The exploitation of resources and people in the construction industry undermines the integrity of architecture. To advance architecture as a discipline and harness its potential as a reparative force, the exhibition The Great Repair Moves North advocates for a new architectural ethos centered around repair.
From the often invisible maintenance work for upkeeping buildings, to the political decision to stop demolishing existing built structures, and to architecture as an instrument of justice, the exhibition challenges the ethical stance of all parties involved in the production of space. In a time of ecological and social emergency, every choice to build, not to build, or to build in a different way can either result in continuing the path of planetary destruction or contributing to genuine repair. The exhibition seeks to better understand how to practice architecture ethically in today’s world.
The Great Repair Moves North is based on the exhibition The Great Repair, a project initiated by ARCH+ in collaboration with the Akademie der Künste in Berlin, ETH Zürich and the University of Luxembourg. Form/Design Center presents the exhibition in a condensed version and complements it with new contributions from the Nordic countries.
The exhibition is structured around seven topics that highlight the processes related to the maintenance and repair of buildings, cities and landscapes at various scales: from the daily rituals of caretaking to examples of construction practices that prioritize working with existing structures rather than replacing them with new ones. Through videos, models, installations, original drawings, and prototypes, the exhibition showcases over twenty approaches from both emerging and established international artists and architectural firms that render repair tangible as a new design paradigm.
When considered through the lens of repair, architecture also becomes accessible to everyone as the scale of care extends beyond the realm of professionals, enabling everyone to participate in repairing their immediate surroundings and addressing any injustices they observe there. Let’s repair!
Participants
Sven Olof Ahlberg, Atelier Bow-Wow, Center for Spatial Technologies, Agnes Denes, Gaia Arkitektur, Gylleboverket konstnärsgrupp, HouseEurope!, Lacaton & Vassal, Limbo Accra, Material Cultures, Charlotte Malterre-Barthes, Joar Nango, Not Quite/Warm in the Winter/Urban Futures/RISE, André Pihl, Secretary International, Charlie C. Steenberg/Royal Danish Academy, Deane Simpson and Simon Sjökvist/Royal Danish Academy, THEMA (Sarah Nichols, Akshar Gajjar, Marion Moutal) med/with Syn Liu, Mierle Laderman Ukeles (curaterad av/curated by Bettina Knaup), Växtvärket, Wingårdhs arkitekter and others
