[Nettime-bold] Media architecture designs the space

[Ieva Auzina <ieva@re-lab.net>]

INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTS AND ARTISTS WORKSHOP -
DESIGNING RIXC MEDIA SPACE
March 11–15, 2002 in Riga, Latvia, organized by The Center for New Media 
culture RIXC in Riga.
http://rixc.lv (since 11th of March, 2002)

During March 11–15, 2002 an international group of architects from Helsinki, 
Tokyo/Rotterdam, Budapest/London and Copenhagen together with young architects 
from Riga will work on innovative design concept and schematic development 
of “RIXC Media Space” – open public space for media culture activities in the 
city of Riga.

> media architecture designs the space…

Urban environment adjusts itself in accordance of demanding info-economy 
through communication technologies... City turns into cross-linked labyrinth of 
transitions with lounging portals, where happens border flux of labor and 
entertainment, public and private... Dominating is dictatorship of economy of 
flows, ever-changing sense and meaning alteration of immaterial...
New media culture is our attempt to provide alternative aware by reconstructing 
logic of flows... Social dynamics of virtual networks applied to physical 
conditions over again facilitates expansion of public space... 
During sequential transformation of the Media space, the process of itself 
becomes a platform for artistic, conceptual and communicative collaboration, 
where representatives of interdisciplinary fields - artists, designers, 
architects, technicians, scientists contribute in joint effort...
Let this space to be our different languages common contemporary metaphor...

> location  

RIXC Media Space will be located in 11. Novembra Krastmala 35, next to the 
building of Artists’ Union of Latvia, in old city of Riga, right by the river 
Daugava. The space is former 110 m² sculptor studio. (some pics of the space: 
http://re-lab.net/rasa/rixc)
RIXC Media Space intends to become a meeting place for different types of 
culture. This location is also chosen in order to connect traditional art areas 
with new media culture activities, and to bridge the traditional gap 
between 'high' and popular culture and the divisions between various youth, sub-
 and minority cultures.

> development 

The building needs serious reconstruction (incl. fortification of foundations) 
and it might take couple years while it's finished. Therefore the process of 
reconstruction itself will be seen as creative art (plat)form. In the various 
stages of building, in-, within- and around- of this space various activities, 
workshops, performances will be organized and experimental art projects dealing 
with real and virtual spaces, will be developed and produced.

International architect's workshop is the first step towards further 
development of the RIXC Media physical space, which will contribute for both - 
visualization of the future space and developing the context for prospective 
activities within it.

> program

During the workshop, RIXC will organize different related activities:

MONDAY, March 11
20.00 - presentation of newly reconstructed RIXC portal (http://rixc.lv) and 
presentations by participants at the multimedia center MA1Z3 
(http://ma1z3.com), DJ's and live jam session

TUESDAY, March 12
20.00 - discussion at net. radio OZONE on "Post-modern urban geographies and 
public spaces" together with participants and representatives from Riga City 
Council (http://ozone.re-lab.net/live.ram) 

FRIDAY, March 15
16.00 - visual presentation of workshop results and screening of video 
documentation will take place in RIXC Media Space future physical premises – 
former sculptor studio of Artists House, 11.Novembra Krastmala 35.

> participants:

Tuomas Toivonen (Finland) <tuomas@aula.cc> - architect, journalist, musician 
from Helsinki, co-initiator and international co-cordinator  of the symposium
Bjarke Ingels (Denmark) <bjarke@plot.dk> - architect, co-founder of PLOT in 
Copenhagen
Laszlo Fecske (Hungary/UK) <laszlo_fecske@yahoo.com> - architect, free 
consultant at PLOT (Copenhagen) and OMA (Rotterdam), currently studies at London
Shohei Shigematsu (Japan/Netherlands) <shoheis@hotmail.com> - architect, 
currently working at Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in Rotterdam
Ivars Shmits (Latvia) <shmita_kungs@hotmail.com> - architect, studied at Riga 
Technical University, Department of Architecture, and Bremen Architecture 
University in Germany
Mariina Gavrjutina (Latvia) <marina_in_europe@hotmail.com> - architect, studied 
at Riga Technical University, Department of Architecture and at Milano 
Politechnical University in Italy
Maksims Shentelevs (Latvia) <maxis@nams.arch.lv> - architect, currently 
studying MA at Riga Technical University, Department of Architecture 
Mikelis Putrams (Latvia) <mikelis_putrams@one.lv> - Currently studying at Riga 
Technical University, Department of Architecture 

> remote participants (on-line):
Mr.Snow (Australia) <mr.snow@laudanum.net> - interface designer and media 
artist from Sidney
Luke Jerram (UK) <luke@jerram.swinternet.co.uk> - artist, based in Bristol, 
works in cross disciplinary field, successfully fusing aesthetics, science and 
technology.
Janis Garancs (Latvia/Germany) <jg@x-i.nu> - artist and "architect" of virtual 
reality and networked databases 
and others (now and later)

> artists from Riga:
Raitis Smits (Latvia) <raitis@re-lab.net> - media artist, co-founder of E-LAB, 
net.radio OZONE and Xchange network (http://re-lab.net)
Girts Korps (Latvia) <korps@nordik.lv> - digital media artist, founder of 
SEMEMA, developing symposium web page (http://semema.org)
Carl Bjorsmark (Latvia) <loco@parks.lv> - filmmaker, photo and video artist, co-
founder of K@2 - informational and cultural public space in Liepaja, Karosta, 
will contribute with video documentation of the symposium (http://karosta.org), 
(http://borderland.tv)

> organisers and coordinators:
Rasa Smite (Latvia) <rasa@re-lab.net> - media artist & activist, co-founder of 
E-LAB, program director at RIXC, coordinator of the symposium (Mob.: +371-
6546776)
Ieva Auzina (Latvia) <ieva@re-lab.net> - art scientist, curator, project 
coordinator at RIXC, press coordinator of the symposium (Phone: +371-7228478)
Signe Pucena (Latvia) <signe@re-lab.net> - manager of RIXC, coordinator of the 
symposium (Phone: +371-7228478)

> Support:

Workshop is supported by Riga City Council, Latvian Cultural Capital 
Foundation, DATI Komerccentrs, Nordic Council of Ministers Information Office 
in Riga, development of RIXC media lab and Acoustic Space Research programm - 
by Daniel Langlois Foundation and Prince Bernhard Foundation.

_______________________________________________
Nettime-bold mailing list
Nettime-bold@nettime.org
http://amsterdam.nettime.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nettime-bold