In conjunction with the exhibition The Other Architect, Todd Rouhe and Rachel Himmelfarb of common room present the group’s collaborative working process:

“This question—what’s the problem?—is central to how common room works. The question defines a process of searching, experiencing, interacting, and communicating that not only informs how we understand architecture and approach projects but also how we work (together).

The problem is that most often, collaboration is used as a synonym for cooperation. Our collaboration is not very cooperative. common room’s process of collaboration is a complex reality, not a romantic notion of “common ground.” This is represented in our projects, and it is part of the process of how we produce. Because in the end the process defines the problem.”

common room is an architectural practice with a publishing imprint and an exhibition space. It is collaborative platform based in New York City, Brussels, and Zurich. common room is comprised of architects Lars Fischer, Maria Ibañez, and Todd Rouhe; Rachel Himmelfarb; architectural researcher Kim Förster; and graphic designer Geoff Han.