Our cities are dense with material constructions, but also dense with tacit knowledge, memories, and visions, all of which are embodied in its physical stratification as much as in the gestures and practices it shapes and holds. Our ability to adapt and inform the city to current ecological and socioeconomical challenges depends on material and immaterial resources that surround it, support it and enter into resonance with it. As humans, our capacity to imagine is increased tenfold by the engagement of external resources, from the surrounding environment to interactions with our neighbours, or any tools we use in our daily lives. In this context, landscape, as an embodied arrangement of matter and uses and an ever more complex entanglement of ecology and culture, can function as scaffolding to support the cohabitation of new urban experiences.
Landscape allows us to work with socioecological systems’ disposition for change, their capacities to react and transform, to absorb foreign elements and energies and transform them while transforming themselves. Disposition for change implies attention to the undercurrent of living motion where the potential for the different and the new emerges. We speak of an extended notion of life that goes beyond the organic. We consider the city as an evolving entanglement of relations, beings, social structures, cultural movements and historical, biological and geological trajectories, all inclining us to propose an understanding of an extended metabolism as a tool to articulate and foster change in a balanced and inclusive manner. The molecular and material motions threading these dynamics remain mostly invisible, ungraspable and unmeasurable, but are nonetheless effective, a determining force transforming the life of our cities, the planet and ourselves along with it.
Motions shaping the city landscapes needs to be articulated and prepared, not simply channeled or leveraged. This brings to the fore the infrastructural or mediating quality of our interventions. Preparing the landscape as support requires an analysis of the given, not only in its present state but as a field of potentialities with diverse tendencies, agencies, and dispositions. This spatiotemporal work implies the threading of different materialities, temporalities, frequencies and rhythms, as well as the echoes, interferences, and (im)balances between them. Facing the immeasurable quality of the notion of an extended metabolism and as we set the grounds for the negotiation of new accords and common futures, we are urged to develop encompassing strategies, concepts and tools to avoid the blind-spots of reductive classifications of the natural, the social, or the architectural. An open-ended, modular, and adaptive approach emerges, capable of incorporating new actors, temporalities and layers. Informed by a principle of parallel infrastructural interventions, this approach is capable of responding to the plurality and richness of the dynamic spatiotemporal fabric. The challenges of a region like Greater Geneva go far beyond the scope of a single project or a single profession. Various forms of interventions acting in parallel, ranging from architecture to socio-economic or agricultural, can reinforce and respond to each other, ensuring the emergence of an open, productive and affective continuum without imposing the constraints of a singular system that would stifle change and innovation.
The structures, tools, systems and strategies we are proposing operate at a diagrammatic level, both as gaps for the unexpected and devices for articulating the possible. In view of a principle of connectivity and aiming at the creation of new material, symbolic and affective continuums, a series of spatialized vectors and orientations is proposed. These vectors function as filters, opening up certain possibilities while holding back others, and allowing multiple figures and configurations to emerge. With this multiplicity we aim at spatial coherence while maintaining the necessary openness of development to ensure technical appropriateness as well as democratic transparency and participation throughout the process.
In this conceptual framework, the drawing becomes a common ground. It situates us together, all the agents, dynamics and possibilities. Paradoxically, we have come to realize that the more precise a drawing is, the better it can articulate the fuzziness of the possible, and set its vectors and orientations in motion. Furthermore, the drawing becomes a tool for the collective authorship required by the entanglement of all those processes shaping the city. It becomes an assembly of its multiplicity.
The common ground offered by the drawing echoes and enacts the ones shaped by the living networks of the city, becoming their proxy. In turn, the built reality of the city comes to echo the propositions imagined through drawing. Drawing upon this commonality (of drawing and life), ALICE has articulated a series of pedagogical, research and design projects that range from multimodal landscape infrastructures to 1:1 built interventions distributed throughout the territory. Bringing together the work of researchers, teachers, citizens, politicians and more than 200 students in a transcalar collective vision for the ecological transition of greater Geneva.
ALICE TEAM
Abenia Tiphaine, Agustoni Emmanuelle, Ammeter Emma, Andreotti
Quentin, Bagaini Théo, Baur Raffael, Baur Raffael, Blanc Arthur, Bondu
Maxime, Castella Paul, Cheung Teresa, Claessens-Vallet Camille, Clément
Augustin, Dietz Dieter, Dupuis Aurélie, Fauvel Camille, Gasser Gilles,
Girardet Noémie, Gomez Román, Grosset Sébastien, Guaita Patricia,
Haraldsted Marianna, Heil Julien, Iweins Antoine, Jalon Oyarzun Lucía,
Labro Clarisse, Lafontaine Julien, Larcelet Emma, Lefevre Zoé, Legros
Romain, Logoz Claire, Mack Antonin, Makhlouf Nagy, Maréchal Victor,
Marzoli Bastian, Mompean, Botias Estefania, Mützenberg Aloys,
Negueruela Dario, Niederhauser Noemi, Onifadé Malcolm, Potterat
Manuel, Pretolani Mattia, Prin Justine, Pulfer Auréle, Ruiz Jaime, Treiber
Myriam, Uhlmann Lucas, Valdez Rubén, Wegman Uri, Zamarbide Daniel
et Zurbriggen Noémie.
STUDENTS
Acquadro Jamie Carine, Adu Darko Joshua, Alhadeff Myriam, Amez-Droz Antoine, Antonelli Timothé, Antonietti Naïla Audrey, Asoanya Jovita, Aymon Zoé Cécile, Aznavourian Lou Maria, Bai Alexandre, Baldy-Moulinier Louis Reto Marie, Barth Mathilde Philomène, Béboux Benjamin Marc, Beka Idriz, Belov Vladislav, Bizzini Vincent, Blanc Ludovic Noah, Blanc Maxime, Boulnoix Loïse Eva, Bron Julie, Brütsch Thomas, Burion Lola, Butty Eric Laurent, Campmas Paul Antoine Daniel Albert, Carollo Léa, Carroz Sarah Marie Clémence, Castella Laurie, Castellón Arévalo Pablo Andrés, Cattaneo Béatrice Claire Maria, Cazenave Cloutier Maïna, Champaud Luke Benjamin Jacques, Chappuis Louise, Chatelain Florine Marguerite, Choné Aude Veïa Accueillie, Ciompi Simon Matéo, Clavien Nieves, Cleusix Raphaël Jean, Coelho Alves Pedro Gabriel, Collet Alex Mike, Compagnon Anna, Coppey Aurane Aline, Couto Vina Leslie, Covantes Manuel Bernardo, Crausaz Rémi, Crettex Valentine, Crisinel Paul, Dam Wan Delphine Van-Nhi, Davel Quentin, De Montgolfier Alexia
Marie Jeanne, Debrom Gebremedhin Firuz, Decalf Lucía Beatriz,
Desalbres Joséphine Henriette Geneviève Marie, Desprez Amaury Robert
Jacques, Druey Joanna, Ducos Agathe Lou, Ducotterd Franck, Duyck Leo
Laurent Marie, échelle de conversion , Egger Valentin Lucien, El Graoui
Mohamed Hamza, Elben Jonas, Essaoudi Aya, Farine Auriane, Fatah
Helay, Favre Julie Luna Chloé, Favre Nils, Fontanella Enzo Pier Luigi,
Forestier Cyril Makoto, Fornier Pâris, Français Nicolas, Friedli Eddy, Gal
Solène Sophie, Galantay Agnes Laetitia, Garcia-Bellido Ruiz Juan, Gaumet
Selma Priscilla, Gazzola Laura, Genecand Lydia, Ghezzi Martina Carmen
Fiorella, Gigon Arthur, Gilot Nils Joseph L, Gisiger Marion, Go Daniel
Da-Lei, Goehry Noémie Lydie, Gomes Da Costa Jota Thaìs, Gonzalez
Rodriguez Alejandra Isabel, Grandjean Patrick Claude, Guigues Nora
Fanny, Guillouzic Noémie Maude Angelina, Gujan Philomena, Gysir Diga
Aaizalnuba, Haefeli Boris Cédric, Hajoubi Yousra, Hammoud Farah,
Hansra Sartorius Raúl Ranjit Singh, Hasler Valentin, Haziri Ardian,
Hermann Anya Yasmina, Herzig Grégoire Alfred Brian, Hölzl Magali Nour,
Hoti Arta, Huehn Vincent, Hugues Charline, Huyag Tuya, Ilieva Elitsa
Kostova, Isoz Cindy, Ito Miyabi, Jacome Alban Melanny Andreyna, Jacot
Benjamin, Jeanfavre Nathan, Jelk Marie Gwen Gaïa, Kaidi Sofiane,
Kalmus Christian Kacper, Karara Aris Amon, Käser Moritz Lukas, Kempf
Lilou Marie, Khashan Sahra, Kir Semira Blanda, Kleyr Victor Hugo
Joseph, Kölbl Ayla Eva Sophia, Kpuzi Emmanuel, Kublová Tereza, Kundert
Océane Leeloo, Laffray Nino Pierre Antoine, Lambert Amélie Caroline,
Landon Ysaure Marie Donine, Lassus Ambre Nicole Maryvonne, Le Hir
Hélène Louise Agnès, Lekaj Alisa, Lemmens Johan, Lemoisson Edouard
Jean Samuel, Leresche Quentin Yves, Lesbros Morgane, Lesoille Noé
Claude Yvon, Li Chengwei, Lihatchi Alexandru, Liu Simon Cheng-En, Lolev
Lora Viktor, Lorenzo Esteban, Lorenzo Fabbri, Lovey Marco Philippe,
Lucas Gustav Patrice Jacques Marie, Ludwig Emeline Christiane Marlyse,
Lüthy Arthur Benjamin, Maendly Antoine, Maerean Anna, Maes Fabien
Leman Gaston, Magnaguémabé Ongbakelak Alix Diane, Maillard Valérie
Anne, Marin Aimeric Gérald Wladimir, Martini Gregory Marco Louis,
Mazerand Eugènie Perrine, Mazotti Michael, Meilhat Emma Lucille, Melly
Mathilde, Mentes Alara, Michoud Darius, Mikael Naomi, Milanovic Nikola,
Minarro Laura, Mocaër Marie Laura, Moeschler Léonard Emile, Mokssit
Kawtar, Mortier Claire , Mouine Nadège Geneviève Nadia, Mundinger Loïc,
Mustapha Zineb, Natale Fabio, Nicod Julien, Orakwe Linda Aline Tobechi,
Palma Villagra Lùan Marin, Passeraub Joachim Lucas, Pax Laura
Stéphanie, Pearson Tiger Christopher Henry, Pellin Romain, Pereira
Correia Débora, Perrin Juliette Isabelle, Perron Clément Mathieu, Pesch
Daniela Sandra Andrea, Philipona Mylène Annie Marie, Pilloud Lucas,
Pinto De Carvalho Ernesto Manuel, Ponsar Chloé Marie Adèle, Potapushin
Alexei, Rabiller Benjamin Pascal Jean-Philippe, Rakoczy Margaux
Laetitia, Ramiqi Leonita, Raugel Jade Qiaoyun, Reis Nora, Renaudineau
Elisa Christiane, Reol Maxime Jaques, Richir Manon Flore, Rieder Emilie,
Rigby Joshua, Rivier Grégoire Alain, Roserens David, Rossillon Camille,
Rova Reiz Olivia Fredrika, Ruta Marta, Sait Edona, Salimi Sara, Sanchez
Garralon Moises, Saunders-Nazareth Kemmett Malaya, Schaffner Paul
Armen, Scholliers Adrien Antonio, Sebastian Yoann, Seiler Leo, Seitenfus
Roman Tristan, Sellam Nathan Isaac, Siragusa Victoria, Sistek Matthieu
Joseph, Sommer Milena Kristin, Stampbach Célimène Zoé, Steyaert
Jérémy, Tarbush Salma Tala, Tat Mathilde Sokvanna, Thévoz Justine
Emma, Thierry-Nánási Amandine Maria Pierrette, Traverso Matteo
Ernesto, Treyer Gabriel Paul, Turelli Nikita, Ugnivenko Doris Marie-Noëlle,
Ujupi Andra, Vaudaux Clara Margaux Lisa, Verbois Sibylle Elisabeth
Mathilde Marie, Vinet Clara Mei, Von Der Weid Adrien François Nicolas,
Walther Timo Philippe, Wanner Nathan, Weber Dominic Thomas Simon,
Wegmüller Sébastien, Williams Roffe Arla Ana et Znaidi Hiba.