THE BRIEF

Putting Architecture in its Place is a CCA Day Camp dedicated to talking, discussing, writing and publishing critical thoughts and observations about architecture.

During this workshop we will look at how the architecture critic is at the same time an advocate for a discipline or profession, but also an urban and social activist. This means his/her mission should be not just to foster recognition for architecture, but also understand where urban or human needs end and “architect ego” begins (and vice-versa).

To find out, we will consider the many sides an architecture story can enclose: from the architects who design buildings and other built structures to the people who commission, regulate, build, maintain and ultimately live in and around them.

Taking the city of Montréal as our working ground and inspiration, we will explore the challenges and obstacles architecture critics must face, as well as the strategies, tactics and tools they use to tackle them.

After we come in contact with architecture in the city and in the different media it appears before us, we will comment on it, turn it upside down, tear it apart. We’ll pick up details—be it a window, a rendering or a comma—but also step back and look at the bigger picture.
We will not only address the “high issues” of architecture, but look at how this is a subject that can, and should, be talked about by everyone.

—

To be as much hands-on and out in the city as possible, we have, together with the CCA’s team worked the workshop’s five days into different segments, each of which will deal with a particular aspect of architecture criticism.

Looking at the Media
We’ll share writing samples, videos and images from different media sources to discuss how journalists and critics talk about architecture. What issues do they address? What should they have addressed? What are the differences in tone, depth and authority in opinion from media to media? How can writing (or talking, or make a film, or make a photo essay) about architecture differ from a personal blog to a local newspaper, a “trade” magazine or an international TV channel?

Experiencing Architecture through Photography
By looking at photographs from the CCA’s collection, what problems/issues arise when buildings can only be experienced through reproduced images? How does photography influence the way we look at our built environment?

What do people think?
We’ll go out on the street and ask passers-by about architecture. We’ll ask questions like: What’s your favorite and least-loved building in Montreal? And in the world? Who’s your favorite architect? Why? Can you name an architect, even? Is there anything in Montreal that’s missing?

What does the architects think?
We’ll meet with a local architect (thank you Eric Gauthier!) and ask him what is it like to be an architect in Montreal, today.

What do the authorities think?
We’ll talk with officials at Design Montréal (thank you Stéphani and have their views on current architectural developments, as well as know more about their efforts to push for a higher architecture standard in the city.

Site Visits
During one of the week’s mornings we will split in groups and visit buildings and spaces in Montreal on which we’ll be working on.

—

Each participant will address his or her subject under a specific editorial team role:

Photographers will produce slideshows with extended captions, photo galleries, images for other editorial team member articles;

Video journalists will film Vox populi interviews, first-person commentary or walk-through site visits;

Op-ed writers will write authoritative, researched op-ed pieces that deal with bigger issues surrounding an architecture project, such as a controversy or a comparison between buildings;

Interviewers will conduct Vox populi interviews or interview a specific person, such as the architect we’ll meet during the camp;

Reviewers will write reviews of a building or built environment, an urban public space or an exhibition;

CCA Reporters will work on “CCA Beat”, a report on CCA activities, mission or collection; a profile of a curator or scholar;

Researchers will support other editorial team members with their articles;

Architectural Reporters will cover new architecture outside of Montreal, providing news from outside the city and working from photos or renderings.

—

Following on our street explorations and in-group discussions, we will turn the Shaughnessy House into the Day Camp’s newsroom. From here we will work on our ultimate goal: a collective online publication.

This publication, a microsite hosted within the CCA’s main website, will bring together your texts, images and videos. By the Camp’s last day, each team member will have been able to, individually or in a group, create and publish his or her views on architecture. In other words, to put architecture in its place.

—

Becky Quintal + Frederico Duarte