Research - LABA - EPFL

PAINTINGS
by Pauline Seigneur
PAINTINGS
by Pauline INSTALLATION
Seigneur
by Elsa Beniada
my Barents
case study South China Sea
territorial strategy climate
territorial constitution for Barents
Assignments
laba manifest - august 2012
a) My urban region
Students are asked to represent their conception of the specific urban region.
The goal of this project is to allow each student to interpret the urban region
in their own highly personal way. This exercise is an important basis for
discussion, especially given that a large number of our students are foreign
and can make an important contribution to our international perspective.
b) Case-Studies
The morphological structure of regions and cities similar to the specific region
we are studying, is analysed.
This work is done in groups with each group member researching one of 5 key
urban themes such as infrastructure, food, energy, health and education, as
well as other important demographic and urban parameters such as density,
economy, etc.
The 5 chosen themes are those considered most relevant to the particular
urban study area.
Each specialist researches his/her theme and it’s role within the evolution of
the urban structure. The final group report is a compilation of the individual
themes, including standardized statistical and physical data, as well as an
overall analysis and set of conclusions. The conclusions identify special and
unique features and clarify the advantages and problems of each case.
c) Urban Strategies
The specialists from each case-study work together as a group to conduct
research on the given urban area. The 5 themes such as infrastructure, food,
energy, health and education represent the focus of each specialist group.
The groups will propose an urban strategy driven mainly by the creation of
optimal conditions for the development of their theme. These urban strategies
will be extreme to the point of being almost narrow-minded in focusing on one
theme. However, it is in this extremity that useful approaches and concepts
are developed, which can later be modified in co-existence with the network
of the other 4 themes.
d) Urban Constitution
The goal of this assignment is to produce an urban constitution: a roadmap
providing a logical set of guiding rules which allow for an appropriate longterm
development of the given urban area.
The students work together in their original case-study group, thus forming
again 5 groups with specialists from each theme. Group work is understood to
be an important component. Students learn to negotiate and be a productive
member of a larger entity.
Each group develops an urban constitution which addresses the significant
issues and needs of the given zone in the short, medium and long term.
The proposed plan is represented as a schematic strategy that integrates
the multiple overlaying aspects of urban planning and design. The urban
constitution comprises texts as well as maps and models.
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