David Calas: Pushing Boundaries …

By Design or by Disaster TALK: Tuesday, 23 Feb, 17:30
Zoom-link

Pushing Boundaries, probably a commonly used buzzword that defines the point where we are heading know in these challenging times, becomes the umbrella term of this introduction lecture.
Theory-driven, research-oriented and practice-related investigations from academia and private projects show the boundaries of design in general and the role of design in specific regarding its ability to push boundaries. Project-related explorations through multidisciplinary action addressing users, contexts and in socio-cultural attitudes. The lecture therefore does not follow a given expertise, rather it explores in search for dialogue, spreading approaches in a continuous learning. Finally, a call to action that leaves sometimes the comfort zone, allowing doubts and the ability to listen to others and the surrounding. This means, fostering process-driven rather than problem-solving design, investigation rather than readymade methodologies and small persistent impact rather than the attempt of the grand gesture.

David Calas
I am an architect, urbanist, critic, curator and founder of the multidisciplinary creative office “Studio Calas”. My work operates between the blurring boundaries of design, urban realm, rural esprit, architecture, culture and art, fostering multiscale approaches. The theory-driven, research-oriented and practice-related modus operandi focuses on meaningful co-creative strategies, socio-cultural action and the digitalisation impact on our environment.
Academically I was involved as lecturer at the Technical University of Vienna – Faculty of Architecture and Planning from 2011 to 2019 and as Visiting Professor at the German University Cairo/Campus Berlin from 2019 to 2020
www.studio-calas.net

3 Statements/Questions
Pushing Boundaries [?] as a question to our designed environment
Pushing Boundaries [!] as a necessity in these times
Pushing Boundaries […] as possible answer, finally the only one that we can offer