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GLOBAL CITIES Teachers notes

Prepared by: Heather Whitely, Head of Learning Open House and Tate Modern’s Interpretation and Education Department Exhibition curators: Ricky Burdett & Sheena Wagstaff Consultant curators: Sarah Ichioka and November Paynter

Sponsored by

In association with Savills and Derwent GLOBAL CITIES 2 CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 3 SPEED 4 SIZE 5 DIVERSITY 7 DENSITY 9 FORM 10 IN FOCUS - 12 ARCHITECT IN FOCUS - 14 ARTIST IN FOCUS - NILS NORMAN 16 ARTIST IN FOCUS - FRITZ HAEG 17

Armin Linke Mexico City, Mexico, 1999 Courtesy of Galleria Massimo de Carlo (front cover image) GLOBAL CITIES 3 INTRODUCTION

Our world is changing. Globalisation has shifted cultural specificities. It has transformed communication networks and has radically changed the population density, diversity and economy of our cities. At the same time, modern advances in science, technology and industry have significantly influenced the way we live, how long we live and where we live. 100 years ago, only 10% of the world’s population lived in cities. Today, this figure has risen to 50% and by 2050 it will rise to 75%. Understanding how this impending urban growth will impact upon people and the environment is critical. So too is the urgent need to understand how urban design and address urban growth and influence society at large. , urban designers, theorists and artists all over the world are responding to the explosion of urbanism. Some are examining how we live and the effects of our urban environments. Many are imagining new forms of cities, which are socially democratic, promote social cohesion and which respond to the urgent need to create sustainable environments. The exhibition Global Cities takes a critical look at ten diverse cities from across the globe: Cairo, Istanbul, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Mumbai, Sao Paulo, Shanghai and Tokyo. These cities are explored through five key themes: size, speed, density, form and diversity using geographical and socio-economic data gathered for the 10th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2006. Architectural projects, photographs, films and videos are displayed alongside the data, offering subjective responses to the urban conditions of the ten cities and providing opportunities to question, challenge, and imagine alternative understandings and future realities. The images propose ways of encountering our own built environment and provide us with a lens to explore private worlds and hidden stories. Throughout the exhibition, London is used as a reference point within each of the thematic displays. Further to this, architects and artists have been commissioned to specifically engage with and respond to London’s urban environment. Nigel Coates, Zaha Hadid & Patrik Schumacher, and OMA*AMO/Rem Koolhaas propose future visions of the city through architectural projects, while the installations of Fritz Haeg, Nils Norman and Richard Wentworth explore issues of sustainability and social inclusion in relation to London. This resource has been designed to support teachers’ exploration of the themes and ideas in Global Cities. It contains an introduction to the 5 themes of the exhibition and a range of discussion points and student activities for Key Stage 1–5. It is recommended that the discussion points and activities be used as starting points and adapted to suit students’ needs and abilities. Activities have been designed to extend thinking about citizenship, geography and the built environment.

A supplementary resource has also been developed for young people aged 13 upwards. It provides practical activities to directly engage young people with Global Cities. This resource can be found at www.tate.org.uk/youngtate

GLOBAL CITIES –- SPEED 4 SPEED

LONDON 1

ISTANBUL 17 TOKYO 3 LOS ANGELES 9 CAIRO 23 SHANGHAI 31 MEXICO CITY 25 MUMBAI 42

SAO PAULO 25 JOHANNESBURG 5

The pace of urban change has never been faster and it is having a massive impact socially, economically and environmentally across FOR DISCUSSION the globe. Consequently, it has become vital to manage the scale and pace of change to ensure that cities become balanced and 1 — Look at the map of population growth and identify which sustainable environments with positive social impacts. areas of the world are growing more rapidly than others. What is causing this growth?

INTERESTING FACTS 2 — Why do you think cities are growing so quickly? What are some of the reasons people might move to cities? Why do London: The world’s first mega-city. It took 100 years to grow from a you think it is important to predict the future growth and size population of 1 million to 10 million in the 19th century. of cities? Los Angeles: has grown horizontally rather than vertically. 10% of commuters use public transport. Only 10% of the city is allocated to 3 — Can you imagine what might happen if a city grows too green spaces. quickly? What sort of issues do you think might arise for the new and existing city dwellers? Shanghai: is growing 10% every year. There are over 3000 tall buildings in the city compared to 300 in the 1990’s. Istanbul: Has grown 900% over the past 50 years and 27% in the last decade. GLOBAL CITIES - SIZE 5 SIZE

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CAIRO ISTANBUL JOHANNESBURG LOS ANGELES LONDON

MUMBAI MEXICO CITY SHANGHAI SAO PAULO TOKYO

As cities grow in size, their shape and character change to 2 accommodate this. The world now consists of over twenty mega-regions containing more than ten million people and 450 city regions with more than one million residents. In some mega-cities such as Mexico City and Istanbul, the population growth has ruptured city boundaries, pushing sprawling urban growth ‘horizontally.’ In other cities such as Cairo and Mumbai, populations live in high densities in small areas of land. It is argued that more compact cities, with strong infrastructure, are the most appropriate models for sustainability and urban growth. INTERESTING FACTS Tokyo: is the largest city in the world. Its population has grown 606% in the past century and about 4% in the last decade. 80% of commuters use public transport to get to work.

Mexico City: contributes to 22% of Mexico’s national GDP, near to the 20% London contributes to the UK GDP. Public transport accounts for 79% of daily journeys, but 95% of road space is dominated by private cars.

Sao Paulo: has grown 7,400% since 1900, during which period London’s population fell and is only now rising to achieve the same levels as less than a century ago. Sao Paulo’s underground rail system, begun in 1968, extends for 60 kilometres and supports a population of 18 million.

London: has grown 10% over the last century. 43% of commuters use public transport to get to work. London’s Underground was founded more than a century ago, extends for 480 kilometres and supports a population of 7.5 million.

1 QuickBird satellite image of Cairo, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, London, Mumbai, Mexico City, Shanghai, Sao Paulo and Tokyo © DigitalGlobe distributed with exclusive right for Europe by Telespazio

2 Naoya Hatakeyama 1958 Born Japan, works Japan Tokyo / Mori Building 2003 Gelatin silver print GLOBAL CITIES - SIZE 6

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1 Andreas Gursky born 1955 Born Germany, works Germany Los Angeles 1999 Framed C-print FOR DISCUSSION

2 Scott Peterman born 1968 1 — Look at the satellite views of the ten cities. What are some Born USA, works USA of the differences you can see in the pictures? What do these Ecataepec 2006 differences tell us? C-print 2 — Cities have grown in size at different speeds throughout history. Why do you think London’s growth is slow and steady and Sao Paolo’s is rapid? Tokyo experienced a very high rate of growth in the past, which has significantly slowed within the last decade. What could have caused this shift? 3 — Look at the artwork by Andreas Gursky, Scott Peterman and Hatakeyama Naoya. What do these images tell you about the size of the cities they are representing? What do they tell you about how people live in these cities? GLOBAL CITIES - DIVERSITY 7 DIVERSITY

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When we speak about ‘diversity’ within a city, we are speaking SAO PAULO about the degree of variety. Variations may exist in ethnicity, place of birth, spread of ages, income, education levels and Population: 66% of the population are under 20 years of age. There employment sectors. Each city deals with these variations in is significant ethnic diversity including many direct and indirect different ways. Some cities actively seek to integrate different descendants from Italy, Portugal, Japan, Spain & . There are ethnic and socio-economic groups, others seek to segregate or also many recent immigrants from Brazil’s poor north-east regions. define spaces catering for the specific needs of a particular group. Many of the wealthy residents live outside of the city centre. The areas experiencing the highest growth rate are those with the JOHANNESBURG poorest infrastructure. Economy: Sao Paulo has prosperous economy compared with the rest Population: 73% Black African, 16% white, 6% mixed race of Brazil, however poverty and unemployment is high. There is great and 4% Indian or Asian. Johannesburg has a history of racial division between rich & poor. segregation. During the Apartheid era (1948 – 1994) people were legally classified according to their race. Non-white people were Safety: Crime rate is high. oppressed. Since the apartheid, Johannesburg has grown 4% per year. Education: In 2000, only 20% of 11–14 year olds attended school on the outskirts of Sao Paulo state. To address this, the government Health: An HIV/AIDS epidemic is still prevalent in the city. have introduced an initiative to build 100 new schools of high-quality Life expectancy is low. Only 4% of residents reach 65. design, with simple prefabricated structures and durable materials. Safety: There is a high rate of crime and a significant lack of safe public transport.

1 Luis Arthur Leirao Vieira Favela Paraisopolis (swimming pools) 2005 GLOBAL CITIES - DIVERSITY 8

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1 Guy Tillim born 1962 2 Born South Africa, works South Africa Jo’burg 2004

2 Francesco Jodice born 1967 Born Italy, works Italy Citytellers 2005 Video with sound Running time: 48 minutes

LONDON FOR DISCUSSION Population: 29% of London’s residents are from minority ethnic groups and over 300 languages are spoken across the city. 1 — What sort of diversity do you think exists in your own International immigration has caused much of London’s recent growth community? Find out some interesting statistics about the – counterbalancing the numbers of British-born households leaving diversity of your own neighbourhood by contacting your the city. local council or searching on National Statistics online (www.statistics.gov.uk). Discuss the similarities and differences Economy: London has global importance as a financial centre for between the perceived and real diversity. international business. The size of its economy is similar to many national economies. However, there are strong extremes between 2 — Look at the photographs by Guy Tillim and the video by wealth and poverty, with high levels of unemployment and Francesco Jodice. What do you think the images reveal about deprivation in parts of the inner city. the cities of Johannesburg and Sao Paulo? How are they similar or different to the statistics and facts provided? Safety: There is a higher crime rate in areas with greater deprivation and high population density. 3 — Think about some of the issues that affect people living in your neighourhood. Take photographs of the place where you live Education: The UK provides mandatory education to all and try to capture some of the issues that are particular to your school-aged children. In London, there is high proportion own environment. Compare them with the photographs and films of young people who also participate in non-compulsory of other cities represented in the exhibition. education or training. GLOBAL CITIES - DENSITY 9 DENSITY

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Population density is the number of people living within a given area. This is given as a value per square kilometre (eg. 8, 254/ FOR DISCUSSION km²). Some cities like Cairo have an incredibly dense inner city with a contained urban boundary, while cities like Mexico City 1 — View the film Q2P, by Paromita Vohra. In Q2P, Vohra have a greater ‘urban sprawl’ – that is, people are dispersed over investigates and questions Mumbai’s aspiration to become a a greater area. great cosmopolitan city. What are some of the major issues she The density of a city has a massive impact on the economy and uncovers in the town-planning projects? What do you think could environment. Consequently, planners and politicians make important be done to address these issues? decisions about the extent of urban boundaries and development. 2 — Mumbai has nearly 7 times the population density of Dense and compact development allows for greater investment in London. The population of London is set to grow by another centralised infrastructure, limits the amount of energy and materials 10% within the next 10 years. If you were a town planner or used in the construction process and is more sustainable in the long politician and had to make important decisions to cater for this term. More dispersed development requires additional infrastructure future population growth, what would you right now do to make to support transport, and utility supplies such as water and electricity. sure that the future population lived in a socially balanced and Historically, high-density housing has been associated with sustainable community? poverty, however good design can produce sustainable and socially democratic urban living and can balance dense development with 3 — Do you live in an area where there is high-density? If you access to open space and good transportation. do, what do you like about it and what do you not like? If you don’t, what would be different about living in a high-density area? What would be the advantages and disadvantages? Residential densities: Discuss the reasons why well-designed high-density living in more sustainable than low-density. MEXICO CITY 5,800 people per km²

CAIRO 36,500 people per km² 1 Paromita Vohra born 1969 Born India, works India MUMBAI 34,000 people per km² Film still from Q2P 2006 LONDON over 4,500 people per km² GLOBAL CITIES - FORM 10 FORM

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The urban form of a city is shaped by geographical, historical, 2 cultural, social and economic factors. Urban form is like the DNA of a city – a footprint of human impact on the land. Cities – or parts of cities – may be conceived or formed as part of a masterplan. However, they may also contain areas that have grown informally and organically over time. Architects and planners try to improve cities by working with existing forms and making positive interventions that enhance the city’s development.

ISTANBUL Istanbul is a city that spans 1,839 km2. In order to accommodate a growing need for housing, squatter settlements called gecekondu (‘built overnight’) have been constructed as ‘make-shift’ shelters on the outer edges of the city. Gated residential developments in the city have appeared more recently. JOHANNESBURG Due to fear of crime and more freedom of housing choice in the post-apartheid era, many people have moved out to the suburbs, leaving an empty heart of the city. 1&2 Laurence Bonvin born 1967 Born Switzerland, works Switzerland The financial and economic centres are now located in suburban COMMUNITY 2005-6 areas and shopping centres, hotels, businesses and residential On the Edges of Paradise complexes are contained behind security gates. Closeby, hundreds of thousands are living in the former apartheid ghettoes of Alexandra and Soweto. While conditions are poor, schools, shops and tarmacked streets have been introduced and the government have produced almost two million low-cost homes. GLOBAL CITIES - FORM 11

LONDON London’s organic urban form reflects its architectural growth from FOR DISCUSSION the time of the Romans. Its unplanned form is also a reflection of the 1 — Look at satellite maps of your own community and compare severe destruction caused by the Great Fire of 1666 and the Second it to some of the global cities in the exhibition. What is the World War. footprint or DNA of your community like? Look at the ‘form’ of The Thames constructs a natural divide between the city, and your neighbourhood from different viewpoints. How does this links through to the old port at the east side of the city, which until compare with the satellite view? 20–30 years ago remained derelict. Major regeneration is occurring in this part of London, coupled with the redevelopment of old 2 — Laurence Bonvin investigates the ‘gated communities’ industrial sites. of Istanbul. She is interested in how the lives of the residents are separated from the rest of the city life and the natural surroundings. She is also concerned with the urban sprawl of Istanbul and how this can be represented through the landscape. Look at the Istanbul photographs of Laurence Bonvin. Describe the form of the landscape she represents. Compare the photographs with the satellite view of Istanbul (see Size). What is the relationship between the forms of the ‘gated communities’ and the high-rise development in the background?

3 — Look at On the Edges of Paradise photographs. Does the architectural form of the buildings relate to the surrounding natural landscape? Explain. Describe why you think this type of architecture is or is not appropriate for cities with high populations?

Triptychs: Laurence Bonvin born 1967 Born Switzerland, works Switzerland COMMUNITY 2005-6 Istanbul Peripheral ARCHITECT IN FOCUS - ZAHA HADID 12 ZAHA HADID

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Zaha Hadid claims she doesn’t ‘do nice!’ As an architect, she is Hadid draws on diverse media to explore her ideas about constantly challenging, stretching and extending the boundaries architectural space. She uses painting, drawing, modelling and of architecture and urban design. She is continually engaged animation. Her paintings in particular are a key medium for with the potential of spatial experimentation to create visionary investigating and expanding understandings of space – that she feels urban landscapes. have been limited through the discipline of architecture. Through Zaha Hadid was born in and studied mathematics in Beirut before painting she is able to experiment with movement and transformation moving to England to pursue architectural studies at the Architectural in architecture. Association (AA) in London. Following this, she joined the Office of In the work produced for Global Cities, Zaha Hadid and Patrik Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) with her AA professors Rem Koolhaas Schumacher have defined London’s Thames Gateway as an urban and Ella Zenghilis, and left to establish her own practice in 1980. In laboratory. As Europe’s largest urban regeneration projects, Hadid 2004, Zaha Hadid became the first woman to win the prestigious and Schumacher believe that Thames Gateway provides one of the Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate – the greatest honour to be paid to most powerful opportunities to experiment with different forms of an architect. urbanism. Rather than applying standard planning tools, they assert Her most influential and important works include the that the design of such a mega-development should be approached Fire Station in , Germany (1993), the Rosenthal Centre for with an architectural sensibility. Consequently form and space-making Contemporary Art in Cincinnati (2003), the Phaeno Science Center in are of prime concern and the architectural elements of point, line, , Germany (2005) and The Peak project in Hong Kong plane and volume are employed as types of urban fields. For example, (1983), which was unbuilt. point is represented as fields of villas, line – as fields of towers, plane – as Hadid’s work has never been conventional. She has a fierce and fields of slabs and volume – as fields of urban blocks. somewhat uncompromising determination to realise her architectural vision. Consequently, many of her early works have never been built. 1 Zaha Hadid born 1950 Born Iraq, works London Her first building was realised in 1993 after spending many years Patrik Schumacher 1961 experimenting, imagining and testing ideas. This type of practice is Born Germany, works Britain called paper architecture. Form Informing Urbanism - Parametric Urbanism Mixed media ARCHITECT IN FOCUS - ZAHA HADID 13

FOR DISCUSSION FURTHER READING 1 — What do architects do? Do you think they can help www.zaha-hadid.com change the world? How do you think they do this? What sort of The official studio website architecture do you think would be good for society? What is the difference between architecture and urban design? Do you think www.designmuseum.org/design/zaha-hadid architects have an important role to play in urban design? An exhibition of Zaha Hadid’s work will be on show at the 29 June – 31 October 2007. 2 — Look at Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher’s images and visions of Thames Gateway. What do you think about their ideas? www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaha_Hadid If this project were actually built, would you like to live in this A summary of Hadid’s career and projects area? Why do you think they created a variety of forms within http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,,1890945,00.html their urban plan? What could the different forms represent? ‘I don’t do nice’ , Monday October 9, 2006 Discuss how you could represent different functions of spaces and places through architecture and urban design. www.architecturefoundation.org.uk/framesets/fp_361.html Zaha Hadid’s design for the Architecture Foundation’s new building, 3 — Look at the arrangement of space across the design. How located on Southwark Street behind Tate Modern. do the open spaces relate to the buildings? Space that is within the public domain is called public realm. Discuss what the spaces within your own public realm are like and whether they are they similar or different to the spaces proposed by Hadid. Think about how different spaces make you feel. What spaces make you feel excited, peaceful, depressed, scared, energetic?

4 — Zaha Hadid has been described as a deconstructivist architect. What sort of architecture do you think a ‘deconstructivist’ architect might create? Look at the architecture of Zaha Hadid and discuss the way the form of the buildings have been deconstructed and how the internal spaces have been organized.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES 1 — Architects often think about how they will use points, lines, planes and volumes in different ways. Look at the work by Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher and find the different ways they have used point, line, plane and volume in their design. Find some materials that could represent these concepts such as string or wire for line, sheets of paper for plane, and building blocks for volume. As a class group, plan a vision of your city by arranging the materials across the floor. Think about the order and design of your plan.

2 — Zaha Hadid often uses paintings to express her ideas about architecture and urbanism. Choose an area in your neighbourhood that you would like to regenerate. Think about how people use the spaces and how you could make them better. Use paintings and drawings to express how you would transform the spaces and the forms of your area.

3 — Rem Koolhaas is another deconstructivist architect. He and Zaha Hadid worked together early in their careers. The work of both these architects features in Global Cities. Compare and contrast their ideas, styles and methods for communicating their design concepts. Other deconstructivist architects include Daniel Libeskind, and Peter Eisenman. Research these architects and discuss some of the common ideas between them. Write your own definition of ‘.’ ARCHITECT IN FOCUS - REM KOOLHAAS 14 REM KOOLHAAS

Rem Koolhaas is a pioneering figure in the world of architecture. He 1 is an architect, urbanist and theorist. His ideas about architecture and cities are as influential as his buildings. In fact his writings bought him fame before a single building was even completed. Born in the Netherlands, Koolhaas first studied script-writing before embarking on a career in journalism. Following this, he studied at the Architectural Association (AA) in London between 1968 and 1972. In 1975, he set up the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in London with Ella and Zoe Zenghelis and . Koolhaas has been the recipient of many architectural prizes including the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2000. His seminal books include (1978) and S, M, L, XL with and Hans Werlemann (1995). While working at the Harvard Project on the City, he also published Mutations, The Harvard Design School Guide to Shopping and The Great Leap Forward. In these publications, Koolhaas observes, records and proposes new ways of thinking about cities and explores a type of architecture that is humanist. He believes that writing helps expand architectural thinking and the possibilities of architecture and urbanism. In order to establish a balance between the practice of architectural making and architectural thinking, OMA founded a research arm called AMO. AMO is like the Siamese twin of OMA. It allows the intellectual exploration of architecture to run in parallel with the actual building of it. Some of the most important buildings to be designed by Koolhaas include Casa de Musica in Porto, Portugal (2005), , USA (2004), the Netherlands Embassy in Berlin (2005) and the masterplan in France (1994). Among other projects, OMA are currently designing the masterplan for White City in west inner London. The 43-acre site borders some of the wealthiest areas and most deprived estates in the city. The regeneration of this area includes a major shopping centre, housing and social facilities. The new design offers the possibility to stimulate interactions across the divide, to create a new employment hub, and a chance to re-animate a neglected site. The OMA*AMO contribution to Global Cities, explores the evolution of cities and the dilemmas they present. The project investigates the idea of the city as a resort, issues surrounding supervision in the public realm and ideas about how memories and histories are woven within new urban fabrics

FOR DISCUSSION 1 — Rem Koolhaas once declared that the idea of architecture and the city was outdated and was now replaced by the idea of ‘Bigness.’ What do you think he means by this? Can you think of a place that feels big? What makes it feel big? Do you think cities should feel big? Explain.

2 — Look at the Dilemmas in the Evolution of the City project 1 OMA*AMO/Rem Koolhas by OMA*AMO. The architects have suggested that the issue of Dilemmas in the Evolution of the City 2007 supervision is a need and desire within society. Think about some of the public spaces where you live. Are there issues about supervision and safety? What are they? How have OMA*AMO considered the issue of supervision in their project?

3 — Rem Koolhaas is interested in constructing unusual architectural forms. Some of them are quite difficult to build. Discuss the different ways that buildings can be constructed and the different materials that can be used. Find some images of Koolhaas’ buildings and discuss how the structure (the skeleton of the building) could be holding the building together. ARCHITECT IN FOCUS - REM KOOLHAAS 15

FURTHER READING Do you think that an architect must have buildings 4 — www.oma.eu constructed to be an architect? Explain your ideas. Some of Rem The official OMA*AMO website. This also contains further details Koolhaas’ early works were not built. Would you describe these and images of the White City regeneration project in London unbuilt works as ‘architecture’? If not, what would you call them? Why do you think architects might design buildings that can’t or www.volumeproject.org/ won’t be built? a magazine co-founded by Koolhaas,

5 — In the Global Cities project, OMA*AMO explore some of the www.wired.com/wired/archive/4.07/koolhaas.html potential and existing problems in cities. What problems exist in ‘From Bauhaus to Koolhaas,’ Wired, Issue 4.07, July 1996, your own community? What kind of problems might exist across Katerina Heron cities like London? What could be done to address some of these problems? How could you help to change your own community http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rem_Koolhaas or city now and in the future? A summary of Koolhaas’ career and projects www.images..com A good database of images of work by Rem Koolhaas STUDENT ACTIVITIES 1 — Rem Koolhaas believes that writing and drawing both extend thinking about architecture. Imagine that you are creating a new city. Write about what your city would be like. Think about what it would look like and how it would feel to walk the streets. Draw your ideas to help explain.

2 — In your neighbourhood, do you have old buildings and new buildings? As things get old, they become a memory of another time. Go on an exploration of your neighbourhood and collect memories of old parts of your built environment by making rubbings and drawings of different parts of buildings. You might also like to make rubbings and drawings of new buildings to compare and contrast.

3 — The great American architect Louis Sullivan, considered to be the father of modernism, gave rise to the famous architectural principle ‘form follows function.’ This was an idea that many early twentieth century architects applied to design. Rem Koolhaas challenged the idea that the form of architecture should relate to its function. Instead he suggested that buildings should contain unpredictable functions such as hospital units for the homeless in the Seattle Public Library (this idea was never accepted). If you were redesigning your own local library, what surprising functions would you introduce to the building? Draw a plan to map out the arrangement of the rooms and spaces inside your library. Construct a 3-dimensional cardboard model that expresses your ideas for the form of your building.

4 — Find photographs of other buildings designed by Koolhaas. Do his buildings look like the buildings on your street? How are they similar or different? Look at pictures of some of the spaces inside his buildings. Describe what they are like. Do the spaces on the inside look like the outside of the building? What is similar or different about them?

5 — Imagine that you are an architectural journalist. Find an interesting building in your own community and take photographs of it, looking for fascinating features and details. Write an article about the building describing why it is remarkable. Describe its form and function, structure, use of materials and design ideas. You might also like to do some research to find out who designed it and when it was built. ARCHITECT IN FOCUS - NILS NORMAN 16 NILS NORMAN

Nils Norman is an artist who combines wit and humour with urban politics, economic and ecological issues. He believes that FOR DISCUSSION art plays an important role in urban regeneration and uses it as a powerful tool for imagining how cities could be used. His quirky 1 — Look at Bus Shelter 2015; Be Creative or die; ill-Logo by Nils creations offer alternative visions for urban living and often call Norman. What ideas can you see expressed in this artwork? If for direct participation and public engagement. you took away all the words in this artwork, what would the One of Norman’s most important works is The Geocruiser, a type effect be? Why do you think he has used words within his art? of eco-bus and mobile public sculpture. The vehicle itself contains Can you think of other ways he could have communicated these a greenhouse, a library, a reading room and information centre ideas?Norman has borrowed some pieces of street furniture to for visitors to explore topics such as sustainable design, city make this work. Why do you think he chose to do this? Why do gentrification and urbanism. It also contains its own solar-powered you think he didn’t just make the furniture himself? Discuss the photocopier and laptop as well as a wormery – which is used to environmental impact of manufacturing and the energy required recycle organic waste and create compost for the greenhouse plants. to produce new materials and products. Norman toured The Geocruiser through Europe and the UK using it as a mobile propaganda machine. The tour included a stop at 2 — Found objects are also used in the art of Marcel Duchamp, Peckham Library for the South London Gallery as part of Open House Pablo Picasso, Tony Cragg and Richard Wentworth. Explore the London annual event in 2001. work of these artists and discuss why they may have used found For Global Cities, Norman has borrowed three pieces of street objects. Do you think these reasons are similar or different to Nils furniture; a lamppost, a street sign and a bus shelter, and attached Norman? them with signage. The signage appears like customised advertising, 3 — Norman is interested in making and exhibiting his work but acts as commentary and critique on ecological issues, urban in alternative spaces such as the street, the playground and the planning and architecture. In addition to the commentary is a park. Why do you think he prefers to display his art in outdoor proposal for a future garden made entirely of cacti and arid plants as spaces rather than inside a gallery? Do you think you he would a response to global-warming. engage with a different kind of audience on the street? Explain. Norman currently lives and works in London. He has exhibited Norman’s work The Geocruiser is a functioning coach. Would you internationally and writes, teaches and collaborates with other experience the coach in a different way if it were parked inside artists, architects and designers. Norman is currently working with a gallery rather than on the street? Thinking about the context Nicholas Hare Architects on a school playground project for the new of the work would you experience installation or performance Golden Lane Campus in East London. art differently if it was shown on the side of the street? How does the location of the object or experience define people’s interpretations of it?

1 4 — Robert Smithson is a strong influence in the work of Nils Norman. Smithson became one of the pioneering artists to develop the art form known as earthworks or land art – which involved manipulating the earth’s surface in order to construct compositions on the land. He was also concerned with the ideas of decay, renewal and the urban sprawl. Identify and discuss some of the influences of Smithson in the work of Nils Norman. Smithson was also interested in overlapping disciplines such as architecture, geology and science-fiction. What are some of the disciplines that Norman merges?

FURTHER READING http://artforum.com/index.php?pn=interview&id=2281 Interview with Nils Norman, ‘Utopia Now: The Art of Nils Norman,’ Artforum, Jennifer Allen

http://www.bureau-k.de/ivc/2002_geocruiser_02.php Institute of Visual Culture, Cambridge: The Geocruiser, background and links to related projects

http://thincities.tfl.gov.uk/projects/artist.php?id=12 A fantasy map of the Piccadilly line created by Nils Norman

1 Nils Norman born 1966 Born UK, lectures in Europe and the US Bus Shelter 2015, Be Creative or Die; ill-Logo ARCHITECT IN FOCUS - FRITZ HAEG 17 FRITZ HAEG

Fritz Haeg is an American-based architect, artist and educator whose practice is concerned with unifying qualities of particular FOR DISCUSSION places with human needs and desires. He founded the Fritz Haeg Studio in 1995, followed later by Gardenlab and the Sundown 1 — Would you define Fritz Haeg’s Edible Estates as architecture, Schoolhouse– an alternative educational environment. art or something else? What is the difference between art and For Global Cities, Haeg has created an Edible Estate on a triangular architecture? Many artists throughout history have explored lawn close to Tate Modern. Edible Estates is a Gardenlab project architectural ideas in their work. This includes Dutch De Stijl that challenges ideas about the use of front lawns, and explores artists such as Piet Mondrian and Gerrit Reitveld, Bauhaus artists the possibilities of private spaces and relationships between such as László Moholy-Nagy, Minimalist artists such as Sol LeWitt communities and their environments. The project began in 2005 as and Richard Serra, performance artists such as Gordon Matta- a scheme to replace American front lawns with edible landscapes, Clark and contemporary sculptors such as Rachel Whiteread. using the garden as a metaphor and a laboratory. Choose one or two of these artists to explore and discuss some For the Tate project, Haeg investigates how the lawn in England of the architectural ideas investigated through their work. has changed over time and how lawns in inner London differ from 2 — What materials have been used to make Edible Estates? those in Los Angeles. The site is located at the junction of Lancaster Why did the artist choose to use these materials? Is it important and Webber Streets, in one of London’s least green areas. Haeg that Haeg chose to create a ‘living’ garden, rather than a sculpture worked in collaboration with Bankside Open Spaces Trust and of a garden? Why? Some architects use organic (living) materials the community of Brookwood House to plant a garden composed to express their architectural design ideas. used a entirely of edible plants. variety of plants to clad part of the front façade of the Musée du Haeg is interested in the impact of small-scale gestures. He quai Branly in (2006). Look at photographs of the Vegetal maintains that architects do not have to create monuments to Wall www.paris-photos.org/museum-quai-branly.php and discuss advance change in the world. Rather, a simple act such as planting why you think Nouvel used plants as a feature within this design. your own food can create a powerful way to engage people with the by-products of their daily life and promote a greater understanding 3 — Fritz Haeg describes his garden as a laboratory. How is a of the connectedness between gardens and the planet. garden like a laboratory? What might you explore or discover in a garden? Laboratories are often related to science. What scientific ideas could be investigated in the Edible Estates?

4 — Look at green spaces and non-green spaces in your community. How are the spaces being used? Are there any spaces that are not being used effectively? How could you improve them?

5 — Haeg suggests that small actions can create strong impacts. Think about how your own actions at home and school affect the environment. What actions are positive for the environment and what actions are negative? What small actions can you take to help improve the environment? How could your whole community become involved in contributing to change? ARCHITECT IN FOCUS - FRITZ HAEG 18

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STUDENT ACTIVITIES FURTHER READING 1 — Find an area in your school that could be transformed into www.fritzhaeg.com an edible garden. Do some research to find out what types of The official studio website plants would grow well in the climate where you live, what type of soil you might need and when it would be best to plant http://archinect.com/features/article.php?id=50581_0_23_0_M the garden. ‘Fritz Haeg: Small Revolutions,’ Archinect, January 29, 2007

2 — Decide how you will use the produce that is grown. Can the www.indexmagazine.com/interviews/fritz_haeg.shtml canteen use it for school lunches? Could it be sold to parents to An interview with Fritz Haeg, Index Magazine, Ariana Speyer, 2004 raise money for school activities? Could you use it for cooking www.kidsgardening.com classes in the school? How will you dispose of any unused A helpful resource on gardening produce, weeds and cuttings from your garden? Work as a class to develop a strategic plan for how you will use the Land Securities is committed to working with local communities garden. Do some calculations before and after the garden has and helping to educate the next generation and is delighted to been grown to find out if the carbon footprint of your school be sponsoring this education pack on Global Cities. For more has changed. information visit www.landsecurities.com 3 — Draw designs for your garden. What will the shape of the garden be? How will you arrange the plants? Think about how you could give some form to your garden by creating interesting structures for climbing plants to grow over. Make a model of your ideas to help you think about the 3-dimensional structure of your garden and visualise the layout.

4 — Environmental artists such as Andy Goldsworthy and Richard Long also use nature as a source of inspiration and a backdrop for expressing their ideas about the environment. Their outdoor sculptures maintain sensitivity to the landscape and explore particular characteristics of the site in which they are located. Find examples of works by Andy Goldsworthy, Richard Long and other environmental artists and investigate the ways in which their work responds to the landscape. Find a site within your school grounds or your local community and create a site- 1 Fritz Haeg specific sculpture that expresses a relationship with its context. Born and works USA Edible Estates regional prototype garden #4, London UK 2007 Image: Heiko Prigge