Journals
In a series of journals, the topic of HABITAT, living spaces at the intersection of culture, architecture and climate, will be researched and analysed from various perspectives and experienced on site with all the senses. The project was made possible thanks to the financial support of Baden-Württemberg Stiftung as part of the Baden-Württemberg-STIPENDIUM programme for universities students – a big thank you on behalf of everyone involved.
Prof. Myriam Gautschi
(gautschi@htwg-konstanz.de)
winter & summer term 2024 & 2025
The newspaper follows a simple yet playful mechanic: it begins as a compact A4 sheet. The first fold opens it to A3 – a new layer becomes visible, a gentle shift in perspective. Unfold it once more and it turns into a large A2 poster. This act of turning, unfolding and expanding mirrors the project’s focus on shifting viewpoints and invites readers to reconsider connections and discover new parallels.
Journal #0: REPHRASING THE HIDDEN
Journal #1: LEARNING FROM AMAZONIA
Journal #0: REPHRASING THE HIDDEN
Pile dwellings are among the earliest examples of climate-adapted building. Across Europe, archaeological finds show how elevated structures responded to flooding, humidity and temperature — knowledge that remains relevant today. In the 20th century, this traditional form quietly shaped modern architecture: Le Corbusier adopted the principle of building on piles for his ‘Five Points’, later reinterpreted by Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa in the tropical context of Brazil.
Revisiting this heritage — from European lake settlements to the casas ribeirinhas along the Amazon — opens new perspectives for contemporary challenges. Elevated construction can protect against flooding, improve natural ventilation and create social transition spaces. This study builds, among others, on the research of Adolf Max Vogt, who traced the link between Le Corbusier’s ideas and historical pile dwellings.
Journal #1: LEARNING FROM AMAZONIA
Pile dwellings are among the earliest examples of climate-adapted building. Across Europe, archaeological finds show how elevated structures responded to flooding, humidity and temperature — knowledge that remains relevant today. In the 20th century, this traditional form quietly shaped modern architecture: Le Corbusier adopted the principle of building on piles for his ‘Five Points’, later reinterpreted by Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa in the tropical context of Brazil.
Revisiting this heritage — from European lake settlements to the casas ribeirinhas along the Amazon — opens new perspectives for contemporary challenges. Elevated construction can protect against flooding, improve natural ventilation and create social transition spaces. This study builds, among others, on the research of Adolf Max Vogt, who traced the link between Le Corbusier’s ideas and historical pile dwellings.
Journal #2: VILA DOS RODRIGUES
Pile dwellings are among the earliest examples of climate-adapted building. Across Europe, archaeological finds show how elevated structures responded to flooding, humidity and temperature — knowledge that remains relevant today. In the 20th century, this traditional form quietly shaped modern architecture: Le Corbusier adopted the principle of building on piles for his ‘Five Points’, later reinterpreted by Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa in the tropical context of Brazil.
Revisiting this heritage — from European lake settlements to the casas ribeirinhas along the Amazon — opens new perspectives for contemporary challenges. Elevated construction can protect against flooding, improve natural ventilation and create social transition spaces. This study builds, among others, on the research of Adolf Max Vogt, who traced the link between Le Corbusier’s ideas and historical pile dwellings.
Journal #4: INHABITING THE RAINFOREST
Pile dwellings are among the earliest examples of climate-adapted building. Across Europe, archaeological finds show how elevated structures responded to flooding, humidity and temperature — knowledge that remains relevant today. In the 20th century, this traditional form quietly shaped modern architecture: Le Corbusier adopted the principle of building on piles for his ‘Five Points’, later reinterpreted by Oscar Niemeyer and Lúcio Costa in the tropical context of Brazil.
Revisiting this heritage — from European lake settlements to the casas ribeirinhas along the Amazon — opens new perspectives for contemporary challenges. Elevated construction can protect against flooding, improve natural ventilation and create social transition spaces. This study builds, among others, on the research of Adolf Max Vogt, who traced the link between Le Corbusier’s ideas and historical pile dwellings.
