Course KuGH 3 Architectural Theory – Mutuality and community in building

Class

(1,5 SWS / 3 ECTS)

Language:       German 

Time:                Monday 08.04.2024, 16:15 –  18:15 (first date), weekly event

Room:              C.A.R.L., S08, Claßenstraße 11

Dozent:            Frédéric Schnee

The concept of mutualism, which was coined by Piotr Kropotkin, focuses on social mutual aid and cooperative-like structures in self-organised self-help groups.  Despite its tradition in reform debates and social science, mutualism receives little attention in architectural discourse.  The seminar is dedicated to this topic, where social dependencies are emphasised through reciprocities and highlights mutualism as a life practice.  In socialist currents of classical social change, mutualism developed as a response, whereby a distinction is made between different types of mutualism.  An analysis of building self-help projects will look at the tension between domination and co-operative. The transition from aid to self-organisation harbours risks,  but the promotion of mutualism can have a social space-building effect.