Design Charrette - summary

Kurt Espersen Peters

During a five day period, Austrian architect Roger Riewe directed a charrette exploring the urban space in Calgary. Predominantly developing during the modern era, Calgary possesses a myriad of formal concepts concerning space that are derived from the various architectural styles of the twentieth century. We find spatial experiences that range from the universal to the specific and the futuristic to the historic; they all share an expression of what constructed space means symbolically. Riewe sought to expound what modern space means experientially in present day. This began with an examination of the present state of architectural space in the city.

Through the course of the modern period, public and private space became engendered with symbolism ranging from the generic to the metaphoric. This menagerie of spaces left the public indifferent to their homogeny or confused by their esoteric messages. These were the concerns that Riewe presented for investigation. Opposed to the resurrection of historic or metaphoric spatial forms, Riewe proposed a space of neutrality. Neutral space would not reflect a universal or generic praxis nor the signature of a singular or unique vision. This authorless architecture seeks to reinvest relevancy into public space by way of recognizing how a modern city functions. The impetus of this exploration focused on flexible and adaptable architectural spaces that reflected the demands of the modern city. Some of these include the role of new technologies and materials in the design and construction process as well as integrating various modes of transportation, such as vehicular, mass transit and pedestrian circulation within the city.

Riewe’s inquiry examines how a social system functions in the light of all of these factors, stating that the shape and scope of the modern world has changed yet our basic needs as individuals and as a society remain intact. Recognizing this delicate balance will define the parameters of our architectural spatial experience.

Kurt Espersen Peters is an MArch student at the University of Calgary.