Gui Bonsiepe at Bauhaus Lectures Dessau 2008 on “The Intelligence of Structures”

Riverbank Interface

Studio in 2008 consisted of the following three parts: „The Intelligence of Structures“”, our Conference on May 22nd and 23rd; it was followed by “Performing Space”, our Workshop on May 16th and with “Riverbank Interface”, our Project from May 20nd to July 11th.

” Performing Space ” Workshop was intended to end the phase of theory (Conference) and to transform its results to practical work.
The objective of the one-day workshop was to provide a sensuous-tactile introduction to the transitional situation of flowing and static space (water and land), which was to be explored in the following weeks. The participants were invited to build potential architectural interfaces as structural designs on a section of the bank of the Elbe, making use of improvised models in the process. No concrete functional ideas were to be associated with these models (approximately at a scale of 1:100). The set task was to analyse each small-scale water-land situation, to stage or “perform” it anew, with free, spatial, three-dimensional objects.

At Studio, we worked on the design of “Riverbank Interfaces”. We put our focus on the two – sided character of a waterfront and the potentials, which come with this specific physical situation.
A chain of interconnected hostels had to be developed along the river. They served the water tourists as well as they provided landing places for boats, which served the biking tourists. In addition to this, the necessary environments for special cultural and commercial offers were developed. With this chain of ´Riverbank Interfaces´, the project aimed to initiate the cultural revitalisation of the river Elbe in this area and its means in transporting culture and tourism.

Participants 2008