France. The Arc de Triomphe of Paris was wrapped. In the posthumous project Christo, the lifelong dream of the wrapping artist was realized. Urbanauth was for you on the spot in Paris and has looked at the wrapped Arc de Triomphe!
The wrapped Arc de Triomphe by Christo and Jeanne-Claude (Foto: Urbanauth / VGO / 2021)
The Arc de Triomphe in Paris: About the monument
Feared by drivers, loved by tourists. In the middle of a huge, multi-lane traffic circle stands the Arc de Triomphe.
The Arc de Triomphe is a monument in Paris with its history. In 1806 by Napoleon the 1st began construction and was completed 30 years later. The architect Jean-Francois Chalgrin conceived this masterpiece of about 50 meters high, 45 meters long and 22 meters wide. But at the time of his death, it only stretched to five meters. In the meantime, the construction site had to be put on hold. Finally, the triumphal arch was completed in 1836. In the urbanistic concerns of Haussmann, the Arc de Triomphe became a central place to which some of the most iconic boulevards of Paris lead.
Originally conceived as a victory gate for the battle of Austerlitz won, the Arc de Triomphe is now used to commemorate the victory in World War 1. In 1920, the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” was inaugurated. From 1923, the “Flamme du Souvenir” (“Flame of Remembrance”) is lit there. The Arc de Triomphe is an emblem of French national pride. During the riots in 2018 of the Gilets Jaunes movement, there was structural damage to the monument.
Christo’s posthumous project: the veiled Arc de Triomphe
Christo who died on May 31, 2020 in his apartment in New York City, had a last dream with his wife Jeanne-Claude. To wrap the Arc de Triomphe of Paris. In the posthumous project, the artist’s wish was realized from September 18 to October 3, 2021. For Christo and Jeanne-Claude, it was always important to make their art free and accessible to all. They have succeeded in this with their posthumous project.
The Arc de Triomphe was wrapped in 25,000 m² of recyclable blue-silver polypropylene fabric. The costs of the project were financed exclusively by self-financing and without public funds. Among other things, works by Christo were sold for this purpose. The total cost was 14 million euros and about 1000 people were involved in the implementation.
The driving force behind the implementation of the posthumous project is Vladimir Yavachev. For him the heart of Christos and Jeanne-Claude’s work, one that is the “pure expression of their freedom“. The project was realized with the help of the City of Paris and the Centre Pompidou.
He described Christo’s conception of the shrouded Arc de Triomphe as follows: “It will be like a living object that moves in the wind and reflects the light. The folds will move and the surface of the monument will become sensual. People will want to touch the Arc de Triomphe.“
For reigning mayor Anne Hidalgo, the work is a tribute to the creative process and artistic freedom to transcend the traditional boundaries of sculpture and architecture to create a living work of art that is accessible to everyone.
Work and creation of Christo and Jeanne-Claude
The artist Christo was born in 1935 in Gabrovo, Bulgaria. His life is characterized by travel. Thus, his path brought him to Prague, Vienna, Geneva, Paris and finally New York, among other places. In Paris he met his wife Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon. Deceased in 2009, she played an important role in the life and work of Christo.
The veiling of objects, as a form of urban art. Christo’s projects wanted to cover the monumental. Even if only for a limited time, but the large had to escape the view. He realized his first installation with his wife Jeanne-Claude in 1961 in Cologne (“Dockside Packages” & “Stacked Oil Barrels”). One of his first works to attract attention was the “Wall of Oil Barrels – The iron curtain” in Rue Visconti in Paris (1961-1962). After unsuccessful attempts to obtain permission from the authorities, the project was carried out illegally. Using oil barrels, Christo erects a barricade on a street. Below is a list of the most important works of Christo and Jeanne-Claude:
“Wrapped Coast” near Sydney (1968-1969)
“Alley Curtain” in Colorado (1970–1972)
“Running Fence” in California (1972–1976)
“Surrounded Islands” in Miami (1980–1983)
“The Pont Neuf Wrapped” in Paris (1975–1985)
“The Umbrellas” in Japan and California (1984–1991)
“Wrapped Reichstag” in Berlin (1972–1995)
“The Gates” in the Central-Park of New York City (1979–2005)
“The Floating Piers” in Italien Iseo-See (2014–2016)
“The London Mastaba” at the “Sepertinne” of London (2016–2018)
PTK und sein Background-Rapper Tayler zum ersten Mal in Paris
Von Berlin nach Paris: Am 15.11.2019 (Freitag) sowie den 16.11.2019 (Samstag) hat Urbanauth zwei Konzerte für den Berliner HipHop-Künstler PTK veranstaltet. Im Rahmen eines internationalen, urbanen Kulturaustausches haben wir für den Künstler und seinen Background-Rapper Tayler ein Konzert in der Aubergine3000 in Malakoff (92) organisiert. Dieses besetzte Haus liegt in einem südlichen Vorort von Paris. Den darauffolgenden Tag ging es dann weiter in den nördlichen Vorort Saint-Denis (93) zum Bike Wars-Festival, einem Intersquat-Event. Der Artikel ist ein Throwback auf ein musikalisches Wochenende.
Der Kontext des Konzerts ist unkommerziell im Rahmen der “Free-Party”-Philosophie (Eintritt und Getränke auf freiwilliger Basis) gewesen. Für die Bike Wars trat Urbanauth als Vermittler auf. Urbanauth hat dies auf ehrenamtlicher Basis organisiert und keine Vergütung bezogen. Um die Sprachbarrieren zu überwinden, haben wir eine Auswahl an Texten des Künstlers übersetzt, welche in einem Videomapping an die Wände projiziert wurden.
Durch den kulturellen Austausch zwischen diesen beiden europäischen Hauptstädten wollten wir Einblicke in die Vielfalt der europäischen Hip-Hop-Bewegung geben und Verbindungspunkte zwischen verschiedenen musikalischen Akteuren schaffen. Hip-Hop, das sind vier Säulen: Breakdance, Graffiti, Master of ceremony und Discjockeys. Rap als eine fundamental-urbane Kultur steht dabei in einem tiefen Kontext zur Stadt und dem Menschen und ist zugleich Ausdruck und Sprachrohr für urbane Bevölkerungsschichten.
PTK – Straßenrap aus Berlin
PTK, das ist engagierter Straßen-Rap für eine deutsche Hauptstadt von unten. Seine kritischen Bezüge zum Urbanen hebt die Beziehung des Menschen zur Stadt in den Vordergrund. In Berlin-Kreuzberg aufgewachsen, erzählt er von der Kehrseite Berlins: die der Gastarbeiter und Hausbesetzer, vom Runden drehen in seinem Sektor und der Gentrifizierung Berlins. Neben einer kritischen Haltung gegenüber Tourismus und der Konsumgesellschaft bezieht er außerdem eine klare Stellung gegenüber Rassismus und Diskriminierung. PTK steht verdient für “Pöbel tötet König“. Eine Stimme gegen die Ungerechtigkeit in der Welt.
Im Herbst 2012, nach Protestbesetzungen von Migranten am Brandenburger Tor und anschließend Oranienplatz, folgte im Dezember die Übernahme der leerstehenden Gerhart-Hauptmann-Schule in Kreuzberg. An diesem Ort, welcher der anstatt Refugees, aber ebenso auch Roma-Familien und Obdachlosen eine Unterkunft gab, gründete er mit einigen Hausbesetzern die interkulturelle Band “Antinational Embassy“. Gemeinsam spielten sie dieses Jahr in Athen nahe des Hausbesetzerviertels Exarchia. Solo schaffte es PTK 2018 bis nach Slowenien und mit Urbanauth nun auch zum ersten Mal nach Frankreich.
Urbanauth: PTK, was macht dich zu einem Urbanauth?
Also fernab von eurer Definition würde ich sagen, dass die Themen in meiner Musik überwiegend in urbanen Räumen stattfinden. So wie eben auch mein Leben in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Meine Standpunkte und Erfahrungen sind aber nicht auf meinen eigenen Mikrokosmos limitiert, sondern in jeder Metropole irgendwie anzutreffen. Das bekomme ich dadurch mit, dass ich z.B. selbst in Paris schon ein paar Fans hatte, die meine Musik verfolgen. Umgekehrt habe ich viele Menschen in Berlin getroffen, die quasi vom anderen Ende der Welt kamen und mit denen ich trotzdem direkt auf einer Wellenlänge war. Somit trifft man irgendwie in jeder großen Stadt auf Gleichgesinnte.
PTK, November 2019
PTK in der Aubergine 3000
Am Freitag, den 15. November 2019, trat PTK in der Aubergine3000 auf. Der Name des Ortes setzt sich aus dem französischen Wort Auberge für Herberge, Aubergine und der Zahl 3000 zusammen. Letztere ist als eine ironische Anspielung auf das Jahr 3000 zu verstehen. Das Haus selbst, welches jahrelang leer stand, wurde nach der Auflösung der Stendhal-Besetzung (Anm. d. Red. Einer großen Hausbesetzung eines leerstehenden Krankenhauses) gegründet. Dieses welches einem iranischen Dissidenten gehörte sollte dabei in eine Herberge umgewandelt werden. Nach dem mysteriösen Tod des Besitzers wurde das Grundstück nicht mehr von den Eigentümern unterhalten. Die Besetzer der Aubergine 3000 nahmen die Idee wieder auf, das Haus in eine Herberge zu verwandeln.
Urbanauth: PTK, erzähl doch mal. Dein erstes Mal in Paris, wie war’s?
Die Auftritte haben Spaß gemacht. Der Abend in der Aubergine 3000 hatte ein geiles Feeling, das war eine richtige Untergrund Hip-Hop Veranstaltung. Die anderen Acts haben total abgerissen, die DJ’s waren wirklich extrem gut (so ein Level sieht man leider in Berlin nicht oft) und die Leute haben uns super aufgenommen und sich einfach auf die Mucke eingelassen. Ich habe auch sehr gutes Feedback auf das Video Mapping bekommen – Übersetzungen meiner Texte wurden synchron an die Wand projiziert – und somit auch meine Inhalte, das war nice! Beim Bike Wars am nächsten Tag hat mich neben dem Event vor allem die Location sehr beeindruckt. Mir wurde von den Leuten vor Ort gezeigt, was dort alles in nicht einmal 2 Jahren Besetzung auf die Beine gestellt wurde. Wohnungen, Musikstudio, Theater, riesige Werkstätten.. Davon können sich viele Squats etwas abgucken!
PTK, November 2019
Das Zusatzkonzert auf dem Bike Wars 2019 im Landy Sauvage: Von Kreuzberg in die Seine Saint Denis
Zusatzkonzert auf dem Bikewars 2019.
Im “Au Landy Sauvage” unter dem Motto: Create and Destroy
Urbanauth: Konzerte in Slowenien, Athen und jetzt Paris. Wo würdest du gerne als Nächstes hin?
Ich hab da kein konkretes Ziel vor Augen, sondern freue mich einfach, wenn mich meine Musik an immer weitere Orte bringt. Für die Zukunft werde ich meine Texte auch in andere Sprachen übersetzen lassen, um die Sprachbarriere zu knacken. Die Welt ist halt größer als immer nur in Deutschland, Schweiz und Österreich zu spielen.
The most important news at a glance – Our press review of calendar week 38. This week: From Beijing’s starfish-shaped airport to its highest skyscraper and the Urban Design Awards in Toronto. Also: a picture of the families who occupied the Parc de la Villette in Paris in August and a return of the Yellow Vests in France for the Acte 45 last Saturday. Our summary of the most important urban news.
Urban development
A look at Beijing’s construction boom
According to a report on the North American news site CNN, Beijing‘s newest airport will be completed in September. The Beijing Daxing International Airport was designed by the late architect Zaha Hadid in cooperation with Chinese partners. The architecture is based on the shape of a starfish and the new airport is located in the south of Beijing. By 2025 it will be able to carry up to 72 million passengers – up as much as Paris Charles de Gaulles airport and two million tons of goods. Started in 2014, the construction’s costs raised to an amount of over 11,5 billion Dollars. The construction of the airport is in line with China’s ambitions to modernize its airports and transport 720 million passengers by 2020.
In addition to this huge construction project, CNN reported on another urban giant rising over Beijing’s urban landscape: the Citic tower, locally known as China Zun tower. The shape of the building is intended to tie in with China‘s past and at the same time stands for the country “striding into a new era“. Financed by the Citics Group, a state-owned company that manages investment funds and owns various subsidiaries in the financial sector, the basic form was developed by the Beijing Institute of Architecture Design with the help of the British architectural firm TFP Farewells, and the final design was realized by Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF). Based on a ceremonial wine vessel that can be traced back to the Bronze Age, it is Beijing’s largest skyscraper with a height of 1.731 foot.
Ceremony for the Urban Design Awards 2019 in Toronto
The online news site Urban Toronto reported on the awarding of the Toronto Urban Design Awards (TUDA) in Canada‘s largest metropolis. The award’s ceremony took place at the Palais Royale, in the presence of Toronto‘s current mayor John Tory. Innovative projects in many areas of architecture were honored. The categories range from art installations in public spaces, which enrich the quality of life of residents, to public buildings or areas and buildings from the private sector. The article is written in English and is accompanied by many images.
Urban space and appropriation
After the occupation of the Parc de la Villette – What happened to the families?
The French news blog BondyBlog accompanied the families after the eviction of the occupation in the Parc de la Villette in the north of Paris. The 28th August, 157 people had been evicted from a section of the park which they had occupied for a week in protest to the degrading conditions of their accommodation and life. In this way one learns more about the composition of the occupiers, including the youngest – 23 days old. In addition, one person had to go to the hospital during the occupation to give birth. The inhumane conditions – some families have been on the streets or in temporary shelters for several months – reinforce the problematic social situation on the ground. Urbanauth had already reported on this in a previous WeeklyUrbanauth edition.
Act 45 – When climate activists and Yellow Vests come together
On the 45th Saturday of the Yellow Vests (Gilets Jaunes) movement on September 21st, there was a “Convergences of fights” as reported by Mediapart (Paywall). The union between the Yellow West and the climate activists took place in a tense atmosphere. In Paris, between 15,000 and 38,000 people took part in the climate demonstration. On the same day, the Gilets also announced Jaunes rallies on the Champs-Elysees, which didn’t occur by day due to the massive intervention of the police. Journalist Clément Lanot reported about clashes and massive use of teargas-grenades in the evening. The television chain BFMTV showed images of tourists, which got exposed to the teargas. A collective called Le nombre Jaune, which counts the number of the participants, announced over 90,000 demonstrators throughout France for this Saturday. With a contingent of about 7,500 police force, the French capital was locked up, while already in the late morning riots broke out. After the excessive use of tear gas and rubber bullets, groups such as Greenpeace and Youth for Climate were forced to break off their demonstration and call into retreat because there was no pacifist way possible. Among other incidents, tear gas was used inside Saint Lazare train station, causing collateral damage to uninvolved passers-by. Burning barricades and rubbish bins led to a tense situation. According to figures from the French government, about 1,000 Black Blocs took part in the demonstrations. The protesters dispersed in many tiny protest marches known as “manifestations sauvages” – unannounced demonstrations which marched into the night for the first time.
The Yellow Vests movement in France was founded in November 2018. Since then, it has been close to various social movements. In addition to Attac’s political activists and the Droit au logement (right to accommodation), climate activists took part in the demonstrations very early on. The fuel tax, which is seen as unfair because it is intended to disadvantage lower-income households more strongly, is part of a context of social justice. Many are aware of climate change. According to sources from Urbanauth, the Yellow Vests exchanged views with other structures critical of capitalism and climate activity during the G7 summit in Biarritz.
Hong Kong and burning barricades
During the 15th protest week of the citizens of the Chinese Special Administrative Region Hong Kong there were riots. In the week’s photo series by the British newspaper The Guardian, burning barricades in front of the Mong Kok police station, tear gas use and police controls are shown. In addition to a demonstration through a shopping centre, damage was caused to railway ticket machines in Sha Tin and an unspecified subway station.
The Europan 15 celebrates its 30th birthday this year. The European competition for innovative spatial development for young architects under the age of forty wants to rethink the city and promote joint approaches to new solutions. Through a network of 250 cities and 20 countries in Europe, space and funds are released each year for innovative projects. This year’s theme:The productive city 2.
With this, Europan repeats the target of the 14th Edition in 2017 and joins the effort to do justice to urban development in its complexity and social significance. The closing date for entries is the 29th of July and will be followed by the publication of the final list of participants.
Achieving harmony between architecture, neighborhoods and the city as a whole. While at the same time conserving resources, is a challenge that architects face. Transition processes are just as important as ecological house building.
Wood as building material is fashionable again. A public building in Saint Ouen (93)
Europe and the productive City – 2
In this context the applicants should think about the synergies between the city and productive places. This may concern as well the development of part-spaces embedded in between the surfaces of living and production and includes residual areas or abandoned urban structures. Also the “Changing Metabolism” will be emphasized. The aim is to establish circulars cycles.
In the sense of a circular economy, resources are to be returned to the cycle through recycling or reprocessing. Existing material is to be used more effectively in the sense of the Sharing Economy. Car-Sharing offers and tool rental services can be cited as concrete examples.
While in the spirit of Open Innovation the development of products opens up to a broader spectrum and involves its users, at the local political level this can strengthen co-determination and cohesion in society with Open Source grassroots democratic citizen platforms such as Decidim in Barcelona.
The relationship between function and use and the city as an ecosystem are part of the social considerations. The interaction of old and new, the citizens and their environment are the focus of Europan. The productive citywants to see itself detached from the dualistic perspective and regards the city of tomorrow as a place of synergies.
Not the Europan but fully in the zeitgeist. Could some projects of the 15th edition look like this?
The productive city : Resources, mobility and equity
Common solutions: The focus is on three main topics. Resources – In the context of efficiency, consumption and pollution, the question is how to deal with them and how to distribute them. To create proximity in the urban space, to reduce distances and barrier-free places of the productive city are the set goals to enable a greater mobility. Equity confronts the problem of how spatial equality can contribute to social justice and how both can be connected. The focus is on the harmony between urban and rural areas, as well as rich and poor.
Europan 2019 joins the progressive search for sustainable space approaches for the 15th time and thinks the city of tomorrow.
Subdividing spaces – With each having its particularity
The areas to be developed are in turn divided into three different space sizes: XL, L, S
The size XL denotes the widest handling space, which can also affect spaces between cities and includes the relationship between urban and rural areas. The relationships between different cycles at the regional and local level are taken into consideration.
The size L concerns urban districts, whereby the thoughts mainly revolve around urban quarters. These are areas that naturally stand out from their surroundings. The micro-level S deals with the interventions that are quickest to implement and also only have a temporary effect.
L’ancienne ville industrielle de Solingen en Allemagne – connue pour la production de lames – a mis à disposition une grande surface pour l’Europan 15.Photographie du terrain à développer (photo : Europan Allemagne)Solingen – Photo aérienne de la zone à développer
EUROPAN 15’s participating cities
“In Central Europe, former industrial cities are popular with Europan participants.”
In France, Marseille is one of the front-runners with its dilapidated quarters. With Romainville and Champigny-sur-Marne two banlieues from the Paris area participate. While the choice of Auby a small town of 7600 inhabitants in the structural weaker north of France, which at the same time is the largest zinc producer in the country, surprises. And also the French-speaking Charlerois in Belgium joins the formerly highly industrialized cities that welcome these spatial developments.
In Germany, in addition to Selb (Upper Franconia), the towns from the Bergisches Land: Hilden, Ratingen, Solingen and Wülfrath participate together to design a “Bergische Siedlung“. Both arable land and old industrial sites will be developed. The special: All sizes of the subdivisions are represented in this project.
Update (18.02.2020, Oliver): The winners among the participants for the German locations can be viewed on the official website. In addition to the names, the boards with detailed development plans are also available there. For the Selb site, the results can be found here and for the Bergische Kooperation site here.
The cooperation “between Rhein and Wupper” emphasizes strongly the move of those cities with formerly strong textile and metal industries. Within the framework of one of their pilot projects, forward-looking neighbourhood developments are being supported. And the selected areas are located in a zone that is being considered for an expansion of public transport.
The European competition for young architects is not without reason a pioneer of new architecture. Thinking about the city of tomorrow. The productive city has thus integrated like no other concept: living and working in a healthy environment. But the choice of locations is also well thought out. By revitalising old industrial sites, real added value is created. Building today the architecture of the future: This is Europan15.
This article got actualized the 18.02.2020 by Oliver / Update This article got atualized the 02.04.2020 by VIncent
Munich. The urban planning for the “Kreativquartier“, an urban and creative neighboorhood is progressing. People want to get hip, live creative… and you have a big housing shortage. Is there a change in sight?
Seen from high above: the area forms the letter L. The area is situated between Dachauerstraße and Infanteriestraße / Munich
For 15 years the idea matured to build a creative district on the former area of the Luitpoldkasernen and its surroundings. This is to consist of four room subdivisions: Creative field, creative laboratory, creative park and creative platform. Seen from the air, the four partial districts form an L. The area extends over approximately 20 hectares – which corresponds to 28 football pitches.
The guiding principle: to combine living, working, culture, art and knowledge.
This Wednesday (22.05.19) another milestone was set: The development plan for the two southern ones of altogether four partial districts was pronounced. For the areas of the future Creative Park as well as the Creative Platform, the next stage is now underway.
It’s not a problem of space. The area is big enough. – It’s a problem of effective housing.
The Kreativ-Platform
While the development plan for the north-eastern creative field has already been in force since 2017 and is intended to create living space for 385 apartments, the creative platform and park with additional living space will follow.
On the ninae-hectare site, 341 apartments are being built by and for the municipal utilities of Munich (SWM) and is part of its “expansion offensive for company apartments”. Within this framework, the municipal utilities intend to build up to 2,500 apartments for their own employees by 2030.
The residential area is planned as a perimeter block development so that there will be space on the ground floor for commercial activities, but as well child care places. The existing listed buildings are to be renovated and in harmony with the new buildings of contemporary architecture.
The decision also allows for a building permit for the extension of the university, while the Faculty of Design is already located at Lothstraße 17. In addition, commercial use is in sight: With the “Munich Urban Colab”, for example, a start-up and innovation centre for Smart City Solutions is to move in and strengthen Munich as an IT location. According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, this is to accommodate more than 250 start-ups and is operated by UnternehmerTUM, which is the start-up centre of the Technical University of Munich.
Still good for a visite: The artsy Halle6.
And what else?
The industrial monuments of Jutier– and Tonnenhalle, two approximately 100 meter long concrete structures from 1926, are to be completely repaired. In addition to the construction of an underground car park, the main aim is to create spaces for and the creation of art. In addition, the city council has commissioned investigations into various interventions about the street Dachauerstraße. The possibility of adding a tram station and rearranging the traffic flow should be investigated. Nonetheless, the urban planning for Munich’s Kreativquartier shall catch our attention in the future.
