Kihara Kei | 'To Build Law'
An article introducing the documentary film 'To Build Law' and discussing the significance of the 'HouseEurope!' movement for building renovation.Summary
This article introduces the documentary film 'To Build Law' and the political activism project 'HouseEurope!' involving the architectural collective bplus.xyz (b+). b+ focuses on renovation and adaptive reuse, reinterpreting the space, context, and material of existing buildings rather than demolishing them. 'HouseEurope!' critiques the high environmental impact of the construction industry and the financialization of real estate, aiming to promote building renovation across Europe through the European Citizens' Initiative (ECI). The documentary, produced as part of the CCA's 'Groundwork' series, depicts the behind-the-scenes process of this activism, framing the design of legal frameworks as a form of architectural practice. The article also references a renovation project in Basel and parallels with Joseph Beuys's concept of social sculpture, arguing that the architect's role is expanding from designing spaces to constructing the social conditions for urban transformation.
(Source：artscape)