Erasmus Intensive Program 2014 - Wood

After an extremely fertile series of Erasmus Intensive Programmes during the previous decade, conceived and coordinated by the Institute of Architecture and Planning at the University of Liechtenstein and conducted with seven European partner universities from various countries, the final workshop of the series took place in August 2014 in Liechtenstein itself. The materials have always been the central subject and driver of architectural design. The laboratory context of individual universities was deliberately abandoned, to test built experiments in a real environment at 1:1 scale. Log house construction, traditionally rooted in the Liechtenstein Alps, now became the focus, being reinterpreted in the Tuass and Münz settlements above Triesen at an altitude of 1400 and 1700 meters respectively above sea level. Four exemplary buildings were to be constructed there, which were capable of accommodating both the topography and weather conditions, along with the architectural heritage of the surroundings. Due to the lack of time, it proved impossible to finish the huts together with the students, which were then continued and completed after the end of the workshop by Liechtenstein carpentry apprentices.

In order to develop a maximum amount of creative energy within a short period of time, we worked with real materials from the outset. Timbers in a few basic sectional shapes were available. The designs were not developed through theoretical concepts or drawings, but rather by prototypes of joints at a 1:1 scale – a method of working. What had been produced during the day was then presented each evening, so that the development of experiments could be considered. The prototypes were dismantled or entirely rebuilt the next day. The spiral-like motion of this revolving process charges the results with meaning, the process of repetition lending the end product increased precision. This physical sketching, using the building materials themselves, permits a great immediacy in the design.

Partner Universities: Academie van Bouwkunst Amsterdam, Mackintosh School of Architecture, Royal Academy Copenhagen, Sint-Lucas Belgium, Universitat Polytécnica de Catalunya, Gdansk University of Technology, NTNU Trondheim