'Point of View': Horizontal versus Vertical, Photo by Laurent Dejente
This is an archive page for Athens
Athens
Cipher City, NTUA School of ArchitectureSunday 1 – Saturday 7 April 2012
In today’s world of amplified social interaction and connectivity there is a need for the built environment to evolve beyond its current relatively static state. Cipher City takes place in Athens, one of the most historical cities in Europe, but also one of the changeable, driven by innovation and creativity. Our setting offers a direct engagement with design models characterised by action.
In Cipher City, the act of reaching from one place to another in a continuous and fluid way becomes the starting point for the development of working kinetic prototypes energised by motion on horizontal planes.
The workshop aims to bring out the latent dynamic qualities of urban surroundings and to bridge these with the animate qualities of the human body. During this process, participants will experience the historical, contemporary and geographical diversity of Athens on studio trips. They will challenge conventional design approaches in order to break the dichotomy between the building and the urban realm. Capable of responding to external stimuli, the proposed structures will apply the concepts of motion and real-time reaction to various parameters.
In this computational workshop, design teams will experience a diverse range of digital fabrication systems from CNC routers to 3D printers. The final archetypes will then be related to proposals produced by the AA Istanbul Visiting School, which is exploring the contrasting agenda of ver ticality. The end results of one school will become the design counter-arguments for the other. Participants are encouraged to join both workshops in order to experience the transition between the two spatial extremes and fee discounts will be offered to those taking part in both Athens and Istanbul.
Applications
The deadline for applications is 18 March 2012. All participants travelling from abroad are responsible for securing any visa required. After payment of fees, the AA can provide a letter confirming participation in the workshop. A portfolio or CV is not required, only the online application form and payment.
Fees
The AA Visiting School requires a fee of £695 per participant, which includes a £50 Visiting Membership. If you are already a member, the total fee will be reduced automatically by £50 by the online payment system. Fees are non refundable. Fees do not include flights. Fee discounts available, please visit the Athens programme site for more information.
Accommodation during the workshop is not provided but advice on accommodation options can be given. Students need to bring their own laptops, digital equipment and model making tools. Please ensure this equipment is covered by your own insurance as the AA takes no responsibility for items lost or stolen at the workshop.
Eligibility
The workshop is open to architecture and design students and professionals worldwide.
