Barents Lessons: Teaching and Research in Architecture

Laba (Laboratory Basel), a satellite studio of the Institut d’architecture et de la ville (IA) at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) based in Basel, has just released a precious book entitled “Barents Lessons”. Here’s the cover poster (click for hi-def pdf)

Barents Lessons presents the one-year investigation carried out by master students on the Barents Sea region, under the leadership of Professor Harry Gugger. The remote but geographically crucial region has been analyzed starting with the thesis that the ocean is an urbanised territory.
Ranging from the territorial to the architectural scale, the laboratory has been organized as a three-part structure, reflecting the applied methodology. Part one: an analysis of the region in five research themes (the “Territorial Constitutions”); Part two: the documentation of a field trip of ten days in February 2012; Part Three: 13 architectural projects.

“The task was to analyse the region from a distance, aligning the critical issues in the Barents Sea with a global picture, and to carry out in-depth local field-work. As a synthesis of the knowledge and experience gained, concrete architectural projects for different kinds of infrastructure (residential, educational, ecological, transport, cultural) were designed. Barents Lessons presents the entire project in three parts, reflecting the methodology applied. The book is illustrated throughout with numerous graphics and maps especially developed for the publication, with colour photographs and plans.”

Created in close collaboration with graphic design studio Ludovic Balland Typography Cabinet in Basel, the gorgeous book has received the Most Beautiful Swiss Books in 2012 award with 18 other participants.