Architecture & Control

What shapes architecture? What does architecture shape?

Heaven is the most paradisiac construction of man, and yet, Heaven is still an ordered place, with limits, a front and back, inside and outside. Architecture can order environments, beginning with the limit. This is often synonymous with the wall, paradoxically mediating two spaces by both separating and relating to them. Before the 18th Century, the art of building corresponded to the need to reinforce the might of sovereign power and divinity. In today’s world, the commanding forces of architecture have changed, providing freedom and autonomy and yet containing and controlling actuality. Are architects, developers, investors, or users and consumers the only driving force of our current reality? How do the creations of today shape our world?

John Palmesino and Ann-Sofi Rönnskog lead Territorial Agency, an independent organisation that combines architecture, analysis, advocacy and action for integrated spatial transformation of contemporary territories. Recent projects include the Museum of Oil, Anthropocene Observatory; the Museum of Infrastructural Unconscious; North; Unfinishable Markermeer; Kiruna. They are research fellows at the Centre for Research Architecture, Goldsmiths, University of London, where John also convenes the MA and researches for his PhD. He has been research advisor at the Jan van Eyck Academie, Maastricht, and previously led the research activities of ETH Zurich/ Studio Basel Contemporary City Institute, and he is a founding member of Multiplicity. Ann-Sofi is a PhD research fellow at AHO in Oslo. She was previously a researcher at ETH Zurich/Studio Basel.

Carl Turner is Founding Director of Carl Turner Architects and is a self-confessed “maker at heart”. His love of craft permeates his architectural design and often leads to innovative new uses for materials and processes. Carl is directly involved in all aspects of the running of his studio and takes a hands-on approach to all of the projects that come into the office. Starting with his very own Slip House in Brixton, the practice has gone on to create projects both large and small for a variety of clients including The Design Council, The British Council, MUDE Museum of Design & Fashion, Lisbon and are currently working on urban renewal projects with both Lambeth and Southwark Councils. Carl lectures widely in the UK and overseas and is often asked to sit on jury and award panels. He is a member of the Southwark Design Review Panel and a fellow of the RSA. Carl was elected as National and London Council Member for the RIBA in 2014.

Rory Sherlock is a RIBA Part I Architect studying at the Architectural Association in London in 5^th Year and is a member of the AA Council.

Bozar Ben Zeev is a recent AA Graduate who also studied at the TU Delft in the Netherlands, he is currently running his own practice known as Bozar and is working on small-scale residential projects, an exhibition and on publishing theoretical work.

Image: taken by Denys Nevozhai CC0