Karow Kreuz Klub

TEAM PORTRAIT

VIDEO (by the team)

INTERVIEW
^{Click on the images to enlarge}
1. How do you define the main issue of your project in relation with the theme “Living Cities Imagining architecture taking care of the milieus”? And in which way do you think your project can contribute to an ecological and/or social evolution?
To begin, it's essential to express that participating in and winning a European competition has always been an aspiration for us. The appeal lies not only in the prestige and visibility it grants but also in the opportunity to engage with high-quality ideas and a platform that encourages research and experimentation with ambitious projects. Upon examining this year's theme, we experienced a moment of realization – a "bingo moment" – as it perfectly aligned with our aspirations. The theme of "Living Cities" presented the ideal canvas for us to channel years of personal interests and research into Urban Regeneration through a Real Non-Anthropocentric lens. This passion originated during our university days when we and our friends collaborated on a studio project with Professor Stefano Boeri. In this unique endeavour, we were tasked with designing a project without a specific location, strict rules, or a program tailored for humans; instead, our focus was on creating spaces for animals. This experience served as a revelation in our architectural profession. We were driven to craft a project that resonates with and promotes an alternative way of living, where we, as animals, design for the environment, considering the well-being of other species as well. In this sense, our project is strictly entangled with the ecological and social evolution that the world seems ready to listen to nowadays. The change in the ownership system is the peak of an evolutionary development where people are now finally able to focus on enjoying a life in harmony with nature instead of worrying about accumulating and consuming.

2. How did the issues of your design and the questions raised by the site mutation meet? 
The “Karow Kreuz Klub” project is a natural reflection of an alternative method we are trying to implement as a collective lab. We strongly believe that the secret to a good intervention is to look at what the environment needs rather than adhering solely to the demands of projects or aesthetics. While considerations such as program details, aesthetics, and project requirements will inevitably become integral parts of the final proposal, our primary inquiry revolves around how the program aligns with the ecosystem. An infrastructure, a place for production and for living - all these elements affect nature and we must recognize that we are inherently connected to nature, and the ecosystem is not a resource at our disposal for unchecked exploitation.

PROJECT: