> Do It Together.
Self-building System of Cardboard Masonry and
Velcro
Matadero,
Centre for Contemporary Creation
Madrid, Spain
2013
“Do
It Together”
is a self-building system of cardboard masonry and Velcro. We
utilise cardboard that is made from recycled materials and is also recyclable.
This system is designed to be flexible and reversible, which expands its
potential applications. We originally designed it for the resident artist
communities at the Matadero Cultural Centre in Madrid during 2013 and 2014.
Subsequently, we have used the system in other projects, and it has also been
used by other colleagues. With this system you can create a variety of
structures, including partitions of different shapes and sizes, shelves,
tables, seating and even small bleachers.
On the
one hand, we are interested in exploring self-construction insofar as it is a
direct form of community empowerment over the space that is inhabited. We are
also interested in its capacity to build community, in material as well as
immaterial terms. For instance, community is built from the affect, emotions
and ideas that are formed when making decisions about the space, and even when
collaborating on seemingly mundane tasks like cutting and attaching Velcro
pieces.
On the
other hand, it is important for us to conduct a critical review of
self-construction. Often, so-called participatory and self-construction
architecture does not comply with health and safety protocols. Similarly, much
like the field of architecture in general, this approach often limits
participation in construction to certain individuals, specifically
“able”
and hegemonic bodies. Here, we aimed to create a system that
generates architectures that are not only environmentally friendly and
adaptable, but also lightweight and safe to be appropriated by different bodies
which are not necessarily normative. For us, they remind us of the need to
create new architectural structures that are designed specifically for Other
bodily experiences.
