Events

Open architecture lecture “Dumb Emancipatory Housing. Dumb Emancipatory City Planning”: Sebastian Bietenhader and Matthias Moroder / Büro Bietenhader Moroder

On January 12 at 6 pm in room A-400

The lecture is held in English, is free and open to all interested parties.

The open lecture will finish the “Dumb emancipatory housing Workshop” held by EASA (European Architecture Student Assembly) on January 8 – 12. The workshop at EKA is supported by Cultural Endowment of Estonia.

Sebastian Bietenhader and Matthias Moroder have been working together as Büro Bietenhader Moroder since 2015. Büro Bietenhader Moroder deals with copyness as a positive formal property of architecture, which makes it possible to work formally against the neoliberal architecture of differentiation, flexibilization and individualization. By simultaneously maximizing the formal relations of architectural settings to one another, which is conceptually defined as copyness, Büro Bietenhader Moroder opens up a re-reading of the formal characteristics of social housing of French and Russian revolutionary architecture and that of Red Vienna.

Cities are starting again to build housing as builder-owners to counter the suffocation of urban life through real-estate speculation. This new public housing needs its own architecture. However, the historical formal and aesthetic distinctions between public and free market housing have been lost, all housing mimics or is luxury housing.

In the search for an intrinsically public housing architecture Büro Bietenhader Moroder has discovered a totally overlooked formal quality of architecture: Maximalist intentional sameness, termed dumb copyness. Dumb copyness is fundamentally different than mere serial repetition. Instead, it relies on formal qualities that enhance the maximum sameness of rooms, flats, entire housing blocks or urban settings far beyond mere industrial or functionalist seriality.

Hereby methodological rigor is central. Through a rejection of creative ad-hoc-subversion, deviation on every level, – the ubiquitous demand for ‘smartness’ –, a methodical planning can be re-established that achieves a directness that is greatly and blatantly dumb.

Guided by this focus Büro Bietenhader Moroder seeks to rediscover and reclaim the historical forms and aesthetics of pre-WWII public housing, such as Russian revolutionary architecture and that built by Red Vienna from 1919 to 1934. In this period, we find specific formal articulations of a non-functionalist public housing architecture that is almost forgotten and that gives shape to a collective life that is affordable and emancipatory. Through this critical historical re-reading we are developing a design method for emancipatory housing that is so directly public, so clear and basic that it is dumb.

Sebastian Bietenhader and Matthias Moroder have been working together as Büro Bietenhader Moroder since 2015. Büro Bietenhader Moroder deals with copyness as a positive formal property of architecture, which makes it possible to work formally against the neoliberal architecture of differentiation, flexibilization and individualization. By simultaneously maximizing the formal relations of architectural settings to one another, which is conceptually defined as copyness, Büro Bietenhader Moroder opens up a re-reading of the formal characteristics of social housing of French and Russian revolutionary architecture and that of Red Vienna.

Sebastian Bietenhader studied architecture at the ETH Zurich (BSc.) and at the Harvard GSD, as well as history and philosophy of knowledge, also at the ETH Zurich (MSc.), where he did a thesis on the development of the computer modelling space, which will be essential for BIM. He headed the student discussion group “Ambitus”. He is a regular guest critic at the ETH and has been teaching architecture at various (non)- institutions.

Matthias Moroder studied architecture (AA Dipl.) at the Architectural Association in London, art history (BA) and philosophy (BA) at the University of Vienna and history and theory of architecture (MAS) at the ETH Zurich. Besides the work as Büro Bietenhader Moroder, since 2018 he is co-leading MAGAZIN, an independent exhibition space for architecture in Vienna. He is currently a PhD candidate at the department of art history of the University of Vienna and has been teaching architecture and architectural history and theory at various (non)- institutions. Matthias is also co-founder of the Vienna Architecture Summer School.

EKA Doctoral School will be hosting an online info session about doctoral studies at EKA on February 7, 2024, at 13:00-14:30 EET (local Estonian time) . 

Info session provides a good opportunity to hear more about doctoral studies at EKA, available programmes, admission requirements and procedure, etc; also meet and ask questions directly from people behind the Doctoral School and the programmes. The info session will be hosted online over Zoom.

REGISTER HERE

The Estonian Academy of Arts offers following PhD level programmes for international applicants:

• Architecture and Urban Planning
• Art and Design
• Art History and Visual Culture
• Cultural Heritage and Conservation

Admission period for international PhD applicants for 2024/2025 starts on February 1st, 2024. Deadline for submitting application is March 31st, 2024.

Admission requirements for PhD programmes can be found HERE.

More information:
Irene Hütsi
Doctoral School coordinator
irene.hutsi@artun.ee

EKA Interaction Design MA programme invites prospective Master’s students to join the online info session on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 18:00 EET (local Estonian time).

Register HERE

More information about the Interaction Design MA (IxD.ma) programme:

• https://www.ixd.ma
• https://www.artun.ee/ixd
• https://www.facebook.com/IxD.ma

Admissions period starts on the 1st of February 2024 and application deadline is 4th of March 2024.

https://artun.ee/admissions

EKA Contemporary Art MA program invites prospective students to join the online info session on Monday, January 29, 2024 at 17:00 EET (local Estonian time). This will be an opportunity to hear more about the program, to meet and ask questions directly from the faculty.

The online info session will be hosted on Zoom, the link will be e-mailed to all registrants 2 hours before the start of the event.

Register HERE

EKA Craft Studies MA programme invites prospective master’s students to join the programme’s online info session on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 17:00 EET (local Estonian time).

This will be a good opportunity to hear more about the curriculum, and to meet and ask questions from the people behind the programme.

The online info session will be hosted online over Zoom and the link will be e-mailed out to all registrants 2 hours before the start of the event.

If you would like to attend, please register online through the form below.

Register HERE

More information about the Craft Studies MA programme: https://www.artun.ee/en/curricula/craft-studies/overview/

Admissions period starts on the 1st of February 2024 and application deadline is 4th of March 2024.

https://artun.ee/admissions

EKA Urban Studies MSc programme invites prospective master’s students to join the programme’s online info session on Thursday, February 1, 2024 at 16:00 EET (local Estonian time).

This online info session will be a good opportunity to hear more about the curriculum, and to meet and ask questions directly from people behind Urban Studies programme. The info session will be hosted online over Zoom.

If you would like to attend, please register online through the form below. A link to attend will be e-mailed shortly before the event begins.

REGISTER HERE

More information about Urban Studies MSc programme:

• https://www.artun.ee/urban-studies
• https://www.facebook.com/urbantallinn

Next admissions period starts on the 1st of February 2024 and application deadline is 4th of March 2024.

https://artun.ee/admissions

On January 25, 2024, the EKA Design Showcase gala will present to the audience the best cooperation projects of EKA students from the last year with companies and public sector organizations.

We are waiting for all current and future cooperation partners of EKA and those interested in future design to take part in the event!

REGISTRATION

Concepts, prototypes and ready-made solutions of innovative products and services created by students of the Faculty of Design of EKA during the last year for companies and organizations such as the Estonian National Library, Estonian Prison Service (Ministry of Justice), Antonius ÕU (Tartu Creative Economy Center), Eesti Energia, Pagulasabi MTÜ, Cignomet OÜ, Liven AS, GraceFit, Swedbank, Xarus Cosmetics OÜ, Integration SA (Ministry of Culture) and PERH will be presented.

The most influential and innovative projects will also receive awards!

These are projects created within the framework of the new business cooperation program LAETUS of the EKA Faculty of Design.

EKA has accumulated a very strong wealth of experience in carrying out cooperation projects over the years, and the LAETUS program, launched in 2022, has further expanded this field of activity. The program brings together EKA’s design field courses and business challenges of companies, offering synergy and fruitful cooperation, resulting in sustainable research and development projects that move all parties forward.

Come to the Design Showcase and get new knowledge and inspiration on how to take your organization’s products or services to the next level with the help of new generation design and open innovation in cooperation with EKA!

THE PROGRAM

15:00 EKA house tour for those interested (pre-registration required)

16:00 Start
Welcome words by moderator Jan Teevet and dean of EKA’s Faculty of Design Ruth-Helene Melioranski.

16:15-17:30 Presentations of cooperation projects

“Service Design Sprint with Real Life Challenges in Tallinn’s Biggest Hospital” – MA students of social design and service design and PERH

“Personal City – Let’s Walk!” – MA students of social design and Integration SA (Ministry of Culture)

“How to Become President?” – MA students of social design and Integration SA (Ministry of Culture)

“What Happens when a Schoolchild gets to the National Library?” – interaction design MA students and the Estonian National Library

“Nuclear Energy Experience in 2035” – MA students of interaction design and Eesti Energia

“Making Estonia a Stepping Stone” – MA students of interaction design and Pagulasabi NGO

Sustainable Natural Cosmetics Brand Concepts “PIXEL” and “æsce” – BA students of design and innovation and Xarus Cosmetics OÜ

17:20-17:45 Coffee break

17:45-18:50 Presentations of cooperation projects

“Giving Agency to Prison Inmates by Establishing Digital Communication in Tallinn Prison” – Design & Technology Futures MA students and Prison Service (Ministry of Justice)

“Empowering your fitness journey on GraceFit” – MA interaction design students and GraceFit

“National Library Service System to Support Adults with Dyslexia” – BA students in digital product design and the Estonian National Library

“Onboarding for Swedbank Based on Design Thinking” – BA students of digital product design and Swedbank

“Modular Storage of Electric Bicycles for Public Space and Apartment Associations” – BA students of industrial design and Cignomet OÜ

“Small forms of the Outdoor area of the New Residential Quarter” – BA students of design and innovation and Liven AS

“Rebranding of Antonius Õu Located in Tartu’s Historic Jaani Quarter” – BA students of design and innovation and Antonius ÕU (Tartu Creative Economy Center)

18:50 Acknowledgments and presentation of awards

19:00 The End

Presentations will be held in Estonian or English, without translation.

It is possible to participate both on site at EKA (room A101) and watch the broadcast http://tv.artun.ee/ .

We look forward to hearing from all current and future cooperation partners of EKA and those interested in future design!

Watch a video reminder of last year’s event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykpI2Jevyn0

Additional information:
Karin Kiigemägi
EKA Business Relations and Project Coordinator karin.kiigemagi@artun.ee

The EKA Design Showcase gala, now in its seventh year, once again presents the best EKA students’ collaborative projects with companies and public sector organisations from the past year on 25 January 2024. We invite all current and future partners of EKA and all those interested in future design to attend the event!

REGISTRATION

Concepts, prototypes and ready-to-use solutions of innovative products and services created by EKA’s design students over the past year for companies and organisations such as the National Library of Estonia, Estonian Prison Service (Ministry of Justice), Antoniuse ÕU (Tartu Centre for Creative Industries), Eesti Energia, Estonian Refugee Council, Cignomet OÜ, Liven AS, GraceFit, Swedbank, Xarus Cosmetics OÜ, Integration Foundation (Ministry of Culture) and PERH (North Estonia Medical Centre) will be presented. There are prizes for the most influential and innovative projects!

These projects were created in the framework of EKA Faculty of Design’s new business cooperation programme LAETUS. Over the years, the Estonian Academy of Arts has accumulated a lot of experience in conducting collaborative projects and the LAETUS cooperation programme, launched in 2022, has further expanded this field of activity. The programme brings together EKA’s design courses and the business-related challenges of companies, providing synergies and fruitful collaboration and resulting in sustainable research and development projects that move all parties forward.

Come to the Design Showcase and gain new insights and inspiration on how to take your organisation’s products or services to the next level through a new generation of design and open innovation in partnership with EKA!

PROGRAMME

15:00 EKA building tour for those interested (pre-registration required)

16:00 EKA Design Showcase Gala starts. Welcoming words by moderator Jan Teevet and EKA’s Dean of the Faculty of Design Ruth-Helene Melioranski

16:15-17:30 Presentations of collaborative projects

• Service Design Sprint with Real Life Challenges in Tallinn’s Biggest Hospital – MA students in Social Design and Service Design and PERH

• Personal City – Let’s Walk! – students of MA Social Design and the Integration Foundation (Ministry of Culture)

• How to Become President – students of MA Social Design and the Integration Foundation (Ministry of Culture)

• Nuclear Energy Experience in 2035 – students of MA Interaction Design and Eesti Energia

• Making Estonia a Stepping Stone – students of MA Interaction Design and the Estonian Refugee Council

• Re-Branding of Antoniuse ÕU in Tartu’s Historic Jaani Quarter – students of BA Design and Innovation and Antoniuse ÕU (Tartu Centre for Creative Industries)

• Small Forms in the Courtyard of a New Residential Quarter – students of BA Design and Innovation and Liven AS

17:30-18:00 Coffee break

18:00-19:20 Presentations of collaborative projects

• Giving Agency to Prison Inmates by Establishing Digital Communication in Tallinn Prison – students of MA Design & Technology Futures and the Estonian Prison Service (Ministry of Justice)

• Empowering Your Fitness Journey on GraceFit – students of MA Interaction Design and GraceFit

• What Happens When a Schoolchild Arrives at the National Library? – students of MA Interaction Design and the National Library of Estonia

• The National Library’s Service System for Supporting Adults with Dyslexia – students of BA Digital Product Design and the National Library of Estonia

• Modular Storage of Electric Bicycles for Public Spaces and Apartment Associations – students of BA Industrial Design and Cignomet OÜ

• Design Thinking Based Onboarding for Swedbank – students of BA Digital Product Design and Swedbank

• Sustainable natural cosmetics brand concepts PIXEL and æsce – students of BA Design and Innovation and Xarus Cosmetics OÜ

• Helping to Achieve Riga Airport’s Ambition – to Become a Key Player in the Northern European Airport Market – students of Service Design Strategies and Innovations and Riga Airport

19:20 Acknowledgements and awards ceremony

19:30 End

The presentations are in Estonian and English, without translation.

It is possible to participate on-site at EKA (room A101) as well as via webcast http://tv.artun.ee/.

We are welcoming all current and future partners of EKA and those interested in future design to our event!

Watch a video of last year’s event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykpI2Jevyn0

Additional information:

Karin Kiigemägi
EKA Collaboration and Project Coordinator

From its abandoned beaches to the smelly yet indispensable water treatment plant, the hill made from trash, the willfully resistant garage town and its shiny new future plans – everything in Paljassaare seems to be exactly that: an ever-changing sequence of elements, a kaleidoscope.

After researching its abundance of topics, places and processes for one semester, first year Urban Studies students from Estonian Academy of Arts will take their turn and reflect on what they have spotted in that kaleidoscope, in a sequence of creative projects presented on site, in Paljassaare.

The detailed route and more information on each stop can be found on Urban Studies facebook page and Instagram soon!

Within the framework of the Open Lectures Series of the Department of Architecture and Urban Design of EKA, Birgitte Svarre will take the stage in the hall of EKA on 30th November at 6:15 pm with lecture “Public space / public life – an interaction – how to study and make room for it.” She talks about her work studying public life and creating space for it.

The lecture is preceded by public presentation of the book “How to Study Public Life” at 5:30 pm in EKA lobby.

Birgitte Svarre is the co-author of the book “How to Study Public Life”. She has a MA on Modern Culture, a PhD in Architecture and is CEO at BARK, Copenhagen, a consultancy focused on strategic development of places with a focus on both people and places. BARK is owned by the Building Heritage Foundation. Until 2022, Birgitte Svarre has been with Gehl Architects for more than 14 years consulting cities mainly in Northern Europe on human centered planning, public space and public life, including as head of Gehl’s Cities team. She is currently part of the advisory board for lively city centers for the Danish Foundation Realdania.

Architect Jan Gehl is an Adjunct Professor at the Aarhus School of Architecture, Professor (ret.) of Urban Design, The Royal Danish Academy and Founding Partner, Gehl Architects. In 1971 Jan Gehl published the seminal book Life Between Buildings launching a whole new thinking about the design and development of cities. Gehl’s first book and subsequent publications sparked a showdown with the car-centric cities and began mapping and describing people-friendly interventions in the infrastructure of cities. His books include Life Between Buildings, Public Spaces – Public Life, New City Spaces, New City Life, Cities for People.

The open lectures are intended for students and professionals of all disciplines, not just the field of architecture. All lectures take place in the large auditorium of EKA, are in English, free of charge and open to all interested parties. Be there!

Within the framework of a series of open lectures, the Department of Architecture and Urban Design of EKA brings to the audience in Tallinn every academic year about a dozen unique practitioners and valued theoreticians of the field. You can watch previous lectures from www.avatudloengud.ee

The lecture series is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.