2004

Nomadism and Urban Wandering

- Gille Deleuze, “Nomade Thought”

The definition of “nomadism” is a complex one that defies unification. From the pseudo-scientific description of a condition dictated by agricultural requirements, availability of natural resources and climate related circumstances, to the more philosophical and even spiritual state of being, the condition of the contemporary nomad or urban wanderer was the subject of reflection and investigation of this year studio project.

We first used the notion of nomadism and urban wandering as a mapping strategy to look at the city of Montreal. Students were asked to identify both a space of transit and a space of belonging, and to document them in a manner that is not reductive, but rather that reveals one aspect of the two places that was not immediately visible to the passer by. The juxtaposition of these two places was aimed at defining the nature of transit and of belonging as they apply to the modern dweller.

Following this first investigation of a site, everyone then devised an architectural program for sheltering the contemporary urban nomad, considering the notions of limits, portability, ritual, etc., before engaging into a renovation project of the chosen sites. The places or shelters that resulted from such interventions were either anchored to the specific sites revealing the innate potential of the place or took the form of portable ritual devices meant to enact significant moments in the life of the urban nomad.

Louise Pelletier

		Grounded (The last path on a lifetime narrative) Alejandra Bernal
		Intervention at Central Station - Bonaventure 4sidedleaner Nilsa Calvo
		Tool for the Bride Lian Chang
		Memory Booth - A House of the Soul Camilo Isaak
		Dressing Lequeu Tsz Yan Ng
		Crossings Alec Suresh Perera
		Of Displayed Objects and Wandering Gaze Pari Riahi
		The Living Room as a Souvenir, 1945-1955 Stacey Richardson