “Modes of Tectonic Thinking” (Aarhus School of Architecture, 2021), which reveals the different historical appropriations and theories of tectonics, and merges them into a framework that allows for both the reading and writing of architecture, and adds to the understanding that design is about meaning rather than truth.

The semester’s project is the design for a building extension ('weiter bauen') on an existing 'iconic' building, according to the concept of 'Building upon Building' (Jantje Engelsen, Marius Grootveld, 2016). In the first step, the students will learn how to read the tectonics of an existing building and its position in the framework. In the second step, a lottery will define a tectonic position in the framework for each design group to explore and explicit by the design of an extension for the building they analyzed.

General information about the design studio's first 'kick off' meeting and organisation:

- The first meeting of the course will be on Monday, April 15, 2024, with an introductory guest lecture by Dr. Udo Garritzmann. This event will take place in Reiff Museum, Raum R5, from 6.30 pm.

- The regular meetings of the course will be on Tuesdays 9:30-16:30;

- Students will work in groups of 2;

- The course is taught in English.

In case of further questions please contact us: zedda@raum.arch.rwth-aachen.de

Module: Freier Entwurf 'Loteria Tectonica' Internationale Gastdozentur Lieven Nijs
Module Code: 20.00245
Semester: SS
Jahr: 2024