invisible grounds

Riccarda Cappeller
architect. urban designer. author. researcher. curator

Frappanz Discussion | 2024

As part of the lecture series “Macht euch verwandt” (English: Make yourselves related), the association for artistic research Frappanz invited Renée Tribble and Riccarda Cappeller for a doialogue on the topic of “collectivity and perspectives for living together. While questions about urban transformation and participative possibilities emerged, the discussion ranged from spaces of collective action to the concrete design of spatial situations for spontanous encounter.

artistic research
case study report
dialogue presentation

CITIES
journal article | 2024

The article looks at artistic interventions as impulses for urban innovation. It investigates their ability to create the conditions for new forms of engagement, influence, rethink or enable new kinds of cooperation or experimental ideas to approach the urban context. Two examples are examined, focusing on their production and the emergence of new roles at the intersections of disciplines or in processes of co-creation. The doing of the spatial practicioners involved, shifts from creating spaces to creating experiences and new public interfaces where city-making and social engagement is re-imagined. The artistic interventions show new formats at the intersection with public space. As catalysts for transformation processes they contribute to an urban and cultural knowledge creation.

“Artistic interventions for urban innovation
Comparing new forms of engagement in public space by two local initiatives”

interviews
literary research
on-site exploration
experiences report
writing

CIRCULAR DESIGN
book article, editor | 2023

When it comes to climate change, circularity has become a major topic. Closed loops, reuse, recycling, and renewable materials are fashionable ideas in architecture and product design. In order to establish the new paradigm of circular design, this book introduces an urban and territorial dimension to the goal of transforming living spaces for resilience and sustainability. It proposes to use design-led research and design-thinking for analysis, concepts, strategies, and cooperative processes of transformation. Featuring case studies from all over Europe that relate creative narratives in urbanism to social and economic innovation, Circular Design aims to activate dynamic fields and networks of ideas, people, and spaces, oriented to circular principles.

order book

essay writing
case study report
film, theatre, intervention
design research
visual research
critical observation

AMPS – TEACHING-LEARNING-RESEARCH
journal article, conference | 2021

Presented at the “Teaching-Learning-Research-Conference” at Manchester School of Architecture, the written contribution reflects on an urban design studio on "Cosmopolitan Habitat: Urban Narratives for Halle / Saale ", conducted in 2021. A main task was to explore urban narratives as space-bound devices for the analysis and understanding of the city. The course departetd from an analysis and conceptual part – the theoretical study of literature and a collection of international refernce projects, followed by a creative mapping task, bringing together historical, social, political, economic, ecological and territorial phenomena. During the Design Phase the students were encouraged to continue to research and test new ways of telling and present their ideas with tools from other disciplines.

Download Article: “Researching and Designing the Cosmopolitan Habitat with Urban Narratives“

interviews
literary research
on-site exploration
experiences report
writing
presentation

CITY, PUBLIC SPACE & BODY
book article, conference | 2021

As part of the interdisciplinary conference “City Public Space & Body” at Goldsmiths University London, a part of the doctoral thesis on Cooperative Architecture - working on the creation of essayistic film fragments for the three case studies – was presented. In particular, the role of film in (architectural) design processes was addressed, drawing upon multiple documentary film references.

Download Article: “Film Fragments: The performativity of urban space as instrument.”

interviews
literary research
on-site exploration
experiences report
writing presentation

FAM MAGAZINE
journal article | 2020

This article responded to a call for paper on the Coronavirus. “Cooperative Architecture” here is ontroduced as addressing a paradigm shift and expansion of the perspective on space and its use. It calls for a rethinking and reactivation of the discipline of architecture and urban planning towards a more social, creative and cultural practice that defines new roles at the interface with other disciplines. The existing space is seen as a catalyst to initiate new perspectives, social connections and cooperative planning, production and change processes.

Download issue #52/53 with article: “Cooperative Architecture. Urban Space as Medium and Tool to share Narratives.”

in-depth field researchliterary research
observation
critical reflection
writing

THE MATTER OF FUTURE HERITAGE
journal article, conference | 2020

The idea for this article was presented at a conference at Universita di Bologna. Heritage in this paper is thought of in a diferent and future oriented way- three characteristic aspects of heritage – 1. Patina as reference to the material , 2. The immobile cultural vehicle, and 3. Collective memory are set into relation to the case study of the casa chorizo, which is part of a larger research framework on design paradigms for Lived Spaces as urban practice. The casa chorizo as popular housing typology in Buenos Aires (Argentina) due to its adaptability has come to be a space of continuous change, refected connections and inscription of users that can be an exemplary case within the future refection on matters of heritage and the understanding of Lived Spaces.

Download Article: “Values of immateriality A housing typology as social and mobile element in the urban context of Buenos Aires“

literary research
observation
critical reflection

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