Text by Giuseppe Grant (Orizzontale) in 2022, around thematics of Non-formal Education, Collaborative Design, Social Design and Urban Design.
La Place Tropical – Action for Collaborative Creation
The project aims to foster an imaginative approach to collaboration and learning among students, professionals, and educators through small episodes of creative coexistence. To initiate this process of non-formal education, it’s crucial to conceptualize the educational curriculum in architecture as an open framework capable of embracing unexpected circumstances and differences.
During our work at Place Des Possibles, in collaboration with our partners, we focused on the practice of improvisation and explored ways to cultivate a collaborative mindset. Our uncertain role as guides in a brief research journey at Place Des Possibles provided us with the opportunity to propose an impromptu working model based on improvisation. We organized a schedule of small activities and events during residency weeks to create an informal framework, engaging students, teachers and the local community in the process. These events were designed to adapt to different and last-minute circumstances due the flexible program.
Unfortunately, due to time constraints, the project did not result in a tangible and impactful outcome for the local community. However, it serves as a valuable opportunity for further reflection.
The project was centered around activating the town of Saint Laurent-en-Royans through the concept of Place Tropical, an hybrid space challenging traditional notions of public and private realms. It served as a platform for relational, educational, and social activities.
Little Event – La Pizza Fritta, the First Project in the Square
A lamp, a banner, and a pot frying everything. During an event, we created an imaginary ground drawing in the main square of a very small village to capture the festive atmosphere. That afternoon, after a brief promotion, we gathered in the square, inviting everyone to join us. The event served as a platform to foster dialogue not only with the local community but also with temporary visitors.
Place Tropical indeed hosted small episodes of coexistence and reflection. Before and after the event, we organized excursions into the wild, visits to factories, and public spaces. These were accompanied by informal events such as lectures, presentations, or birthday parties, allowing us to structure our time for learning and teaching simultaneously.
I strongly believe that artistic residencies serve as relational incubators, accelerating social interactions and forming meaningful relationships. While not always conclusive from a research perspective, they represent pivotal moments for seeding experiences that can manifest in various ways.
On the final day, we engaged in a deeply gratifying philosophical reflection to gain a deeper understanding of collaborative design. Drawing inspiration from the wandering tradition of the Peripatetic school of ancient Greece, we philosophized during our excursions. Contemplating a rocky wall, we pondered the images that arose in our minds subconsciously. This led us to explore Pareidolia, a phenomenon where the mind interprets random stimuli as recognizable patterns. Pareidolia served as a means to stimulate our collective creative subconscious, fostering collaboration within and beyond the artistic realm. The essence lies in collaborative action, as it cultivates the best manifestations of unintentional synergies.
Discussions on these themes during nature walks were open, meandering, and dynamic, offering profound insights and opportunities for reflective discourse.
NOTE
Riferimento a Jean Prouvè Maison Tropical
Grammatica di elementi casuali, Pareidolia
