WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE QUEENS OF POMO? – KTH School of Architecture, Advanced Level, Spring 2014

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE QUEENS OF POMO? KTH School of Architecture, Advanced Level, Spring 2014

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE QUEENS OF POMO? – INVESTIGATIONS INTO POSTMODERN SÖDRA

(RE)ORIENTATIONS WEEK ONE

Our focus in the Spring Orientations course will be on the Södra Sta-

of Södra’s PoMo Queens to find out as we explore the ‘PoMo’ (Post-

tion area, Södermalm, Stockholm. This neighborhood constitutes a

modern) neighbourhood around Södra Station, Södermalm! We will

fascinating testimony to the brief episode of ‘PoMo gone wild’ in an

partake in participatory mappings and masquerade workshops, we

otherwise architecturally moderate Sweden. We propose to dig deep

will gossip about both hidden and extrovert site performances, we

into the shallow depths of Postmodern Sweden!

will collaboratively invent feminist design power tools. In support

What can we learn from PoMo Södra? Follow in the campy footsteps

Critical Studies Design Studio introduces and advances critical posi-

of our explorations, we will touch base with current research on the

tioning by drawing on feminist theories and practices in art, architec-

contemporary history of postmodern architecture in the Swedish con-

ture, and design. Feminist and critical theories also draw upon many

text, and undertake a series of group activities that will culminate in

other socially, politically and ethically motivated areas of theory, such

some pre-emptive design tests proposing alterations that drag and

as Queer theory and practices, post-colonialism, post-structuralist,

brag! All the tasks undertaken here will be documented in a ‘fanzine’

gender & race, biopolitical theory, affect theory, and their important

as a PoMo (Re)Orientations Instruction Manual.

implications for how we alter architectural practices. We aim to in-

Led by Hélène Frichot, Sara Vall, with Helen Runting, Katja Grillner, et al

spire students of architecture to become socially engaged, politically aware individuals with a passionate interest in architectural design

(RE)ORIENTATIONS WEEK TWO

and a desire to work critically and creatively within their own edu-

Postmodernism also owns a dark side, which belongs to the seem-

cational environments. We will encourage you to take risks, be en-

ingly unstoppable progress of neoliberal Capitalism, which leaves in

thusiastic about making concrete proposals, and remain open to

its wake the ghosts of gentrification. In this second week we will at-

discovering things in inventive, critical and creative ways. Within the

tend two valuable research events that will enable us to rethink the

Orientations course we ask you to be BOTH a team player and capable

social in architecture today, and how to make the best of feminist,

of taking initiative on your own. We offer an experienced and com-

alternative ecologies of creative-critical practice. The ‘dragging’ and

petent group of teachers composed of architects and researchers to

‘bragging’ design tests and gossipy maps from week one will allow us

guide and inspire you to find your own critical position in relation to

to dive straight into a consideration of PoMo thresholds in the Södra

previous personal interests and studio experiments. We welcome you

neighbourhood, reconsidered at the up-close-and-personal scale of

to a (re)orientation of approaches to architectural thinking-doing via

1:10! Inspired by the postmodern exuberance of the 1980 Venice Bi-

an informed critical experimentation!

ennale, we will together construct a PoMo street frontage in collaboration with SVENSK STANDARD. Welcome to a (re)orientation toward architectural transgressions and transformations!

Led by Sara Vall, Helen Runting, SVENSK STANDARD, with Hélène Frichot, Katja Grillner, et al

THE COVER

PARTICIPANTS The (re) orientations course Whatever

HÉLÈNE FRICHOT

The pattern on the cover of this publication is

happened to the queens of PoMo?

is an Associate Professor and Docent in Critical

abstracted from the way the exhibition screens at

was carried out during two weeks in

Studies in Architecture at the KTH School of Archi-

January 2014. It was a joint effort by 100-plus Advanced Level students

KTH-A can be stacked together. In the workshop

tecture. Her research examines the transdiscipli-

ending the ‘Queens of PoMo’ course, they were

nary field between architecture and philosophy.

used to re-enact the interior street of the 1980

at the KTH School of Architecture in

KATJA GRILLNER

Venice Biennale. The screens, along with the

Stockholm, from all of the school’s ten

is Professor of Critical Studies in Architecture at

building and the rest of its interiors, was designed

design studios.

the KTH-A. Grillner’s research on architecture and

by a team of architects led by Gunnar Henriksson

landscape combines theoretical, historical and

PUBLICATION

and John Olsson and inaugurated in 1970.

literary strategies for spatial exploration.

HELEN RUNTING

THE SCHOOL

is an urban planner and designer, and a PhD

The KTH School of Architecture was founded

this publication has been put together

Candidate within Critical Studies at the KTH-A.

in Stockholm in 1877 and offers architectural

and printed as a ‘zine of zines’. Com-

Her research addresses practices of criticism and

education at all levels, from a prepatory course

piled during a flash edit by Hélène

the relation between art, architecture,

In celebration of the fast-paced fanzine output of the students of the course,

Frichot, Sara Vall and Björn Ehrlemark,

in Architecture and Urban Planning in Tensta in

marketing, and urban planning.

northwestern Stockholm, to doctoral studies with-

the printed originals by the students

SARA VALL

in the Swedish Research School in Architecture.

were selected, commented, scanned

is a University Lecturer at the KTH School of

There are currently around 550 students enrolled

and re-assembled, all within a matter

Architecture and a practising architect.

in the professional programmes at Basic and

of hours.

Advanced level. The school has a staff of around SVENSK STANDARD

120 teachers, professors and researchers, and 15

is a group of friends who, outside of office hours,

administrative and technical employees. It has

meet in order to build, research, draw, write and make architecture – it is a doing of architecture by

a well-equipped workshop, a digital fabrication

people who like to do.

lab and an architecture library with an extensive collection of books and journals.

BJÖRN EHRLEMARK

After the summer of 2015 the school is moving

directs the KTH School of Architecture’s

to a new building, designed by KTH alumni Tham

programme of public events, exhibitions and publications. He is an architect and journalist, and

www.arch.kth.se

co-founder of Neighbours of Architecture.

Printed at KTH School of Architecture, Stockholm

& Videgård Arkitekter, currently under construction on the main KTH Campus.