Transient Spaces
Since its inception, the Mackintosh School of Architecture’s ‘Friday Lecture Series’ has been a platform for architects, as well as related practitioners, to connect with and inspire students. The series seeks to delve into topics that extend beyond the boundaries of the set curriculum, enriching the overall educational experience in the process.
Traditionally, the first semester is curated by a member of staff. In this instance, Nick Walker, in conjunction with Missing in Architecture, curated the series under the theme ‘Research into Practice’. With the second semester however, the responsibility falls to students, this year, I took the helm.
Titled ‘Transient Spaces’, semester two of the Friday Lecture Series was an exploration into the role contemporary ephemeral architecture is playing in the preservation of club culture. A selection of four leading experts were invited to lead discussions illuminating the diverse facets of the theme:
· Hugh Scott Moncrieff from CAKE, who began with a comprehensive overview of his practice’s work, before honing in on his experience working on Visionaire and Agnes, two temporary stages he designed for the London-based DIY culture and grassroots festival RALLY.
· Matteo Ghidoni from Salottobuono, who began with a more holistic approach, detailing four ephemeral spaces he had designed for varying international events. He concluded with a final structure, Rotunda, which he created for the 2022 edition of Horst Arts and Music Festival.
· Ben Hayes and Theo Games Petrohilos from unknown works, who gave a particularly exhaustive lecture, running through almost the entire process of their stage The Armadillo. From their initial concept sketches right through to the erection of the structure, they placed a particular focus on the acoustic research and development involved in the procedure too.
· Oli Brenner from badweather, who spotlighted the wide variety of ephemeral projects he’s worked on. His work is often featured at many contemporary forward-thinking festivals, including Horst Arts and Music and Waking Life, which hold art and architecture to a similar status as the musical component, which is frequently the primary focal point.
