Architecture of multiple authorship: beyond the academic year (book chapter)

In the context of a research initiative entitled ‘Architecture of Multiple Authorship’ we describe a set of socially engaged Live Projects offering students to participate in real projects during their architectural studies developing a range of skills, from community outreach to hands-on construction of small structures. With the new EU directive and the current discussion of shortening the architectural education in the UK, our Live Projects studio proposes running projects over several academic years involving different student cohorts, each participating during different phases of a project, ultimately enabling an on-going live engagement with a place and community on a project. The result is a study model, which adds practical experience whilst shortening the time at university. The Live Projects are meant to challenge the definition of “architecture” and the profession of the architect: Projects are self-initiated with often limited funds which are often overcome through the use of locally found and discarded objects as construction materials. In this sense the Live Projects’ continuous involvement in a location establishes links, knowledge and a presence required for making a radical yet holistic development of public spaces. It teaches students to collaborate, a sense of non-hierarchical positioning and multidisciplinary practice