Nelly Ben Hayoun
Fictive cities

"The blue sky above us is the optical layer of the atmosphere, the great lens of the terrestrial globe, its brilliant retina. From ultra-marine, beyond the sea, to ultra-sky, the horizon divides opacity from transparency. It is just one small step from earth-matter to space-light – a leap or a take-off able to free us for a moment from gravity.

But the horizon, the skyline, is not only a launch pad . It is also the very first littoral, a vertical littoral, the one which absolutely separates ‘the void’ from ‘the full’. Unremarked invention of the art of painting and of distinguishing a ‘form’ from a ‘background’, the ground line anticipates from afar the maritime shorethe ‘Azure Coast’, that horizontal seaboard that so often causes us to lose sight of the zenithal perspective.”

- Paul Virilio, Open Sky

The world of Wrestling

"The virtue of all-in wrestling is that it is the spectacle of excess. Here we find a grandiloquence which must have been that of ancient theatres. And in fact wrestling is an open-air spectacle, for what makes the circus or the arena what they are is not the sky ( a romantic value suited rather to fashionable occasions), it is the drenching and vertical quality of the flood of light. Even hidden in the most squalid Parisian halls, wrestling partakes of the nature of the great solar spectacles, Greek drama and bull-fights: in both, a light without shadow generates an emotion without reserve.[...]

Wrestlers therefore have a physique as peremptory as those of the characters of the commedia dell’arte, who display in advance, in the costumes and attitudes, the future contents of their parts: just as Pantaloon can never be anything but a ridiculous cuckold, Harlequin an astute servant and the Doctor a stupid pedant, in the same way Thauvin will never be anything but an ignoble traitor, Reinieres ( a tall blond fellow with a limp body and unkempt hair), the moving image of passivity.[...]

We are therefore dealing with a real Human Comedy, where the most socially inspired nuances of passion( conceit, rightfulness, refined cruelty, a sense of ‘paying one’s debts’) always felicitously find the clearest sign which can receive them, express them and triumphantly carry them to the confines of the hall."

- Roland Barthes, Mythology

"Creating a fictional location has many advantages for the writer. You get to name the town, streets, businesses, schools, etc. Everything inside your town is under your control."

- Dawn Arkin, "What Should Your Story's Setting Be”

Brief

With Space tourism being already there with Virgin Galactic, Mars being planned for 2050, we will have to rethink our relation to the spacecraft and to architecture as well. Invisible spaces such as the air and the void, will become enacted/performed by new type of aircraft, new materials, and maybe a new form of Humans (Human +?)

Day 1&2

Observation, collect tools, elements of the everyday - the visible and the invisible. Look for existing form of 'hybricity' in the city.

As Designers, observation should be second nature to you. To observe is to look at the sensibility of the environment on many levels, its shapes, its structures, its colours, its energy and its function. You should already be keeping your eyes and ears open and are on the alert for design examples that interest you. To gain insight into systems, behaviour and subject matter that help you understand ways in which learning can be designed and identify the right 'tools' to interpret information to create better understanding through play, interaction, communication.

You are being as to user test and experience your city , to observe and analyze in detail your experience and observations through drawings, photographs, diagrams to map the content and document your findings visually or in 3D. You will be working in groups to build a body of material, to fully communicate your interpretations, understanding and enjoyment (or frustrations)of your city.

These observations materials will help you define the starting point of your hybrid city. This needs to be based on your findings.

Observe and notate

End of day 2

we will share our findings and edit them in order to be ready for Day 3. We will also identify what are the challenges of your project and what could be your strategy to manage them.

Day 3

Set up your ring, Set up your space and its boundaries.

Day 4

Define its inhabitants, 'The human comedy', its money, the manifesto and explore the dynamics of your fictive city.

Day 5

Live in your city, how do you access it? How do you communicate with the rest of the world?

Day 6

Perform your hybrid city. You will have to present us your cities, its rules, money, communication mode, boundaries, inhabitants, manifestos: political statement...

Challenges

How do you document your experience of this hybrid aerial city? How do you communicate it? How do you perform it? How do you live in it? ...

Preparation

Participants may find it useful to collect research material that would inform and provoke initial group discussions and concept generation sessions. Such material should be wide ranging and may include anything from examples of work from designers / artists / architects, literary and film references even science fiction. Every participant will present his/hers research findings to the other group members. It will provide a good opportunity to begin to assess what approach you may like to take towards the brief and also to introduce yourself and your specific expertise.