ACEX35,Masters’ thesis direction, 2020/2021
Description and aim
The master’s thesis direction Critical spatial
perspectives asks as a central question how architects and planners can
analyse, intervene and design in space using critical perspectives. Such
perspectives can be understood to point to the importance of social
responsibility, environmental justice, intersectional feminism,
norm-critique, democracy, and subversive and resistant spatial
practices, in responding to political and socio-economic challenges
connected to the built environment. The direction emphasises such
perspectives because they are urgent. Indeed, as Jackson (2009) has
pointed out we now live in “an age of irresponsibility” which currently
is creating social polarisation, segregation, over-consumption and
unsustainable living. Hence, at the heart of this thesis direction is
the need to develop an ability to formulate critical questions of how
power, spatiality and meaning are produced and reproduced.
Students in
this direction can express their critical proposals through design
projects, written academic work, or a combination. It encourages an
expanded scope for spatial interventions at different scales, and
accepts that ways of responsible and critical spatial inteventions are
not limited to architecture/buildings or urban plans/design, but can
include a wide range of interventions, including theoretical schemes,
countercultural work, manifestos, collaborative design, and embodied
spatial practices.
Method and process
Master theses within this direction use theory and
design practice to explore a critical perspective. Common approaches
within the studio are qualitative, discursive and regenerative
approaches. We critically investigate how we talk about, plan and
reproduce society and (natural) environment, but also how new approaches
for the design professions can contribute to making a difference. Such
critical spatial perspectives can for example imply an analytical focus
on how inequalities materialise in the built environment, through
urbanisation, gentrification or segregation processes, and thereby
contribute to creating unsustainable spatial hierarchies between people
and places. Critical spatial practices can also question how uneven
development, damaging environmental and spatial practices, and
unsustainable consumption, devastate natural environments.
Specific evaluation criteria
Critical question/problem the thesis aims to explore; relevance to society; theory/relevant concepts to use for analysis; method.
Suggested literature and projects
- Ernstson, H. and Swyngedouw, E. (2019) Urban
Political Ecology in the anthropo-obscene: Interruptions and
possibilities. Routledge
- Fitz, A. and Krasny, E. eds. (2019)
Critical Care. Architecture and Urbanism for a Broken Planet,
Architekturzentrum Wien and The Mit Press
- Harvey. D (2006). Space
as a keyword. In Spaces of global capitalism. London, New York: Verso
- Mang, P., Haggard, B. & Regenesis (2016), Regenerative
Development and Design. A Framework for Evolving Sustainability Wiley
- Massey, D (2006). London inside-out. Soundings. 32, 1, 62-71(10)
- Rendell, J. (2018) "Only resist: a feminist approach to critical
spatial practice", The Architectural Review, 19 Feb 2018
Direction faculty
Marco Adelfio, Nils Björling, Emilio, Isabelle Doucet, Julia Fredriksson, Bri Gauger, Kristina Grange, Anna-Johanna Klasander
Exemplary thesis projects
• Ahumada, Jorge (2019). Just Spaces: A study of a public space in Mexico City to apply the just city research in designing public spaces
• Arlid, Hedda (2019) Scenografy for transition: In search of utopian visions beyond growth. The thesis uses a scenographic perspective to understand the potential conflict between GDP growth and sustainable development in relation to a public space in Gothenburg
• Berg, Isabella (2019) In whose interest? A discourse analysis of the development of Karlastaden and its effects. The thesis is a theoretical work that investigates problem representations and their effects on the development of Karlastaden within the district of Lindholmen in Gothenburg
• Bell, Alicia (2020). Not just sorry, but thanks: an investigation into colonialism within Sydney’s Built Environment
• Björkman, Annsofi (2020). Exploring co.creation: for citizen participation and influence on public space
• Danckwardt Lillieström, Jakob (2017). DEMOCRATICITY Democratic Opportunity and the Planning of Public Space
• Fornaca, Allegra (2018) No retreat from change: A resilient flooding adaptation strategy for Henån (Orust). The thesis investigates land use and functions that can handle sea level rise and include different sea levels as new spatial qualities.
• Novik, Natalie (2017). Common Ground: A tool for dialogue and decision-making to encourage sustainable lifestyles in the city neighborhood
• Marttila, Johanna (2018). Towards Local Lab. Developing Tools for Short-term Practices to Become Regenerative and to Create Continuity in Participation
• Pucolowska, Aleksandra (2020). Team Lövgärdet: Forming a collaborative framework for a local development in west Sweden.
• Röstlund, Ida (2017) Form follows material: Design with local resources. The thesis discusses how architecture can be developed from available local resources and materials, and uses a research by design process in order to test potentials in a design process
• Sandblom, Fredrika and Nilsson, Matilda (2018) Forming a Feminist Future: An exploration of design that allows young women and transgender to appropriate public space. The thesis investigates the right to the city and how public spaces can be designed for appropriation.
• Zorawska, Eve (2018). UN-seen cities: strategies for building community in transience.