Transient Spaces is a curated collection of essays and projects about the impact that mass migration is having on cities around the world. The book examines transience as a force of opportunity and resilience in the design of cities and includes contributions from such notable writers and thinkers as Michael Sorkin and Saskia Sassen. Rahul Mehrotra, Eyal Weizman, and Deen Sharp have reviewed the book and contributed book blurbs.
Transient Spaces is edited by Loukia Tsafoulia, Suzan Wines and Samantha Ong. It is published by the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at The City College of New York, ISBN 978-1-7327395-2-9.
The essays and proposals in this volume explore unconventional opportunities for cities to leverage conditions of impermanence in order to catalyze change, meet the needs of migrant populations, and foster sustainable urban development policies that benefit both host and guest communities more effectively. Mass migration is one of the most important urban issues of the 21st century. Increased border tensions and internal conflicts, compounded by environmental degradation, climate change, economic precariousness and identity anxieties, have created impromptu urban enclaves whose very characters and economies are defined by migration. Continuous flows of people leaving and arriving challenge architects and planners, governments and policy makers to create infrastructural systems and spatial fabric of unparalleled resilience and elasticity.
Transient Spaces is edited by Loukia Tsafoulia, Suzan Wines and Samantha Ong. It is published by the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at The City College of New York, ISBN 978-1-7327395-2-9.
The essays and proposals in this volume explore unconventional opportunities for cities to leverage conditions of impermanence in order to catalyze change, meet the needs of migrant populations, and foster sustainable urban development policies that benefit both host and guest communities more effectively. Mass migration is one of the most important urban issues of the 21st century. Increased border tensions and internal conflicts, compounded by environmental degradation, climate change, economic precariousness and identity anxieties, have created impromptu urban enclaves whose very characters and economies are defined by migration. Continuous flows of people leaving and arriving challenge architects and planners, governments and policy makers to create infrastructural systems and spatial fabric of unparalleled resilience and elasticity.
How do global cities of today cope with populations in continuous flux? What can cities do to leverage the human capital, intellectual potential and entrepreneurial capacity of migrants in order to revitalize local economies and repair their civic, cultural and physical infrastructure The sheer boldness required to undertake and survive such perilous journeys testifies to the courage and initiative that motivates so many migrants.
Transient Spaces is a project of interaction; a provocation to explore soft disciplinary borders and wider fields of knowledge. It is an exhortation to all nations, political leaders, planners, designers, and citizens of the world to open our minds and borders to the potential growth and prosperity that comes from interaction, integration, and innovation made possible by the exchange of ideas, culture, and expertise from beyond borders.
To see our original call for contributions:
Transient Spaces is a project of interaction; a provocation to explore soft disciplinary borders and wider fields of knowledge. It is an exhortation to all nations, political leaders, planners, designers, and citizens of the world to open our minds and borders to the potential growth and prosperity that comes from interaction, integration, and innovation made possible by the exchange of ideas, culture, and expertise from beyond borders.
To see our original call for contributions:
Book Availability and Purchase
For all inquiries on the Transient Spaces book please contact transiencespaces@gmail.com
To purchase a copy please provide us with your mailing address at the email address above.
Book Price: $30+shipping.
Payments are accepted via Paypal
PayPal.Me/transientspace
or Venmo
venmo.com/transientspace
To purchase a copy please provide us with your mailing address at the email address above.
Book Price: $30+shipping.
Payments are accepted via Paypal
PayPal.Me/transientspace
or Venmo
venmo.com/transientspace
Copies of the book are also available at the McNally Jackson Bookstore.
McNally Jackson Bookstore
Nolita
52 Prince Street
New York, NY, 10012
The book is also available online via Amazon for $30+shipping.
McNally Jackson Bookstore
Nolita
52 Prince Street
New York, NY, 10012
The book is also available online via Amazon for $30+shipping.
List of Contributors
Editors
Loukia Tsafoulia
Suzan Wines
Samantha Ong
Assistant Designers
Emir Abdul-Emir
Juan Vallejo
Foreword
Michael Sorkin
Preface
Julio Salcedo-Fernandez
Introduction
Loukia Tsafoulia
Suzan Wines
Authors
Håvard Breivik
Joshua Broomer
Ann Bui
Hasan Cenk-Dereli
Ambra Chiaradia
Kimberly Connerton
Katrina Duran
Miguel Bello Escribano
feminist architecture collaborative
Cody Gatlin
Gruppo Torto
Macaulay Brown Carolina Sartori
Loukia Tsafoulia
Suzan Wines
Samantha Ong
Assistant Designers
Emir Abdul-Emir
Juan Vallejo
Foreword
Michael Sorkin
Preface
Julio Salcedo-Fernandez
Introduction
Loukia Tsafoulia
Suzan Wines
Authors
Håvard Breivik
Joshua Broomer
Ann Bui
Hasan Cenk-Dereli
Ambra Chiaradia
Kimberly Connerton
Katrina Duran
Miguel Bello Escribano
feminist architecture collaborative
Cody Gatlin
Gruppo Torto
Macaulay Brown Carolina Sartori
Marcell Hadju
Melissa Harrison
Ali C. Hocek
Platon Issaias
Theodossis Issaias
Grace Suthata Jiranunturat
David Karle
Eleni Katrini
Joseph Henry Kennedy Jr.
Michail-Karolos Keranis
George Kontaroudis
Kostas Korres
Effie Latifi
Enrique Limon
Emily Liu
Theodoros (Thodoris) Marinis
Sonny Meng Qi Xu
Hyder Mohsin
Ana Morcillo Pallares
Konstantinos Moraitis
Johan Nilsson
Diana Paoluzzi
Sahar Rad
Saskia Sassen
Tone Selmer-Olsen
Stefania Strouza
Caitlin Tangeman
Luis Torres
Hakån Westergren
Benjamin Wells
Marcus Wilford
Melissa Harrison
Ali C. Hocek
Platon Issaias
Theodossis Issaias
Grace Suthata Jiranunturat
David Karle
Eleni Katrini
Joseph Henry Kennedy Jr.
Michail-Karolos Keranis
George Kontaroudis
Kostas Korres
Effie Latifi
Enrique Limon
Emily Liu
Theodoros (Thodoris) Marinis
Sonny Meng Qi Xu
Hyder Mohsin
Ana Morcillo Pallares
Konstantinos Moraitis
Johan Nilsson
Diana Paoluzzi
Sahar Rad
Saskia Sassen
Tone Selmer-Olsen
Stefania Strouza
Caitlin Tangeman
Luis Torres
Hakån Westergren
Benjamin Wells
Marcus Wilford
CHANGING CITIES CONFERENCE (06/2022)
Transient Spaces presented in Corfu, Greece for the CHANGING CITIES V: Spatial, Design, Landscape, Heritage and Socio-Economic Dimensions conference and the main theme was "Making Our Cities Resilient in Times of Pandemics." The Transient Spaces publication was invited by Dr. Prof. Emeritis Konstantinos Moraitis, and was presented in the session: Cities and Geographical Territories of Conflict: The Past, Present, and Future of Political Instability.
For more information on the conference, please visit the link below:
For more information on our session of the conference, please visit:
For more information on the conference, please visit the link below:
For more information on our session of the conference, please visit:
Conference Website image.
UIA2020 RIO (07/18-07/22/21)
Transient Spaces was part of the 27th World Congress of Architects, hosted in Rio de Janeiro. The theme of the conference was "All the Worlds. Just One World. Architecture 21." to highlight the changing role of architecture in the future development of cities featuring work across many discplines throughout the world. After the double blind peer-review process, the publication was selected to be presented digitally under Track 4: Transience and Flows.
The conference was originally scheduled for the summer of 2020 and was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information on the conference and the publication of the proceedings, please visit the link below:
The conference was originally scheduled for the summer of 2020 and was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information on the conference and the publication of the proceedings, please visit the link below:
The postered featured at UIA2020RIO, please click for a larger image.
Panel at CABE, Jefferson University (11/9/20)
Transient Spaces had a digital panel featuring: Sean Anderson, Associate Curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at The Museum of Modern Art, Deen Sharp, LSE Fellow, Geography and the Environment, London School of Economics and Politics Science Deen Sharp, PhD, and the editors Loukia Tsafoulia and Suzan Wines
This panel discussion focused on the themes presented in Transient Spaces book publication and specifically addressed crucial issues of inclusion and exclusion, that architecture and the built environment construct and the need for a major transformation in how we view the phenomenon of mass migration.
For more information and video of the panel discussion, visit the Jefferson University website.
This panel discussion focused on the themes presented in Transient Spaces book publication and specifically addressed crucial issues of inclusion and exclusion, that architecture and the built environment construct and the need for a major transformation in how we view the phenomenon of mass migration.
For more information and video of the panel discussion, visit the Jefferson University website.
Sean Anderson, Associate Curator at MoMA
Deen Sharp, LSE Fellow, Geography and the Environment, London School of Economics & Politics Science
Lecture at SSA, CCNY (10/10/19)
Transient Spaces and the Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York hosted two evenings of discussions around the themes and ideas explored in the book. The events were part of the Sciame Fall 2019 Lecture Series and celebrated the book's publication.
On October 10, 2019, Rahul Mehrotra, architect, urban designer, and professor at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University gave a presentation titled, “Transience Across Scales: Reflections from India.” It was followed by the presentation of Filiep DeCorte, Deputy Director of UN-Habitat’s New York Liaison Office, titled, “Quito Papers: The Science of Urbanization and the Co-Production of the Open City.” The evening led to engaging conversations on redefining citizenship and the classification of cities and ultimately, transiency as an emerging permanent condition.
The night of November 7, 2019 featured the presentations of Saskia Sassen, the Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia University and author of numerous books including Expulsions: Brutality and Complexity in the Global Economy, and of Håvard Breivik, architect, professor at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO) and member of the Norwegian Refugee Council’s emergency standby roster (NORCAP). Sassen’s presentation, “I Dream of Transparent Cities” and Breivik’s, “Public Spaces in Disguise” led to a discussion, moderated by Julio Salcedo-Fernandez about the upcoming economies and development of cities.
The evening of November 7 also culminated in the official book release of Transient Spaces. The event was well-received and attended by students, faculty, and guests in celebration of the work. Everyone was invited to examine the excerpts of the book alongside along light snacks and refreshments.
For more information visit the Spitzer School of Architecture website:
October 10 and November 7
On October 10, 2019, Rahul Mehrotra, architect, urban designer, and professor at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University gave a presentation titled, “Transience Across Scales: Reflections from India.” It was followed by the presentation of Filiep DeCorte, Deputy Director of UN-Habitat’s New York Liaison Office, titled, “Quito Papers: The Science of Urbanization and the Co-Production of the Open City.” The evening led to engaging conversations on redefining citizenship and the classification of cities and ultimately, transiency as an emerging permanent condition.
The night of November 7, 2019 featured the presentations of Saskia Sassen, the Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia University and author of numerous books including Expulsions: Brutality and Complexity in the Global Economy, and of Håvard Breivik, architect, professor at the Oslo School of Architecture and Design (AHO) and member of the Norwegian Refugee Council’s emergency standby roster (NORCAP). Sassen’s presentation, “I Dream of Transparent Cities” and Breivik’s, “Public Spaces in Disguise” led to a discussion, moderated by Julio Salcedo-Fernandez about the upcoming economies and development of cities.
The evening of November 7 also culminated in the official book release of Transient Spaces. The event was well-received and attended by students, faculty, and guests in celebration of the work. Everyone was invited to examine the excerpts of the book alongside along light snacks and refreshments.
For more information visit the Spitzer School of Architecture website:
October 10 and November 7
Book Information
"Transient Spaces is a timely primer that makes vivid the new normal - a state of impermanence and transience that is challenging our agency as architects and urbanists. Through its rigorous survey of the emergent landscapes of transience, the book fills a crucial void of bridging place-based inquiry and theoretical reflections that clarify the potential role of critical design thinking in a landscape of flux."
"Migration needs to be understood not only as the movement of people across borders marked in space but the rapid transformation and division of this underlying space. The rapid transformation of our environment involves in some places the desert ebbing along its threshold and at others being punctured by artificial oases of capital fossilised into massive conglomeration of concrete, steel and glass. Borders rise stretch fragment and move all throughout this elastic space, but function less as physical barriers and more as a political statement saying "no entry”, "you are not wanted". In this evolving situation, how useful is it then to have a book — by architects and others -- that is equally illuminating and offering practical steps forward."
"Migration needs to be understood not only as the movement of people across borders marked in space but the rapid transformation and division of this underlying space. The rapid transformation of our environment involves in some places the desert ebbing along its threshold and at others being punctured by artificial oases of capital fossilised into massive conglomeration of concrete, steel and glass. Borders rise stretch fragment and move all throughout this elastic space, but function less as physical barriers and more as a political statement saying "no entry”, "you are not wanted". In this evolving situation, how useful is it then to have a book — by architects and others -- that is equally illuminating and offering practical steps forward."
"Rather than reproduce yet another set of designs for better shelter in oppressive refugee camps, Transient Spaces, engages the question of displacement, or transience, through a deep historical, geographical, grounded and multidisciplinary framework. This urgent contribution to the politically charged debates around the figure of the refugee, does not shy away from the complex and multifaceted approaches that are required to address the critical questions of belonging and displacement and how to aid some of the most vulnerable communities in the world.
Drawing on case studies from Nebraska to Jakarta, Berlin to Anatolia, Transient Spaces includes not only contributions from architects but also historians, social scientists, practitioners, and artists. From a deep historical analysis of how the “refugee question” has impacted design practice in Greece (and beyond), project proposals for how urban design and planning can be integrated into emergency response in Italy, a “ghost dwelling”, card games, the design for an Emergency Deployment Habitation Unit, and third landscapes, this collection is an innovative and essential contribution to the debate on our contemporary transient world."
Drawing on case studies from Nebraska to Jakarta, Berlin to Anatolia, Transient Spaces includes not only contributions from architects but also historians, social scientists, practitioners, and artists. From a deep historical analysis of how the “refugee question” has impacted design practice in Greece (and beyond), project proposals for how urban design and planning can be integrated into emergency response in Italy, a “ghost dwelling”, card games, the design for an Emergency Deployment Habitation Unit, and third landscapes, this collection is an innovative and essential contribution to the debate on our contemporary transient world."
