David Kohn Architects was shortlisted in a 2008 competition run by Arts Council England to imagine the ‘Arts Space of the Future.’ DKA’s proposal entitled, ‘Heterotopia,’ was a carbon neutral art garden in the Thames Gateway that would provide unrivalled access to the arts across a swathe of parkland. Sufficient willow coppicing would be planted to run a large arts venue cum power station, with the circles of willow cut each year providing a changing landscape of venues.

In response to the Oslo Architecture Triennale’s theme, ‘Enough: The Architecture of Degrowth’, DKA revisited its Heterotopia proposal and asked, ten years on, is the project still relevant? Would we pursue the same goals? What has changed? We invited the original design team including structural engineer and former AA Council Member, Jane Wernick, to participate in a round table discussion alongside artist Pablo Bronstein, graphic designer Mark El-khatib and sustainability expert Nick Cramp. The model of the 2008 scheme is being exhibited in Oslo alongside the transcript of the discussion which can be read online.

Visit the David Kohn website for further information about the project. For more information about the Oslo Architecture Triennale, visit the website http://oslotriennale.no/en/