Nuler, J. (2024, March 8). Dimensions of Feminist Spatial Practice in the Architectural Work of Halina Skibniewska [Presentation]. PhD Seminar: Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, KL Department for Art and Education; Dachgeschoß 18/Top floor, room 18, Karl Schweighofer Gasse 3, 1070 Vienna, Austria.
E253-03 - Forschungsbereich Raumgestaltung und Entwerfen
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Datum (veröffentlicht):
8-Mär-2024
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Veranstaltungsname:
PhD Seminar: Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
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Veranstaltungszeitraum:
4-Mär-2024 - 8-Aug-2024
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Veranstaltungsort:
KL Department for Art and Education; Dachgeschoß 18/Top floor, room 18, Karl Schweighofer Gasse 3, 1070 Vienna, Österreich
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Keywords:
gender equality; Feminism
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Abstract:
By looking at the housing projects of the Polish architect Halina Skibniewska from the 1960s through the lens of critical theory, this thesis attempts to uncover fundamental aspects crucial to contemporary feminist spatial practice.
Halina Skibniewska was a prominent architect, professor at the Warsaw University of Technology and vice-marshal of the Sejm, the Polish parliament. In these positions, she played a major role in the development of new housing in the heavily damaged cities of Poland after World War II. Nevertheless, her work as a woman architect has only been partially researched in Poland and is unknown in the international context.
Interdisciplinary approaches, particularly from sociology, formed the basis of her practice, which consisted mainly of the development of new housing estates. She therefore engaged in direct dialogue with the future residents of her projects. Thus, her work presents a broad view of different population groups and personal life realities – be it children, the elderly or the physically impaired. Halina Skibniewska also attempted to preserve existing nature as much as possible. For her, the design of the landscape around the building had the same importance as the design of its interior living space.
Based on Halina Skibniewska's working method, her written, drawn and built work is explored by asking questions relevant to methodologies of feminist spatial practice to define a variety of dimensions. While ‘dimension’ can be understood as a spatial concept, its meaning shifts through this elaboration to become a variety of social and eco-political dimensions. Three themes emerge that are specific to Halina Skibniewska's working method: The dimension of domestic coexistence to discuss her approach to planning for the socialist family, the dimension of accessibility to show her commitment to the development of housing for people with reduced mobility, and the dimension of sensitivity to nature to explain her approach to planning with existing environments.
Revealing these dimensions of feminist spatial practice in Halina Skibniewska's historical work opens up a dialogue with contemporary architectural design practice. As a result, this expands not only the canon of known architectural history, but also enriches the current narrative of architectural history with new aspects.
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Forschungsschwerpunkte:
Development and Advancement of the Architectural Arts: 100%