Kitchen (collectif ETC)
The tasks of the team were to build up the kitchen area and to cook lunch and dinner for everybody. This was the team I was taking part in. The Kitchen Team was divided in 4 smaller groups, composed of 1 to 3 tutors and 3-4 students and we were rotating of 2 days of building, 1 day of cooking and 1 day off.
Programme. The Kitchen Area was composed of a place for washing the dishes, a cooking area and a working area. Of course, there were planned also a storage place and several chill-out terraces, as the already-built Kiosk had to be integrated. The complex kitchen zone was developed by modules on a grid of 2,40 x 2,40m.
Assembly Principle. This system of rotating small groups was functioning quite well. It might be because every morning we had a meeting, where we discussed what has been done and what has to be finished and after that we decided what to do/ finish during the day. After the first week we had a bigger meeting, where everyone shared their concerns about work, shifts, food, budget, mood, etc... It was commented the well-functioning system of rotating groups and that we were improving every day the kitchen facilities because of the constant feedback we received from users and cooking team.
Planning. The day off was used to plan what the next 2 days is going to be built and there were conversations with the teams that were building and with the Kiosk guys, so that we could continue the project in a coherent conceptual way. But as there were things changing during the construction day, the drawn plans were not valid and the next day we had to re-plan the spaces. This day was the only moment that we had to draw; normally it was not needed, except of some explanation or details.
During that day we also planned the meals to cook during our turn, as we had to order the vegetables from the Collective Garden 3 days ahead.
Building and Ego. Building 2 days meant designing everything, but the structural wooden frame of 2,40 x 2,40 x 2,40 m, that was the first to be built. We had to discuss the height of the floor, facilities, uses, stairs, facades, details, roofs, etc., as we had to continue the configuration of the spaces from the previous team working on them. We were constantly asked for improvements to adjust our facility to the exact needs, and inevitably we had to modify the work done by others. This new-to-us method of work (no plan, but everyday design), made us change our way of thinking. We could not say that somebody destroyed the wall, bench or whatever built several days before, as constantly we were modifying other´s work. So, we were losing our ego as authors for the benefit of a better construction done by a collective process of constant building and improving. Now the Kitchen Area is done by the whole Kitchen Team, not knowing exactly who took part in the different modules.
Cooking. When we had to cook for so many people, the worse was that you have to wash all the pots, pans, bowls... afterward, considering that everyone washed their plates and forks before. All the dishes were super delicious and I don´t know how we had such an imagination for 20 days of different types of dishes, twice per day.
Afterlife. During the Summer School we were building the facilities we needed for 100-120 people. At the end we reduced the size of all the spaces, as we had to leave soon and they would not be used by so many people. The “Washing Temple” has less shelves and sinks, but a chill-out terrace. The Cooking area could get completely closed in 2 modules, where a fridge and a stove are placed. The Working areas were added to the existing chill-out spaces - a terrace and a tree-house, that have definitely great use.
Impressions about Collectif Etc. I am really happy to have taken part in this project that was being developed day-by-day. It is a completely new method of work for me, where we had to renounce the pen and paper in order to completely involve in the team. Collectif Etc are also known for their manner of collective living, and probably because of this, they were really good at organizing the daily tasks, keeping the budget in limit and planning the deadlines. Moreover, by their very personal approach, they motivated the participants to really further develop the project and made them really responsible for the big successes and the small mistakes during the design and realization.
My conversations with some of the members of the team reveal a search of new, more open architectural processes, that can re-activate people and urban spaces.
A complete pleasure for me to work with them.
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