Showing posts with label Martti Kalliala. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martti Kalliala. Show all posts
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
VIDEO: "DESIGN HAPPENS IN THE PUBLIC, WITH THE PUBLIC"
Did you miss out on HEL/LO – Let's Talk About Games? By pressing play, you'll be able to take part in the whole discussion, held 6 July at The White Building in London, and hear our speakers explore the relationship between design, public space and games.
More information about the Finnish and British architects and designers can be found here.
Drinks kindly sponsored by Crest JMT Leather.
Video by Thomas Lock.
Thursday, 12 July 2012
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
VIDEO: BEHIND THE SCENES OF HEL/LO 2
One theme, two countries, six speakers – HEL/LO – Let's Talk About Games, the second discussion in our event series, was held last Friday and presented a great mix of thoughts and views on the theme of games.
In a couple of weeks, you'll have another chance to take part in the discussion when we publish the talk here in its entirety. Meanwhile, why not have a look at this behind the scenes video to hear what the speakers had to say right after the event, and to get a glimpse of the atmosphere at the White Building.
The HEL/LO Team wishes to thank all speakers and guests. Kiitos!
Friday, 6 July 2012
LET'S TALK ABOUT GAMES TONIGHT
Emmi and Chrissie quality checking their new stage design.
HEL/LO – Let's Talk About Games is here! In a couple of hours, six Finnish and British speakers will gather at the White Building, a wonderful new venue in Hackney Wick with a spectacular view of the Olympic park, to discuss the relationship between cities, public space and games. The doors open at 6 pm with complimentary drinks provided by Crest JMT Leather, and the talk begins around 6.45 pm. Secure your ticket here, or enquire places at the door.
The following people will be exchanging ideas tonight:
Je Ahn & Maria Smith / Studio Weave
Studio Weave is an award-winning emerging architecture practice profiled as one of "Britain's Brightest Young Architects". The studio's work encompasses an extremely diverse range of projects from furniture and art projects to buildings, landscapes and urban design.
Martti Kalliala
Martti Kalliala is a Helsinki-based architect and founder of the design and research studio Pro Toto, focusing on architecture, urbanism, strategic design and cultural analysis. Kalliala recently edited and co-authored the book Solution 239–246, Finland: The Welfare Game, published by Sternberg Press.
Tomas Träskman / YKON
YKON is a Helsinki-based not-for-profit organisation whose members include artists, designers, game developers and art historians who share a deep interest in current utopian thought and practice. Since 2005, YKON has worked on themes such as micronations, social architecture and alternative economies.
Torange Khonsari & Andreas Lang / Public Works
In 2004, Public Works became the name for a group of architects and artists who had been collaborating in different constellations since 1999. The common denominator for a shared practice was an interest in making socially inclusive public realm, be it art or architecture.
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Q&A: THE WELFARE GAME WITH MARTTI KALLIALA
Photo: Paavo Lehtonen
In preparation of HEL/LO 2 – Let’s Talk about Games we spoke to a Helsinki-based architect Martti Kalliala about the relationship between games, cities and imagination. Kalliala is the founder of the design and research studio Pro Toto, focusing on architecture, urbanism, strategic design and cultural analysis. His work has been exhibited internationally, and has received numerous awards and prizes. Kalliala recently edited and co-authored the book Solution 239–246, Finland: The Welfare Game, which puts forth a series of spatial, economic, social and cultural projects for tackling Finland’s quandaries. He says that the aim of the book was to frame – and to a certain degree also claim – a missing discourse. Parallel to his career in architecture Kalliala also comprises half of the electronic music duos Renaissance Man and Heat Death.
You call yourself “architect etc”. I’m curious to hear more about the “etc”
part.
It's mainly there to afford me the liberty to assume from time-to-time a role where my 'spatial expertise' (or whatever it is that architects do and/or know) isn't considered my sole asset. However I have noticed I have been dropping the 'etc.' more often than not lately; ambiguity isn't always desirable.
What are you up to at the moment?
Working on the Pro Toto website (to be launched in August at www.pro-toto.eu, designing an exhibition, doing preliminary research for a still secret project about to commence this summer, also doing research for an essay about the genealogy of the idea of the 'comfort zone', seducing potential clients, making plans.
How important is the concept of games and a sense of imagination in your work?
If one wants to cultivate a critical dimension in one's work, which of course I do, I feel one
also has the responsibility to try to imagine productive and positive alternatives to current realities: spaces, institutions, power structures etc.
Regarding games, I feel in many respects the hustling involved in running a studio or organizing one's life as a practice is in fact a game. However, to borrow an idea from Dong-Ping Wong that came up in a panel discussion some weeks ago, one must be conscious about the rewards one is after: in addition to winning – i.e. reaching a predefined goal, or simply sustaining the game – to 'keep on playing', gratification and fulfillment can be found in the dexterity and suaveness of one's gameplay.
In your view, what is the relationship between games and cities?
As a general remark the notion of 'gamification' gives me shivers. Anyway, games and the processes that constitute the building and existence of a city are not only analogous but in fact share similar structures and organizing principles – even if, or maybe exactly because, both 'city' and 'game' are concepts without widely agreed-upon unambiguous definitions. Yet, if a city is literally interpreted as a game-like process, the most important thing in order to be able to affect any meaningful change is, in addition to identifying the players, to understand their rewards and aspirations – much in the same way as in the answer above.
In your book Solution 239–246, Finland: The Welfare Game, you present a wide range of daring schemes for a future Finland. But what do you see as the most pressing issues in Finland right now?
To choose one that is specific to Finland, or at least amplified through its actual and psycho-geography would be isolationism; both as a political programme and mindset.
What would your ideal city consist of?
Any city with a democratic, intense and dynamic social and cultural metabolism, affordable rents and an abundance of good food would be high on my list – even higher if dramatic topography is involved. Also it is important for a city to contain quasi-utopian islands with their own intensified ideologies, schedules, rules and priorities. These islands could be buildings, delineated territories, interior spaces, apartments, individuals or even states of being that exist only in time. Even if one doesn't engage with them directly, awareness of their presence, the latent possibility for alternatives, is what constitutes a truly metropolitan condition for me. I'm not sure if Helsinki is quite there yet.
What has inspired you recently?
Synthetic fabrics and macro-histories by the likes of Manuel De Landa, Fernand Braudel and the McNeills. I also rediscovered music which is exciting: in addition to personally working on two musical projects, d'Eon, Slim K Slowdowns and Klaus Schulze have been on constant repeat.
Interview by
Jenni Tuovinen and Stephanie Roiko
It's mainly there to afford me the liberty to assume from time-to-time a role where my 'spatial expertise' (or whatever it is that architects do and/or know) isn't considered my sole asset. However I have noticed I have been dropping the 'etc.' more often than not lately; ambiguity isn't always desirable.
What are you up to at the moment?
Working on the Pro Toto website (to be launched in August at www.pro-toto.eu, designing an exhibition, doing preliminary research for a still secret project about to commence this summer, also doing research for an essay about the genealogy of the idea of the 'comfort zone', seducing potential clients, making plans.
How important is the concept of games and a sense of imagination in your work?
If one wants to cultivate a critical dimension in one's work, which of course I do, I feel one
also has the responsibility to try to imagine productive and positive alternatives to current realities: spaces, institutions, power structures etc.
Regarding games, I feel in many respects the hustling involved in running a studio or organizing one's life as a practice is in fact a game. However, to borrow an idea from Dong-Ping Wong that came up in a panel discussion some weeks ago, one must be conscious about the rewards one is after: in addition to winning – i.e. reaching a predefined goal, or simply sustaining the game – to 'keep on playing', gratification and fulfillment can be found in the dexterity and suaveness of one's gameplay.
In your view, what is the relationship between games and cities?
As a general remark the notion of 'gamification' gives me shivers. Anyway, games and the processes that constitute the building and existence of a city are not only analogous but in fact share similar structures and organizing principles – even if, or maybe exactly because, both 'city' and 'game' are concepts without widely agreed-upon unambiguous definitions. Yet, if a city is literally interpreted as a game-like process, the most important thing in order to be able to affect any meaningful change is, in addition to identifying the players, to understand their rewards and aspirations – much in the same way as in the answer above.
In your book Solution 239–246, Finland: The Welfare Game, you present a wide range of daring schemes for a future Finland. But what do you see as the most pressing issues in Finland right now?
To choose one that is specific to Finland, or at least amplified through its actual and psycho-geography would be isolationism; both as a political programme and mindset.
What would your ideal city consist of?
Any city with a democratic, intense and dynamic social and cultural metabolism, affordable rents and an abundance of good food would be high on my list – even higher if dramatic topography is involved. Also it is important for a city to contain quasi-utopian islands with their own intensified ideologies, schedules, rules and priorities. These islands could be buildings, delineated territories, interior spaces, apartments, individuals or even states of being that exist only in time. Even if one doesn't engage with them directly, awareness of their presence, the latent possibility for alternatives, is what constitutes a truly metropolitan condition for me. I'm not sure if Helsinki is quite there yet.
What has inspired you recently?
Synthetic fabrics and macro-histories by the likes of Manuel De Landa, Fernand Braudel and the McNeills. I also rediscovered music which is exciting: in addition to personally working on two musical projects, d'Eon, Slim K Slowdowns and Klaus Schulze have been on constant repeat.
Interview by
Jenni Tuovinen and Stephanie Roiko
Friday, 15 June 2012
TIME TO TALK ABOUT GAMES
Photo: Aleksi Niemelä
The urban fabric of the city is increasingly governed by rules surrounding security, ownership and surveillance. Citizens in both Helsinki and London have been left uncertain about the ways in which the public can occupy and use seemingly public space. HEL/LO – Let's Talk About Games – the second event in our series – invites speakers who explore these themes. They are working to develop creative systems, strategies and designs that aim to alter public spaces and the way we inhabit them.
Confirmed speakers for HEL/LO – Let's Talk About Games include Martti Kalliala, Public Works and Studio Weave.
HEL/LO – Let's Talk About Games is organised as part of the London Festival of Architecture and will be held at the White Building, an exciting new canal-side Olympic-edge cultural venue, run by SPACE and designed by David Kohn Architects.
HEL/LO 2 is part of the British Council's International Architecture and Design Showcase 2012 (21 June – 23 September); a global gathering of cultural projects that investigate architecture and design from across the world, presented for the London 2012 Festival.
HEL/LO – Let's Talk About Games
Friday 6 July, 6–9 pm
The White Building, Unit 7, Queen's Yard
White Post Lane (entrance by canal bridge)
Hackney Wick, London, E9 5EN
The event is free but booking is essential as places are limited – book your ticket here.
The HEL/LO team
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)