Mexico City

Monday 25 June – Friday 6 July 2012

Building on the body of research established in its first year, Prototypical Networks will continue to engage with Mexico City from an infrastructural point of view, exploring not just the challenges but also the opportunities it presents as one of the largest megacities on earth. The workshop will be structured around key infrastructural themes such as the ‘recovery of waterscapes’ and the ‘reinforcement of mobility networks’. These will form the motor for intervention through prototypical strategies framed within a tactical urbanism.

The objective will be to develop an ‘urban prototype’ that is capable of accommodating change and a degree of indeterminacy in the design process, only acquiring its specificity through its on-site materialisation. Paradigms of self-organised systems, distributed networks and increasing complexity will be introduced through systemic design techniques, setting up counter models to conventional urban planning. The idea of an urban prototype will be discussed in terms of a dual timeframe, responding on the one hand to a sense of urgency provoked by the need to provide immediate solutions, while on the other laying down the foundations for long-term infrastructural strategies.

The workshop will offer students the opportunity to develop their skills through different strategies based on the exploration of local conditions, engineering techniques, material processes and experimentation with digital, fabrication and representational tools. In addition a series of lectures and seminars will be organised along with site visits to major infrastructural works around the city.

A symposium on ‘urban prototypes’ will take place in April 2012 prior to the Visiting School, giving students the opportunity to discuss and critically assess the key issues with local and international experts. 

The workshop, supported by four major universities in Mexico (UNAM, Universidad Iberoamericana, Universidad Anahuac and UAM), will conclude with students presenting their work to local authorities, architects and urban designers and mounting a public exhibition of projects in one of the most important and alternative cultural centres in Mexico City.

Applications

The deadline for applications is 11 June 2012. All participants travelling from abroad are responsible for securing any visa required. After payment of fees, the AA can provide a letter confirming participation in the workshop. A portfolio or CV is not required, only the online application form and payment.

Fees

The AA Visiting School requires a fee of £695 per participant, which includes a £50 Visiting Membership. If you are already a member, the total fee will be reduced automatically by £50 by the online payment system. Fees are non refundable. Fees do not include flights. Accommodation during the workshop is not provided, but accommodation options can be advised upon.

Students need to bring their own laptops, digital equipment and model making tools. Please ensure this equipment is covered by your own insurance as the AA takes no responsibility for items lost or stolen at the workshop.

Eligibility
The workshop is open to architecture and design students and professionals worldwide.