Just Grounds: Cape Town Post-graduate course in architecture at Mejan Arc at the Royal Institute of Art, Stockholm, 60 academic credits Deadline for applications: June13th, 2011 Africa is rapidly urbanizing. 40% of the continent’s population is now urban, but despite Africa’s extensive natural resources and strong economic growth, neither international nor local investments find their way to the cities. In postcolonial Africa the City is still considered an exception. Basic infrastructure is still lacking and urbanization is occurring primarily in the form of slums, as silent encroachments. However, African urban researchers note that the African city should not be considered simply incomplete versions of their western counterparts. Indeed, the African city is following its own route with a very different map. These cities are growing as nodes in mutually dependent networks that span over national boundaries. Their populations are in perpetual movement – constantly in search of work and possibilities. The city of Cape Town has a young, multi-cultural population and engagement from grassroots movements as well as academics and practitioners spans from social to spatial issues. Nowhere is the discourse on the Right to the City more urgently apparent than here. The conditions for an inclusive future based on equitably distributed resources are here and now. The city begs the question – can Cape Town show the way towards a genuinely more sustainable urban Africa, or will a refusal to act keep this development from occurring? Resource.11 continues its present program series Happy Grounds – a multiple-year investigation of alternative urban models and perspectives on development generated from particularly advantageous breeding grounds, such as climate, topography, cultural expressions, resources, economies or social phenomena. We now look towards South Africa where we will take part of the intensive debate concerning the African city that is going on right now in Cape Town. Are you an architect, landscape architect, urban planner, artist, designer or simply passionate about architecture and urban issues? Join us for a year of cross-disciplinary studies during the academic year 2011-12.

1. Just Grounds:
Cape Town
In the ongoing debate on urban ecology
the question remains – what kind of
life do we imagine and for who are we
creating a sustainable urban future?
I en samtida debatt om urban ekologi
måste den grundläggande frågan ställas
– för vem, och för vilket slags liv är det
egentligen vi föreställer oss en hållbar
urban framtid?
© PHOTO: Lizane LOuw
RESOURCES.11
Post-graduate course, 60 credits, Dept. of Architecture/ Mejan Arc, Royal Institute of Fine Art, 2011–2012
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2. Just Grounds: Cape Town
africa is rapidly urbanizing. 40% of the continent’s population is now urban, but despite
africa’s extensive natural resources and strong economic growth, neither international
nor local investments find their way to the cities. in post­colonial africa the City is still
considered an exception. Basic infrastructure is still lacking and urbanization is
occurring primarily in the form of slums, as silent encroachments. However, african
urban researchers note that the african city should not be considered simply incomplete
versions of their western counterparts. indeed, the african city is following its own
route with a very different map. These cities are growing as nodes in mutually
dependent networks that span over national boundaries. Their populations are in
perpetual movement – constantly in search of work and possibilities. They are also very
young. Half of the inhabitants that today constitute Urban Africa are under 25 years old.
Cape Town – All Inclusive? solar energy production. Since the fall of apartheid in 1994,
without the security of both physical and social the country has struggled to break the consciously
infrastructure, urban africa will be particularly vulnerable fragmentary built patterns imposed by its political history.
to the effects of climate change and our successively This journey away from a divided country and its divided
dwindling resources. Solutions tend to be applied where cities seems long, and in the meantime poverty and social
economic resources already exist and those presently differences become ever more entrenched.
without will become even more disenfranchised. South
africa is one of africa’s strongest economies, with an with its 3,5 million inhabitants, Cape Town is one of South
abundance of natural resources; diamonds and minerals, africa’s largest urban centers. The city is dramatically
© PHOTO: HirOHikO Okada
agricultural products and a rich biological diversity. Besides situated between two oceans and an impressive and rich
all of this, South africa has the world’s largest potential for geography and landscape. its population is young, multi­
Post-graduate course, 60 credits, Dept. of Architecture/ Mejan Arc, Royal Institute of Fine Art, 2011–2012
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3. cultural and engagement from grassroots movements as well Working Partners
as academics and practitioners span from social to spatial The educational program, RECOURSES is based on
issues. nowhere is the discourse on the Right to the City developing working partnerships with local actors who are
more urgently apparent than here. The conditions for an engaged in the course during the year. in Cape Town, we can
inclusive future based on equitably distributed resources are find a number of engaged individuals, organizations and
here and now. The city begs the question – can Cape Town nGOs, including African Centre for Cities/ City Lab at the
show the way towards a genuinely more sustainable urban University of Cape Town, Sustainability Institute, Insalda
africa, or will a refusal to act keep this development from Institute and The Community Organization Resource Centre.
occurring? we will meet with contemporary local architects, such as
Barbara Southworth, Carin Smuts, Jo noero, Mokena
Just Grounds and the strategy Makeka and Peter rich, all who have been instru ental in
m
of the everyday developing a post­apartheid urban agenda and all who
Many South african urban theoreticians speak of an contribute to a lively architectural climate. Back in Sweden,
engagement in the everyday as a path forward for the we continue our work together with the Stockholm
african city. in the practice of the everyday is inherent a Environment Institute and Stockholm Resilience Centre, as
resistance to mistaken and misdirected initiatives. in the well as the department of Biological Physics at Chalmers
everyday can be found impulsive sidesteps and a serendi­ University. we will also work with visualization of urban
pitous dynamic that can show what urban life could be – in data together with the help of Density Design Lab in Milan
spite of itself. in the ongoing debate on urban ecology the and learn methods for scenario thinking from the Belgian
question remains – what kind of life do we imagine and for company, Shift’N.
whom are we creating a sustainable urban future? what
urban qualities should guide us? Marc Swilling, the vocal Perspectives
leader for the Sustainability Institute in Stellenbosch, east of The course is structured in sections each with a specific
Cape Town, uses the term livable urbanism to encompass his theme. we will find a foundation in relevant architectural
notions of a city that lives within planetary boundaries and and urban planning theories, as well as biology, philosophy,
bridges socio­economic gaps while supporting social and resource­ and economic theory. we will investigate lifestyle
ecological entrepreneurship. Can an everyday urbanism in a patterns, innovation, systems­theory, food production in a
country with social injustice and an excess of natural local and global perspective, biomimicry and radical
resources show the way towards a resilient city? mapping. we meet architects, urban planners, systems
thinkers, natural and social scientists, journalists,
during the past several years, RESOURCES has conducted economists and artists in a cross­disciplinary discourse.
research in how dwindling fossil fuels, depleted natural under ying all aspects of the course is a focus on visuali­
l
resources and climate change are and will continue to zation and communication.
influence our cities and our ways of life. within the context
of the series Happy Grounds, we will discuss alternative Program
concepts of development, growth and happiness, from both RESOURCES.11 consists of three consecutive day study
a global as well as african perspective. we will investigate periods (wednesday to Friday), occurring every other week.
the term spatial justice and those theoreticians and These periods are complemented with two or three
practitioners who are working to further develop this weeklong workshops, spread throughout the study year.
concept. we will meet the young africa, by looking at the differing fields of study structure the year. each field will be
city through the eyes of its children and youth. we will investigated by means of lectures and seminars. The
revisit the philosophical and architectural discussion from common group project will sequentially develop in short
the late 70’s which was informed by its fascination with the workshops that follow throughout the course of the year.
everyday. we will also discuss urbanism in relation to post­ RESOURCES.11 starts week 38, 2011 and ends week 22,
colonialism, post­apartheid, mobility, migration and 2012. winter break is between weeks 51 and 3. a study,
biological diversity. above all, we will take part of the research and workshop trip to South africa is scheduled for
intensive debate concerning the african city that is going on the early spring term. The course gives 60 academic credits.
right now in Cape Town. The goal of the course is to The cost for the study trip and reading materials is 13 000
formulate an innovative urban planning proposal for a part Sek, divided into two installments. The project produced
of Cape Town which can contribute to its development. in during the course of the year will be exhibited in Stockholm
addition, the proposal should contribute to an international and subsequently in a larger context in South africa the
discourse on our sustainable urban futures. following fall. Those responsible for the course are professor
and architect Henrietta Palmer and teacher and architect
Post-graduate course, 60 credits, Dept. of Architecture/ Mejan Arc, Royal Institute of Fine Art, 2011–2012
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4. Michael dudley. Fredric Bedoire, professor in architectural photograph of the applicant. if group projects are included
history will also participate. in the portfolio, please provide the name of a reference
person. a digital application should be made at:
Applications http://www.kkh.se/arkitektur. The portfolio should be sent
RECOURSES.11 is looking for engaged individuals who as a paper copy and postmarked or left at the school no later
are interested in investigating these issues and developing than the 13th of June, 2011. Those accepted will be informed
proposals together within a team. applicants should be able the 27th of June.
to demonstrate design ability, or have knowledge relevant to
the subject, as well as describe an idea they wish to develop Additional courses, grants
pertinent to the themes presented above. You should be an and economic support
architect, landscape architect, urban or regional planer, as a student at Mejan arc at the royal institute of Fine
designer, engineer, or from another discipline such as; arts, you are entitled to attend lectures held within the other
photographer, filmmaker, artist, writer or journalist – with a courses at the school, including architectural restoration
specific interest in architecture and urban planning issues. as well as art & architecture, in addition to those within the
applicants should have a master’s degree or the equivalent. Fine arts program (for more information about these
The course can also be attended as a lecture series, not courses, please see www.kkh.se). at the conclusion of each
participating in the group project and giving 30 academic year, the school awards a number of grants, including the
credits. These half­time students do not participate in the Palmér Stipendium, based on a project application and/or
group project and in those cases where their participation in individual achievement. in the beginning of the spring term,
the study trip is agreed upon pay actual costs (travel costs students are encouraged to apply for grants from the
for full­time students are partly deferred by the school). research and development in the arts program. These
Participation of at least 75% is required to receive academic applications can be based on ideas developed during the
credits. an application should consist of a CV, a concise course of the study year that the student wishes to continue
written reflection on the subject for this year, a portfolio exploring during the consecutive year.
presenting relevant works as well as a passport­sized
Additional information:
Michael dudley, md@kkh.se
www.kkh.se
Tel. +46 8 614 40 23
Mailing address:
royal institute of art
Mejan arc, architecture
Box 163 15, 103 26 Stockholm, Sweden
Visiting address:
Flaggmansvägen 1, Skeppsholmen
Stockholm
MEJAN ARC Advanced urban environments in a rapidly are structured by project work and
Studies in Urbanism changing world. MEJAN ARC offers workshops. The goal of the School
is a forum for post­graduate one­year courses in three disciplines, of architecture is to engage society
education in architecture and urban including Architecture and Architec­ through the generation of relevant
studies. MEJAN ARC investigates tural Restoration, which are both full­ and tangible projects, as well as the
issues relevant for the general public time, as well as the part­time course creation of working networks that
and how they are connected to an Art and Architecture. The three continue outside the academic realm.
architectural and urban discourse. programs share an interest in the City, Projects that have their inception at
an increasingly urban world but have different areas of focus. all the school often become independent
necessitates new perspectives. By three programs include a lecture platforms that continue to develop on
utilizing methods of research and series, study trips and common their own.
design we explore the potential of seminars. The two full­time courses
Post-graduate course, 60 credits, Dept. of Architecture/ Mejan Arc, Royal Institute of Fine Art, 2011–2012
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