Architecture Workshops

Architecture is among the most tangible expressions of Western design dominance, as concrete, glass and steel have replaced textile, wood, and earth at a societal and environmental cost that is difficult to measure. It is also a palpable sign of indigenous cultures disappearing; cultures whose identity relies on coexistence with Nature. Urban development practices of today risk alienating individuals from culture and nature, ultimately undermining solidarity among peoples.

Starting in 2022, Caravane plans to build a seasonal Art Village in the desert of Qatar by interweaving creative disciplines, craft tradition and vernacular building techniques. The village will become an arts residency, a desert lodge and a centre for research in sustainability and education. At the end of each season, the Caravane will leave behind a growing oasis, while its innovations, works of art, and ethical products tour the world. The Caravane network should then expand and return each season with new ideas, projects and experiences.

We launched a two-week education module to dig deeply into the issue of building a village in the desert by hand. The module provided invaluable experience for sharp-minded aspiring architects who in turn delivered a site plan with model, guidebook and building designs.

The first Caravane Workshop was hosted in Moscow in collaboration with design bureau CXEMA, Arturo Vitorri and Mikhail Pitskhelauri. Together with the lead designers at CXEMA, a group of architecture students managed to elaborate on Caravane’s holistic approach in hand-crafting the Art Village. Their master plan consisted of designs for numerous structures, a model and guidebook for building a village as an organism.