CFP
99FILES: Platform for Modern and Brutalist Architecture in Balkan Countries #Skopje |
Website | http://landscapeinprogress.unirc.it/99files/ |
Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=99files |
Abstract registration deadline | March 15, 2018 |
Submission deadline | March 25, 2018 |
99FILES propose to develop a reflection regarding the architecture and the cities of the Balkan countries. The goal is to fill a void that, often, the hegemony of Western architectural culture in the second half of the twentieth century has generated, marginalizing a rich architectural production that today is in risk to be canceled. The initiative intends to stimolate different point of observation regarding the modernist and brutalist heritage of this area, releasing it from the entailed negative connotation from the ideological legacies, and stimulating different interpretative directions of an important string in the architectural thought.
These are realities still to be investigated through new visions capable to regonize the role of an important architectural heritage representing the last urban utopia of the twentieth century.
By overcoming the ideological barriers, it is possible to re-read other modernities that have characterized the architecture and the city of these countries, and to reassign to what is now perceived as “the unloved heritage”1, a recognizability in the urban physiognomy before beeing canceled or left in the current conditions of degradation.
The focus of the first edition is the city of Skopje, capital of Macedonia, where the signs of this process are the most evident. The city is configurated as an emblematic case for the contemporary architecture and the dynamics that cross the Balkan countries.
The city today presents a vast interrupted construction site.
Destroyed by the 1963 earthquake, was partially reconstructed according to the Plan of Kenzo Tange (1965), conceived as a singular moment of architectural experimentation projected into an utopian imagination.
The project of the Japanese architect was based on two structural elements: The City Wall, materialized in the residential system, The City Gate, infrastructural and commercial node. According to the strategy of Tange this elements were conceived as “metabolic megastructures” 2 that would significantly increase the city density.
This heritage today is under planned actions that destabilize the concept of modernity in favor of an architecture that does not present the same levels of innovation and quality.
Currently the fundamental parts of the city are under transformative interventions envisaged in the “Urban Renovation” SK2014, that is canceling a significant part of the modernist and brutalist heritage through introduction of new eclectic style facades that are covering the existing buildings.
99FILES aims to stimulate a multidisciplinary debate on these processes, but also to affirm into international context the architectural heritage that has the potential to represent an important historical phase that is still not much investigated by the criticism and the architectural design.
(1) Mrduljaš, M., Kulić, V. (2012). Unfinished Modernisation, Kolorklinika, Zagreb.
(2) AA.VV., (2014). Findings, Youth Cultural Center, Skopje.
_Submission Guidelines
The CALL is open to everyone (students, professionals etc.)
Participants can send:
DRAWING
The drawing can be made by freely choosing the technique (handmade drawing, collage, watercolor etc.) with dimensions of 23x23 cm, and send in .TIFF format, 300 dpi resolution, minimal side 3000 pixel in CMYK.
PHOTO
The proposal can be expressed through n°1 or maximum n°4 photos, in color or black and white, the longest side does not exceed 23cm, and send in .TIFF format, 300 dpi resolution, minimal side 3000 pixel in CMYK.
VIDEO
The video, with a maximum duration of 3 minutes (short film, documentary, interview, etc.), should be in mp4 format, in 16: 9 with a resolution of 1920x1080.
TEXT
The text should be in .doc format, English and Italian or English and Macedonian, maximum of 5000 characters (spaces included), according to the template (attachment A).
It is not compulsory to participate in all categories (drawing, photo, etc.) and more proposals can be submitted. The materials not necessarily should to be elaborated in situ, they are conceived as an interpretation of the proposed topic. The authors must have copyright for all presented materials. The proposals will be evaluated by anonymous committee through a blind peer review procedure.
The selected works will be announced during mount of april.
Hard copy of the selected designs and photos should be sent with the title of 99FILES to the following address: Università degli Studi Mediterranea di Reggio Calabria, Dipartimento dArTe, Salita Melissari, 89124 Reggio Calabria
_List of Topics
_Modernist and brutalist heritage
_Skopje
_Balkan countries
_Heritage
_Urban utopia of the twentieth century
_Responsible scientifics
Ottavio Amaro_Marina Tornatora
_ Scientific Coordination
Ottavio Amaro _General Director at the Mediterranea University_Reggio Calabria
Marina Tornatora _ Researcher at the Mediterranea University_Reggio Calabria
Blagoja Bajkovski _PhD Student_Mediterranea University_Reggio Calabria
Alessandro De Luca _PhD _ Mediterranea University_Reggio Calabria
Lucia La Giusa _PhD _ Mediterranea University_Reggio Calabria
_Honours Committee
Gianfranco Neri _ Director of the Department of Architecture and Territory at Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria
Ognen Marina _ Dean of the Faculty of Architecture in Skopje
Carlo Romeo _ Ambassador of Italy in Skopje
Mira Gakjna _ Director of MoCa - Museum of Contemporary Art in Skopje
_Scientific Committee
Roberta Amirante
Carmen Andriani
Minas Bakalchev
Guya Bertelli
Silvia Botti
Roberto Cremascoli
Lorenzo Degli Esposti
Luca Galofaro
Darko Hristov
Marco Introini
Mario Lupano
Milcho Manchevski
Mauro Marzo
Bruno Messina
Mattia Mura
Gianfranco Neri
Efisio Pitzalis
Alfredo Pirri
Aneta Hristova Popovska
Anna Positano
Ettore Rocca
Andrea Sciascia
Beniamino Servino
Carlos García Vazquez
Marija Mano Velevska
Slobodan Velevski
_Patronage
Mediterranea University_Reggio Calabria
Faculty of Architecture_Skopje
Italian Embassy_Skopje
MoCa – Museum of Contemporary Art_Skopje
_Media Partner
Abitare
_Contact
All questions about submissions should be emailed to landscapeinprogress@unirc.it