1. In Search of
Common Ground
SANDRINE REVEL, IMAGE FROM THE EXHIBITION PROJECT ”ONCE UPON A FUTURE” BY STEALTH.UNLIMITED, EMIL JURCAN AND
ARC EN RÍVE ARCHITECTURE CENTER, BORDEAUX, 2011.
RESOURCES.12/LAB
Post-master program, 60 ECTS, at Mejan Arc – Architecture 2012–2013
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2. If we look beyond state- and private property
driven developments, which have dominated
cities during the last fifty years throughout
Europe, we can encounter a rich tradition of
cities and communities formed on the principles
of the commons. Today, when the way out of the
debt crises is seen in even more draconic
privatization and thus “evaporation” of public
property, can the re-constitution of the commons
be a viable option pointing to new directions for
our cities – beyond the agenda of profit and
away from the neo-liberalization that brought
us where we are?
In the debate on the development of cities, for many doubted truth – that economical gains could be made
– as citizens, or as professionals – a pressing question with commonly owned and managed land and systems.
remains unanswered: what kind of cities do we In a society searching for resilient qualities, shouldn’t
imagine, and what do we share as citizens within our the history of the commons be written and told, and
cities? The common grounds, on which our cities are the capacity of an urban common be tried and re-
based, find themselves in a transitional state, where the scripted? In Search of Common Ground will look at what
privatization of these fundamentals are shifting the are urban commons today – and aim to transition them
very premises of what constitutes the idea of the city. from a mere technical, to a constitutive, and ultimately a
Commons as a resource in society have long tradition political category in architecture.
and various cultural expressions – the Istrian Komunal,
the Muslim Vakif, the Goan Comunidades, the Japaneese Program
Iriai – management of common forests – and the In Search of Common Ground is a research project
Swedish Allmänning, are just a few examples of the urge for a small group of participants. It will be organized
to preserve common ground for an unforeseen future. around three workshop trips to institutions or
Nobel laureate Elinor Ostrom has also proven the organizations in Europe that with their ground­
Post-master program, 60 ECTS, at Mejan Arc – Architecture 2012–2013
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3. breaking activities explore how urban commons can be the ambition to set an agenda for research and
constituted or re-formulated. On a first trip we will educational organizations in this field. This publication
encounter different radical practices and activist will be produced by the group and finalized during the
groups in Croatia, such as the Pulska grupa, Pula spring term.
(Istria) and Right to the City Initiative, Zagreb.
Secondly we will visit one or two Transition Towns in In Search of Common Ground starts week 38, 2012 and
England as well as the Agency Group at Sheffield ends week 22, 2013. Winter-break is between weeks 51
University, one of the few places in Europe with a core and 3. The course gives 60 academic credits. The cost
interest in the contemporary role of architecture and its for the study trips and reading materials is 13 000 SEK,
capacity for transformative action, urban intervention divided into two installments. The project produced
and agency in the city. The third trip will be directed to during the course of the year will be exhibited and/or
Madrid to meet with the Observatorio Metropolitano discussed in Stockholm, first at the conference in April
who recently published the Charter of Commons. Each and then later as part of a final presentation in the end
trip will span 3–5 days. The two first trips will take of May. Those responsible for the program are
place during the fall – October and November 2012 – professor Henrietta Palmer and PhD candidate and
the third one in January/February 2013. On the base of architect Ana Dzokic, in close collaboration with
these investigations and meetings, the participants will architect Marc Neelen/ STEALTH.unlimited.
together, but also through individual research, develop
a wider understanding on the notion of the Commons Applications
and its future within cities. A one-week workshop in We are looking for a compact group of participants
the beginning of December will bring some important that go beyond their desire to merely enrich their
practitioners, but also their discussions, methods and knowledge, and who have the wish to take part
»charters« to Stockholm, for a decoding of the personally in transforming (their) practice. The
Stockholm context and commons. participant should have experience of independent
”research” thinking/ acting, as well as in collaborative
In Search of Common Ground will be linked to the work. We are aiming for a cross-disciplinary group and
theoretical framework of RESOURCES.12/LAB, which therefore encourage not only participants from the
is a new platform for practice-based research that fields of architecture, landscape architecture and urban
stems out of the methodology and projects that have planning to apply, but also artist, journalists, and
developed with the Resources programs during the researchers from other fields such as economy or
years. This framework will provide a full day “think- digital domain, or with a strong interest in the subject
and-act seminar” every third week, with invited guests, of the Commons. In Search of Common Ground calls
topics and settings related to the ongoing research for curious, stand-fast and engaged people who would
within the lab. The participants of In Search of be eager to join us on a journey throughout Europe and
Common Ground will hereby be part of the lab and Sweden, to investigate the state of Commons.
contribute with their specific focus on the Commons. Applicants should be able to demonstrate critical
thinking, or have documented knowledge relevant to
In Search of Common Ground will lead up to, and the subject. Applicants should have a master’s degree
finally result in, an international conference held in or the equivalent.
April of 2013 on The Urban Commons, giving
theoretical, juridical and activist ground to the idea of Participation of at least 75% is required to receive
the Commons – along with already active practices. academic credits. An application should consist of a
Participants in the program will provide the research CV, a concise written reflection on the theme, a
for the conference, but will also in close collaboration portfolio presenting relevant works as well as a
with the teaching and administrative team of passport-sized photograph of the applicant. If group
RESOURCES.12/LAB draft the outline for the conference projects are included in the portfolio, please provide
and then take the lead in actually organizing and running the name of a reference person. A digital application
the event. Finally, the proceeding of the conference as well should be made at: http://www.kkh.se/arkitektur. The
as the individual and common research will be captured portfolio should be sent as a paper copy and post­
in a publication, worked out by the participants, with marked or left at the Mejan Arc (KKH) no later than
Post-master program, 60 ECTS, at Mejan Arc – Architecture 2012–2013
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4. the 11th of June 2012. Applicants may expect to be courses, please see www.kkh.se). In the end of the fall
invited for an interview mid June. Those accepted will term, students are encouraged to apply for grants from
be informed by the 25th of June. the Research and Development in the Arts program.
These applications can be based on ideas developed
Additional courses, grants during the course and that the student wishes to
and economic support continue exploring during the consecutive year.
The Royal Institute of Art offers one scholarship of
289 400 SEK to one applicant admitted to In Search of Additional information:
Common Grounds, for the academic year 2012/13. The Nina Lindgren, nina.lindgren@kkh.se www.kkh.se
scholarship is aimed to cover the whole tuition fee for a Tel. +46 8 614 40 25
student from outside of the EU/EEA and Switzerland.
You apply for the scholarship by submitting a Mailing address:
motivating letter of maximum one A4 page to your Royal Institute of Art
application. As a student at Mejan Arc at the Royal Mejan Arc, Architecture
Institute of Fine Arts, you are entitled to attend Box 163 15, 103 26 Stockholm, Sweden
lectures held within the other courses at the school, Visiting address:
including Architectural Conservation as well as Art Flaggmansvägen 1, Skeppsholmen
& Architecture, in addition to those within the Fine Stockholm
Arts program (for more information about these
MEJAN ARC Advanced Studies in Urbanism
Mejan Arc is a forum for post-master’s Architecture have produced a number of Arc emphasizes the importance of
education in architecture and urban projects the last few years founded both on comparable urban studies and the value of
planning that investigates ongoing societal current international discourses as well as working with a specific context and its
changes connected to an architectural and on artistic practices. The courses utilize unique needs. The courses have a strong
urban discourse. Mejan Arc offers one-
methods of research and design to explore interdisciplinary approach, which includes
year courses on a post-master’s level in
the potential of urban environments in an the selection of students from diverse
three disciplines: Resources/ Archi­ ecture,
t
unpredictable world of increasing social professions as well as methods for how
Architectural Conservation and Art &
division and uneven distribution of knowledge is generated – from experts of
Architecture. The common goal of Mejan
resources. How can the city and its diverse varied backgrounds and a methodological
Arc is to engage in society by generating
relevant and tangible projects, as well as life forms, environments, architecture and framework based on multiple approaches
creating professional networks that extend history all interact and be harnessed to to problem solving. This environment
outside the academic realm. Projects that achieve sustainable solutions? In the creates conditions for participants from
are initiated at Mejan Arc often become ongoing debate on urban futures we need differing disciplines to engage in a critical
independent platforms that continue to to have an understanding of for whom and discussion together, developing new ideas
develop autonomously. for what kind of life we imagine an urban and approaches. The practical work is
The three disciplines within Mejan Arc future. Who is the city for? How can we, as important in all three courses and the city
share an interest in the city, its history and urban actors, work together to greater is investigated through research-, art- and
identity, social aspects and future urban understand the complexities of design-based methods. All courses are
possibilities all in relation to climate and contemporary cities? How can we use our post-master’s courses admitting 20
resources. Both Resources/ Architecture, joint knowledge to create a just and students each. The academic credits can
Architectural Conservation and Art & sustainable urban environment? Mejan partly be counted towards a PhD degree.
Post-master program, 60 ECTS, at Mejan Arc – Architecture 2012–2013
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