[spectre] Media architecture designs the space

[Ieva Auzina]

INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTS AND ARTISTS WORKSHOP -
DESIGNING RIXC MEDIA SPACE
March 11=9615, 2002 in Riga, Latvia, organized by The Center for New Medi=
a=20
culture RIXC in Riga.
http://rixc.lv (since 11th of March, 2002)

During March 11=9615, 2002 an international group of architects from Hels=
inki,=20
Tokyo/Rotterdam, Budapest/London and Copenhagen together with young archi=
tects=20
from Riga will work on innovative design concept and schematic developmen=
t=20
of =93RIXC Media Space=94 =96 open public space for media culture activit=
ies in the=20
city of Riga.

> media architecture designs the space=85

Urban environment adjusts itself in accordance of demanding info-economy=20
through communication technologies... City turns into cross-linked labyri=
nth of=20
transitions with lounging portals, where happens border flux of labor and=
=20
entertainment, public and private... Dominating is dictatorship of econom=
y of=20
flows, ever-changing sense and meaning alteration of immaterial...
New media culture is our attempt to provide alternative aware by reconstr=
ucting=20
logic of flows... Social dynamics of virtual networks applied to physical=
=20
conditions over again facilitates expansion of public space...=20
During sequential transformation of the Media space, the process of itsel=
f=20
becomes a platform for artistic, conceptual and communicative collaborati=
on,=20
where representatives of interdisciplinary fields - artists, designers,=20
architects, technicians, scientists contribute in joint effort...
Let this space to be our different languages common contemporary metaphor=
...

> location =20

RIXC Media Space will be located in 11. Novembra Krastmala 35, next to th=
e=20
building of Artists=92 Union of Latvia, in old city of Riga, right by the=
 river=20
Daugava. The space is former 110 m=B2 sculptor studio. (some pics of the =
space:=20
http://re-lab.net/rasa/rixc)
RIXC Media Space intends to become a meeting place for different types of=
=20
culture. This location is also chosen in order to connect traditional art=
 areas=20
with new media culture activities, and to bridge the traditional gap=20
between 'high' and popular culture and the divisions between various yout=
h, sub-
 and minority cultures.

> development=20

The building needs serious reconstruction (incl. fortification of foundat=
ions)=20
and it might take couple years while it's finished. Therefore the process=
 of=20
reconstruction itself will be seen as creative art (plat)form. In the var=
ious=20
stages of building, in-, within- and around- of this space various activi=
ties,=20
workshops, performances will be organized and experimental art projects d=
ealing=20
with real and virtual spaces, will be developed and produced.

International architect's workshop is the first step towards further=20
development of the RIXC Media physical space, which will contribute for b=
oth -=20
visualization of the future space and developing the context for prospect=
ive=20
activities within it.

> program

During the workshop, RIXC will organize different related activities:

MONDAY, March 11
20.00 - presentation of newly reconstructed RIXC portal (http://rixc.lv) =
and=20
presentations by participants at the multimedia center MA1Z3=20
(http://ma1z3.com), DJ's and live jam session

TUESDAY, March 12
20.00 - discussion at net. radio OZONE on "Post-modern urban geographies =
and=20
public spaces" together with participants and representatives from Riga C=
ity=20
Council (http://ozone.re-lab.net/live.ram)=20

FRIDAY, March 15
16.00 - visual presentation of workshop results and screening of video=20
documentation will take place in RIXC Media Space future physical premise=
s =96=20
former sculptor studio of Artists House, 11.Novembra Krastmala 35.

> participants:

Tuomas Toivonen (Finland) <tuomas@aula.cc> - architect, journalist, music=
ian=20
from Helsinki, co-initiator and international co-cordinator  of the sympo=
sium
Bjarke Ingels (Denmark) <bjarke@plot.dk> - architect, co-founder of PLOT =
in=20
Copenhagen
Laszlo Fecske (Hungary/UK) <laszlo_fecske@yahoo.com> - architect, free=20
consultant at PLOT (Copenhagen) and OMA (Rotterdam), currently studies at=
 London
Shohei Shigematsu (Japan/Netherlands) <shoheis@hotmail.com> - architect,=20
currently working at Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in Rotter=
dam
Ivars Shmits (Latvia) <shmita_kungs@hotmail.com> - architect, studied at =
Riga=20
Technical University, Department of Architecture, and Bremen Architecture=
=20
University in Germany
Mariina Gavrjutina (Latvia) <marina_in_europe@hotmail.com> - architect, s=
tudied=20
at Riga Technical University, Department of Architecture and at Milano=20
Politechnical University in Italy
Maksims Shentelevs (Latvia) <maxis@nams.arch.lv> - architect, currently=20
studying MA at Riga Technical University, Department of Architecture=20
Mikelis Putrams (Latvia) <mikelis_putrams@one.lv> - Currently studying at=
 Riga=20
Technical University, Department of Architecture=20

> remote participants (on-line):
Mr.Snow (Australia) <mr.snow@laudanum.net> - interface designer and media=
=20
artist from Sidney
Luke Jerram (UK) <luke@jerram.swinternet.co.uk> - artist, based in Bristo=
l,=20
works in cross disciplinary field, successfully fusing aesthetics, scienc=
e and=20
technology.
Janis Garancs (Latvia/Germany) <jg@x-i.nu> - artist and "architect" of vi=
rtual=20
reality and networked databases=20
and others (now and later)

> artists from Riga:
Raitis Smits (Latvia) <raitis@re-lab.net> - media artist, co-founder of E=
-LAB,=20
net.radio OZONE and Xchange network (http://re-lab.net)
Girts Korps (Latvia) <korps@nordik.lv> - digital media artist, founder of=
=20
SEMEMA, developing symposium web page (http://semema.org)
Carl Bjorsmark (Latvia) <loco@parks.lv> - filmmaker, photo and video arti=
st, co-
founder of K@2 - informational and cultural public space in Liepaja, Karo=
sta,=20
will contribute with video documentation of the symposium (http://karosta=
.org),=20
(http://borderland.tv)

> organisers and coordinators:
Rasa Smite (Latvia) <rasa@re-lab.net> - media artist & activist, co-found=
er of=20
E-LAB, program director at RIXC, coordinator of the symposium (Mob.: +371=
-
6546776)
Ieva Auzina (Latvia) <ieva@re-lab.net> - art scientist, curator, project=20
coordinator at RIXC, press coordinator of the symposium (Phone: +371-7228=
478)
Signe Pucena (Latvia) <signe@re-lab.net> - manager of RIXC, coordinator o=
f the=20
symposium (Phone: +371-7228478)

> Support:

Workshop is supported by Riga City Council, Latvian Cultural Capital=20
Foundation, DATI Komerccentrs, Nordic Council of Ministers Information Of=
fice=20
in Riga, development of RIXC media lab and Acoustic Space Research progra=
mm -=20
by Daniel Langlois Foundation and Prince Bernhard Foundation.