Abstract
The role of architecture in the city was starkly mirrored when muted and partially left moribund by a series of Covid-19-induced lockdowns. The essence of human interaction itself—at school, at work, in public transport, and in public spaces—underwent a radical reset. Social distancing brought with it the risk of social isolation, exclusion, and capitulation. Yet, on the other hand, it also created space for reflection and reinvention. The opportunity to reimagine the city’s role calls for a blank canvas: an experimental grid to unleash speculative narratives imbued with renewed imagination.
Concern for inclusion and the redistribution of roles—beyond traditional gender norms and family structures—is critical. To provoke thought and debate, we might ask diverse communities and individuals: What have you missed? What have you renounced? What needs to change? What should remain? The industrial city, the postmodern city, the colonial displays of power, entrenched gender entitlements, and commercial land grabs have all, to some degree, collapsed and now demand placement within a framework of critical re-evaluation.
With the cursor reset to zero, even post-capitalism appeared as an attainable utopia. For social cohesion to permeate the city’s urban fabric and for social care to anchor itself within its core, we must first analyze the essence of human interactions in urban spaces. Architects and collectives have long blueprinted pilot cities—often labeled as utopias—offering alternative lifestyles that inspire this rethinking of the city. Today, digital interactions add to the possible dialogue, enabling individuals and collectives to imagine and reweave the urban tapestry.
A simultaneous research initiative could explore why and how the city’s existing architectural maps have been preserved, altered, or dismantled. At which points in history, and for what motives, did the city fail in terms of flow, fairness, and inclusion?
Take London, now supplanted by Shanghai as the most expensive city (
Forbes, 2021). London has long been ensnared by landlordism. Those who owned the land, controlled the food chain, maintained exclusive social memberships, and dictated the cultural narrative. By keeping the city legally rigid and exclusive to a handful of dynasties, this monocultural entrenchment arguably stifled its dynamism with privilege and exclusion.
For an interactive installation and conversation
The objective of this research’s initial phase is to uncover an archaeology of architecture and human interaction through a contextual triptych, primarily using photography. On the left, the city is portrayed devoid of human presence at various historical moments. At the center, crowds engage in outdoor spaces—festivals and parks—organically shaping these spaces into ephemeral architectures imbued by heatwaves. On the right, individuals’ responses to the other two installations inspire speculative narratives, expressed through visual and audio content. Photography, video collages, testimonies, and live scenes will be curated, juxtaposed, and layered collaboratively. The project seeks to create an open-ended composition of meditative propositions, sparking debate both online and offline.
Inclusive by design, the installation requires a dedicated stage and digital platform, supported by a research team. It also calls for contributions from a multidisciplinary pool of creators and artists whose work aligns with the theme. The goal is to conceptualize a city designed for intergenerational and transcultural populations—clear in its commitments and limitations. At its core, the city must prioritize accountability, ethics, care, and concern—without losing sight of joy and progress.
Bio
Claudine Boeglin is a creative leader specializing in impactful and original visual concepts that connect people and technologies. Her background spans visual journalism, digital culture, interactive storytelling, and documentary photography. She founded Dandy Vagabonds in New York in 2007, a tribute to auteurs and artists exploring realities and fictions through lenses. Her career in visual journalism includes roles at COLORS magazine, Lemonde.fr, Magnum Photos, and Thomson Reuters Foundation. She has collaborated with non-profit organizations such as Ainaworld, Human Rights Watch, Girl Effect, and the International Center of Photography (ICP). She has taught documentary practices at London South Bank University, mentored researchers in photography at Revealing Reality, a London-based research agency, and currently works as a creative consultant, content creator / producer / researcher, between Lisbon, Paris, and London.
Bio: Claudine Boeglin is a creative leader with expertise in clear, impactful and original visual thinking and concepts weaving people and technologies together. Her background is in visual journalism, digital culture, interactive storytelling and documentary photography. She founded Dandy Vagabonds in New York, in 2007, the name a tribute to auteurs and artists investigating realities and fictions through lenses. Her career in visual journalism built momentum at COLORS magazine, Lemonde.fr, Magnum Photos and Thomson Reuters Foundation. She collaborated with organisations ainaworld.org, Human Rights Watch Girl Effect and the International Center of Photography She has taught documentary practice at London South Bank University mentored young researchers using photography as evidence at Revealing Reality, and currently works as a creative consultant, researcher, producer, curator and content strategist between Lisbon and London.
Twitter: @dandyvagabond | site: dandyvagabonds.com
