This intensive international summer school investigates the 'contact zone' as a new methodological tool to better understand the global-ness of architecture production. Students will be invited to theorize and visualize the‘contact zone’ using the architecture competition as a case study. For one full week, students will use the gta Exhibitionsspace as their studio space. Mornings are reserved for in-class readings of literature, collective mind-mapping exercises and group discussions. During the afternoon sessions, students will gather research materials in the library, develop their own conceptual model and creatively use the exhibition space to visualize, in their own way, the architectural contact zone of the competition. 

Organizer: Chair of the History and Theory of Urban Design (Prof. Avermaete), Institute for the History and Theory of Architecture (gta), ETH Zürich

Tutors: Dr. Cathelijne Nuijsink, Prof. Dr. Tom Avermaete

For one full week, students will use the gta Exhibitions space as their studio space to explore different visualization techniques in a very hands-on manner. Mornings are reserved for theoretical inquiry; in-class readings of literature, collective mind-mapping exercises and group discussions. Afternoon sessions are workshop-style; students will gather research materials in the library, develop their conceptual model and creatively use the exhibition space to visualize, in their own way, the architectural contact zone of the competition.