KOOZOn Public Agencyis rooted in the discipline of architecture and the role of the architect today. Amongst other questions, the series of conversations seek to address the modes of sharing and collaborations needed for the architect to (re)gain agency. How would you define the agency of the architect today? To what extent does this rely on and around a shared network of collaborations rather than on an individual basis?

AA I think that each architecture platform must find an appropriate role for itself within the local scene and its own context and dedicate itself to the improvement of the culture of architecture by continually finding new ideas for mediation. In that sense, Dropcity aims to be a platform for architects to get together and exchange. Architectural education is still quite formative and academic with the greatest emphasis on the technical aspects of built architecture. Art and architecture mediation is not systematically addressed in academic curriculums, although many trained architects somehow end up in the sphere of the unbuilt. A new paradigm on what architecture education could entail is redefined as we speak, as the division between art and architecture is fluid to most contemporary students. Other forms of authorship and ownership populate the gradient between both disciplines and are possible options to position oneself. After architecture school, the cultural landscape must feel like a desert.

KOOZ The lecture series brings together numerous international voices who dabble between academia, research and practice. How important is the balance between the research part of the discipline (un-built) and the practice oferecting buildings (built)?

AA I would say everything is about creating an architectural culture. This means reflection and projection in the form of exhibitions, lectures, research, debates, books, magazines, drawings, models, archives, theory building and design criticism. Basically, it involves all the unbuilt in architecture. Architecture platforms have to find a balance between initiated—not concluding— discussion and presentations, between contemporary design and historical practice. Ideally, the platform becomes projective, not only reflective. Architecture culture is not at the service of practice, but reflects critically upon it and experiments. One might say it’s the conscience of the profession. Doesn’t architecture concern the collective as a whole? And in that sense, any cultural landscape is divided among those who promote, those who produce, those who meditate and those who receive and use it.

KOOZ Numerous of the selected practitioners engage in the production of curatorial and editorial projects. For example, architect, a verb by Reinier de Graaf will be presented and discussed during the lecture series. What is the potential of these formats as models for the production and dissemination of architectural knowledge?

AA When I think of the discipline of architecture, there are three spheres: the market—where offices produce work—academia and last but not least architecture culture. Unfortunately, in most countries, this third sphere is not structurally supported or connected to the other two, so we must create places where this becomes a reality that has the ability to be expressed. Mediation to a larger audience interested in the built environment should ideally be supported by a large base. And isn’t it essential for a discipline that touches the life of each citizen to be more inclusive of that society?

KOOZ Of course, the lecture format itself is yet another way for producing and exchanging knowledge. What are your expectations for the 2023 Dropcity Spring Lecture Series? What can a visitor expect?

AA The visitors can expect a kaleidoscopic range of positions. I am proud to have as many female speakers as male. It seems almost absurd to point at that in 2023, but this gender bias needs to be consciously dealt with within the years to come. I expect Dropcity to be booming, with exciting programs at each hour of the day, with exhibitions, lectures, music, play… We need to connect and envision how to cope with what the world and the profession give us.


This interview was developed as part of the media partnership with Dropcity Convention 2023, winner of the public call Festival Architettura - 2nd edition, promoted by the Directorate-General for Contemporary Creativity of the Italian Ministry of Culture.

Bio

Anneke Abhelakh is a curator, educator, and researcher based in Zürich, who develops projects in the field of contemporary art, architecture and public space. Through her work she interweaves and conceives tools for collective narration and reflection. She worked at the curatorial department at the NAi (Netherlands Architecture Institute) for 6 years and established the “Studio for Unsolicited Architecture”. Anneke joined AMO to lead the OMA Progress exhibition at the Barbican and was then head of Public Program at The Berlage in Delft, before she moved to Balsthal (CH). With KCAP, she curated an exhibition ‘Train and the City’ at the Architekturforum Zurich. In 2018 she was responsible for the program and exhibitions at ZAZ Zentrum Architektur Zürich.From 2017 to 2023, she is teaching and developing projects at the ETH D-ARCH in Zurich.

Federica Zambeletti is the founder and managing director of KoozArch. She is an architect, researcher and digital curator whose interests lie at the intersection between art, architecture and regenerative practices. In 2015 Federica founded KoozArch with the ambition of creating a space where to research, explore and discuss architecture beyond the limits of its built form. Parallel to her work at KoozArch, Federica is Architect at the architecture studio UNA and researcher at the non-profit agency for change UNLESS where she is project manager of the research "Antarctic Resolution". Federica is an Architectural Association School of Architecture in London alumni.