2005 QUICKSPACE / SLOWTIME

At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, mechanization firmly took control. The world was forever changed, and with it, our experience of space and of time altered irrevocably. Manual labour was too slow: so, let it die! Machines emancipated man, and hurled him into new frontiers of speed, combustion engines, exhaust pipes and the dictate of bomber jets. And where would all of this riotousness and restlessness take place? Undoubtedly: the Modern City. Today, at the dawn of the 21st century, is “the need for speed” embarrassingly outdated? In the desperate lunge to become all efficient, frictionless and fast, cities have, paradoxically, slowed down. Why own a car in 2005 London if the average speed in the city-centre is 10 miles per hour. That’s slower than a 19th century horse and cart.  The Summer School design studios this year will explore, critique and manifest this push and pull between speed and slowness in the city of London. Quickspace / Slowtime will offer a variety of approaches focusing upon the architectural, cultural, technological and lifestyle issues affecting the metabolism of the city. Has our thirst to shorten the time between people and places – symbolized by faster airplanes and faster internet connections – generated a slower experience of reality? Why do escapist desires to slow down and drop out completely seem more popular than ever before? Quickspace / Slowtime aims to confront these questions through intensive group research and design-led projects..

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