Year:
2023
Juergen Mayer H.’s Research Design Studio
at Princeton School of Architecture
The studio looks at animals from human organisms in their relationship to human everyday life and the effect on how we look at nature.
Extinction of animal life is on the horizon, -again. It´s not the first time this happens, but this time it is most likely induced by humans. Global warming and climate change, industrialized agriculture and CO2-emissions, weather extremes and changing migration patterns, for example, fuel our discussions on how to find options for change via new modes of interspecies cohabitation, resource-conscious consumption and a circular economy.
In architecture and the building industry we see a new enthusiasm with vegetation on facades and on top of buildings. We research toward recycling and upcycling of construction materials and the energy performance of buildings. Beehives are popping up inside cities and in the allotment gardens of urban agglomerations. The disappearance of insects and the extinction of sea life is a central popular concern. And these global threats demand a serious call for action. You only live once, – do something, make a difference!
In and beyond cute animal documentaries or end-of-the-world scenarios in popular media, this studio researches issues of animals in our everyday culture and their effect on architecture and spatial production. As we seem to go through another phase of mass extinction, lets have a closer look at what we are going to miss and how we might be able to enjoy the last moments of more-than-human-togetherness. In our everyday context, we see a variety of relationships between animals and humans. Every year has some “WWF animal-of- the-year” that needs our attention. Cat memes are making us binge-watch all night and occupy massive space on social media. Worms and bacteria prepare the humus for our survival. In the end, there is no human life without animals. This more immediate connection to animals drifts between care and scare. But what Is that space that we share with animals?
Juergen Mayer H.
Research Design Studio at Princeton School of Architecture
Students:
Jocelyn Beausire, Tamara Birghoffer, Marie Chapa, Vanessa Gonzalez, Michael Levy, Luciana Hodara Rahde, Jarincy Flores Rodriguez, Ryan Shin, Pavan Vadgama, Kiril Volchinskiy, Andrew Yu
Assistant instructor:
Ali Berk Senbas
Guests:
Zoë Ryan, Sylvia Lavin, Paul Lewis, Jörg Stollmann and Carson Chan for final review at SoA
Natalie Fizer, Marc Kushner, Nadim Samman, Dehlia Hannah, Veljko Markovic, Jamie-Scott Baxter for midterm presentations in Princeton and Berlin
