Hidden Munich
Following the successful research programmes The Munich Plan and Building Register culminating in the publication From the Room to the City, Munich, Urbanity and Complexity (Park Books 2023) the studio’s investigation into the character of the City continues through the frame of Hidden Munich.
Like other European capitals Munich has been the subject of major infrastructural change either by design or by war, been subject to overarching masterplans of visionaries (which are often only partially realized) and has evolved over time with half-finished dreams, pragmatically led transport plans and many small-scale interventions within its street and block structure. It is a city in a constant state of evolution and change and beautiful in its incompleteness and improvisation.
Hidden Munich explores the background spaces and systems that create both memorable episodes within the city and provide the vital infrastructure ensuring its operation. The research regards the ‘multitude of minor miracles’ -not usually forming the shopfront of any city- as precious and worthy of attention. Through a variety of media techniques including large-scale models, map and plan making, films and photography the character of the city is revealed in all its incidents, accidents, pretensions and intentions.
Each seminar can be seen as a stand-alone study, or inter-related towards a common Purpose to uncover hidden qualities and riches that lie behind or under the surface of the city.
