Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Research Lab Next Door, part 3

Research Lab Next Door, part 3.
Text Oscar de Bakker en Cindy Meeldijk

Measuring is knowing

The next step in the development of a own way of measuring and registration of the public space of the Schilderswijk: ‘‘ What is a measuring device? And, more important, how do you design it and what will it communicate?’’ The students of the research lab have tried to answer these questions in the past weeks by analyzing physical measuring devices and different professional and non-professional instruction manuals (physical or audiovisual).

These days online instruction movies are our new manuals. Where in the past we asked our family, friends our helpful neighbors how stuff had to be done. We now check Youtube or Vimeo, when we whant to know how to fix a flat tire or do our makeup. This inspired us to present our measuring devices/methods in short instruction movies. This week there will be a test day, where we can see if our ideas work. And work towards an interesting, spectacular or funny end result.

Cooking with the Dog | Markus Kayser - Solar Sinter Project | How to peel a banana



Project description: Oscar de Bakker ‘Obstacle Landscape’

Oscar de Bakker is researching the obstacles in the public space. By isolating the obstacles from their surroundings he creates an image wherein all ‘bollards, streetlights, traffic signs and other objects demand their own space in the street.

Last week Ruud Ridderhof visited DRS22. On behalf of the city of The Hague he’s responsible for the organization of the public space. He first was shocked by Oscars images but that didn’t keep him from sharing his knowledge on how the decisions on placing these items takes place. A lot of these “obstacles” are placed to generate certain behavior, in turns out. But be honest, how effective is a traffic sign that says that parking is forbidden when it has to be accompanied by rows of ‘amsterdammertjes’? And could it be that these mostly non-sensible looking objects have other hidden or unintentional functions?



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