Fragile Bodies
The recognition of the fragile body in the city:
an interdisciplinary perspective on European fundamental values
The Fondation Braillard Architectes, in partnership with the Institute of Sociological Research at the University of Geneva, is offering a series of workshops built around democratic experiences of including the human body, with its fragilities, in the urban realm and in the shaping of public policy. These interdisciplinary exchanges will form a shared orientation and body of groundwork at the crossroads of anthropology, urban sociology, history, political science and architecture. Each workshop will follow a different teaching approach and will take place at venues selected by the participating universities. Each session can also be joined online upon registration.
As part of the 4EU+ Programme, Europeanness: multilingualism, pluralities, citizenship, a series of workshops on the theme “The fragile body in the city” will be held, organised by the Institute of Sociological Research (Fiorenza Gamba, Nikolena Nocheva, Sandro Cattacin) in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen (Henriette Steiner, Mark Vacher, Kristin Veel), Charles University in Prague (Tomáš Karásek,) and the Fondation Braillard Architectes Geneva (Panos Mantziaras, Hélène Gallezot).
Preliminary programme
26 November 2024 | 17:00–19:00
Workshop 1: The fragile body in architecture
Organised by the University of Geneva, Sandro Cattacin, Fiorenza Gamba, Nikolena Nocheva and the project’s 4EU+ partners: Henriette Steiner (University of Copenhagen), Mark Vacher (University of Copenhagen) Tomàš Karásek (Charles University).
Speakers: Cristina Bianchetti (Politecnico di Torino), Paolo Fusi (HafenCity University – Hamburg)
Speakers: Panos Mantzarias (Fondation Braillard Architectes), Francesco Della Casa (Canton of Geneva)
How might architects design the city for the fragile body? This question lies at the heart of the first dialogue of our 4EU+ European University Alliance project “The recognition of the fragile body in the city: an interdisciplinary perspective on European fundamental values”. Two architects will open the discussion on “the fragile body in architecture”.
On the one hand, Cristina Bianchetti, professor of urban planning at the Politecnico di Torino, focuses on the contemporary critique of urban design. Her work on the relationship between space and bodies makes it possible to concentrate on how bodies are arranged. Her view of the body as an intermediary between space and the person leads her to bring the sharing of experiences in housing, in the use of public space and in everyday encounters to the forefront of architectural intervention.
On the other hand, Paolo Fusi, professor of urban planning at HafenCity University Hamburg, seeks to introduce the theme of multiplicity into both the (historically established) design and the use of the same spaces. Cities marked by this twofold multiplicity deserve care, Fusi argues, even greater care than we are accustomed to giving our own private living environments.
Panos Mantzarias, architect, director of the Fondation Braillard Architectes (Geneva) and project partner, and Francesco Della Casa, Cantonal Architect of the Canton of Geneva, will comment on how cities of difference can be designed.
To attend:
1) In person: Fondation Braillard Architectes, Rue Saint-Léger 16, 1205 Geneva
2) Online: Register on Zoom.
14 January 2025 | 17:00–19:00
Workshop 2: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder: conflicts over the artistic restoration of public spaces
Organised by Charles University, Tomàš Karásek, Nikolena Nocheva and the project’s 4EU+ partners: Henriette Steiner (University of Copenhagen), Mark Vacher (University of Copenhagen), Sandro Cattacin (University of Geneva), Fiorenza Gamba, (University of Geneva).
A cross-dialogue between various experts working in the field of public space transformation.
To attend:
1) 1) In person: U Kříže 8, Prague 5 – Jinonice.
2) Online: Register on Zoom.
19 February 2025 | 17:00–19:00
Workshop 3 | #CallsFromThePublic: Presentation of a methodology for listening to voices from the margins of the city – workshop 1
Organised by the University of Copenhagen: Henriette Steiner, Mark Vacher, Kristin Veel and the project’s 4EU+ partners: Sandro Cattacin (University of Geneva), Fiorenza Gamba University of Geneva, Tomàš Karásek (Charles University), Nikolena Nocheva (Charles University)
Presentation by Henriette Steiner (Professor of Landscape Architecture), Mark Vacher (Professor of Archaeology, Ethnology, History, Greek and Latin), Kristin Veel (Professor of Modern Culture) of the University of Copenhagen of the #CallsFromThePublic methodology – a tool for listening to the voices of citizens who may be marginalised in various ways.
A group reflection and sharing exercise to enable participants to adopt the methodology
The exercise will be carried out by the participants and explored at the next workshop
To attend:
Online: Register on Zoom.
19 March 2025 | 17:00-19:00
Workshop 4 | #CallsFromThePublic: Presentation of a methodology for listening to voices from the margins of the city – workshop 2
Introduction by Henriette Steiner (Professor of Landscape Architecture), Mark Vacher (Professor of Archaeology, Ethnology, History, Greek and Latin), Kristin Veel (Professor of Modern Culture) of the University of Copenhagen.
A reflection, sharing and exchange exercise in breakout rooms, in which participants discuss and prepare their presentation of the material they have gathered
Collective discussion of the participatory findings.
To attend:
Online: Register on Zoom.
29 April 2025 | 17:00–19:00
Workshop 5 | Participation of fragile and marginalised people in urban decision-making
Organised by Charles University, Tomàš Karásek, Nikolena Nocheva and the project’s 4EU+ partners: Henriette Steiner (University of Copenhagen), Mark Vacher (University of Copenhagen), Sandro Cattacin (University of Geneva), Fiorenza Gamba, (University of Geneva).
A cross-dialogue between various experts working on issues of marginalisation in urban space.
To attend:
Online: Register on Zoom.
20 May 2025 | 17:00–19:00
Workshop 6. “The fragile body in urban planning”
Organised by the University of Geneva, Sandro Cattacin, Fiorenza Gamba, Nikolena Nocheva and the project’s 4EU+ partners: Henriette Steiner (University of Copenhagen), Mark Vacher (University of Copenhagen) Tomàš Karásek (Charles University).
Presentations by: Sandro Cattacin (Professor of Urban Sociology), Fiorenza Gamba (Professor of Urban Anthropology) and Olivier Waeber (doctoral candidate) of the University of Geneva.
Speakers: Panos Mantzarias (Fondation Braillard Architectes), Bernard Debarbieux (Professor of Political and Cultural Geography, University of Geneva)
To attend:
1) In person: Fondation Braillard Architectes, Rue Saint-Léger 16, 1205 Geneva
2) Online: Register on Zoom.
