Under the title "Dicht Säen" - "Sow Densely" - the sixth Bavarian Architecture Week from May 16th until May 25th 2014 will explore concepts and ideas of "Density" in contemporary architecture and urban planning.
Topics that although being discussed at a Bavarian level and in a Bavarian context naturally have a wider importance and relevance.
As our cities evolve questions of land use invariably arise: How much space does one need? How much space should one accept? Where does private end and public start? When does social contact become intrusion?
Such questions are of course not new, but in our modern world of increased global mobility, rapidly changing demographics and complex cultural and social conflicts they are posed today against a new background.
Density is of course not just a question of closeness, but also separation. Negative density as it were. Across Europe regions are experiencing net emigration resulting in ever lower population densities; yet each and every resident who remains in these regions has demands for infrastructure and services. Is that realistic? Can that be realistic? Can the state meet all demands? Should they? Must they?
These and similar questions will be explored and discussed in a range of events, exhibitions, talks and tours being staged throughout Bavaria. Among the highlights of the week promises to be a series of walks in the immediate vicinity of Nurnberg, Fürth and Erlangen railway stations, the conference "Dicht säen - Streit ernten?" - "Sow Densely - Harvest Conflict?" on Tuesday May 20th in Munich and in the context of professional density the discussion "Office in Motion – Was wird aus dem Büro?", an event being staged in collaboration with Vitra in Kempten, and which promises a look at the future of office design and office organisation.
Full details of the 2014 Architekturwoche in Bavaria can be found at: www.architekturwoche.org
