Re-Public: Towards New Spatial Politics

The up-and-coming Dutch firm ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles), founded in 2001 by Elma van Boxel and Kristian Koreman, is a think tank of two--tackling the landscape architect's role in the contemporary city. Based in Rotterdam, an ideal vantage for both research and innovative project-building, ZUS participates in projects micro and macro, ranging from clothing design to large-scale interventions in the landscape. And the team aims high: "Our spatial interventions contribute to a higher state of consciousness of the naked reality of our modern, urban culture and environment, although not always by accepting it as the only reality." Their 2006 proposal, "Discoforum" is characteristic. Noticing that Rotterdam clubs are divided by race, ZUS created a design that would place one transparent wall in each club facing out onto a shared outdoor space. Such proposals and research are combined with the duo's own commentary in this volume, making it invaluable for anyone curious about the next wave of architecture and urban planning.