Free speech is essential for a vibrant culture and a democratic society, yet spaces for public expression seem harder and harder to find in the places where we live, work and play.
What does a space for free speech look and feel and sound like? Can they be designed? Are there places in New York City where we can design them?
Applicants will propose architectural or performative designs (temporary or permanent) that transform spaces in New York City into places for public “demonstration.” This challenge is about re-imagining and idealizing existing spaces that have the potential for animating the public, especially spaces that are not traditionally considered in this frame.
“New York City has a rich history of creative and political expression,” says Stephen Duncombe, project director and Theatrum Mundi fellow, “but with the privatization of public space, the surveillance of political communications, the commercialization of creative expression, and the virtualization of social gatherings, we want to imagine how we can transform spaces in the city into places for free expression. The Designing for Free Speech challenge offers a forum to do this.
”This open call is free to enter for any interested, interdisciplinary teams at Designing for Free Speech and consists of three parts:
1. Identification a public space in New York City that could benefit from a more active and interactive social or political engagement.
2. Design plans for a physical transformation of, or performative intervention within, this space.
3. Description of how the proposed plan would be implemented.
A jury will select eight featured proposals to be exhibited and be awarded a small sum toward their implementation. The public will select two additional featured proposals via an online voting system.
Submissions will be accepted until May 15, 2014.
Theatrum Mundi is a professional network of urbanists and artists in different cities, which is co-directed by Richard Sennett, Saskia Sassen, and Richard Burdett. The collective consists of academics, architects, planners, performing and visual artists, with the aim to stimulate discussion about practices spanning stage and street.
AIA New York is the oldest and largest chapter of the American Institute of Architects, with over 5,000 architects, allied professionals, students and public members. AIANY is dedicated to three goals: design excellence, public outreach and professional development, and towards these aims, AIANY runs the Center for Architecture, a storefront exhibition space in Greenwich Village, sponsors public programs, publishes a magazine, and works with its charitable affiliate, the Center for Architecture Foundation, to provide scholarship and educational opportunities. For more information on AIANY, please visit here.
