LES ACTIONS CONSTRUITES OU LA CONSTRUCTION DE PLATEFORMES D’ACTIONS.
Né en 2003 à l’initiative de cinq architectes, eXYZt constitue aujourd’hui une plateforme de création pluridisciplinaire regroupant une vingtaine de personnes : architectes, graphistes, vidéastes, photographes, dj, botanistes, constructeurs. Chaque intervention du collectif s’inscrit dans une temporalité et dans un territoire déterminé, prenant souvent la forme d’installation temporaire. Les projets d’eXYZt partent de la spécificité du site, le contexte devenant support pour le projet. En fonction des projets, eXYZt mobilise tout ou partie de ses membres et tisse de nouveaux liens avec les acteurs sur place, formant ainsi des communautés d’action, des cadres de vie et d’échange.
« Action, vie et échange » semblent les trois mots clés pour aborder l’approche du collectif. Concevoir une architecture à travers l’action ou des actions, charger l’architecture de la vie, d’usages multiples et divers et utiliser l’architecture même comme médium afin de promouvoir des rencontres et de l’échange.
« L’ensemble des projets incite le visiteur à quitter une attitude purement contemplative pour devenir, lui aussi, un usager, acteur, parti prenant dans le projet » affirme un des membres du collectif. Des installations temporaires, toujours auto-construites (souvent en échafaudage et en bois) et habité par le collectif même, reposent des questions quant aux contextes, le lieu et son usage.
En 2006 ,le collectif répond à l’appel de Patrick BOUCHAIN, architecte français invité à la Xème Biennale d’architecture de Venise pour présenter, sélectionner et animer le pavillon français.
Dans le contexte surmédiatisé de la Biennale d’architecture de Venise, où la représentation de l’architecture prend, depuis plusieurs années, le pas sur l’architecture elle-même, Bouchain et eXYZt, décident de réaliser le projet Métavilla. Avec une véritable cuisine, un hôtel, sauna et mini-piscine sur le toit, le pavillon français se transforme en lieu de rencontre et d’échange, où l’architecture est vécue, où le visiteur devient acteur et participant actif, où le lieu devient également laboratoire d’expérimentation et espace convivial. La Métavilla a changé définitivement le regard sur le site et l’idée d’exposer une architecture.
Be utopian.
We want to build new worlds where fiction is reality and games are new rules for democraty. We want to encourage creativity, reflexion and renew social behaviours. If space is made by dynamics of exchange, then everybody can be the architects of our world.
Experiment. Architecture can expand into a transdisciplinary field, where new tools can be explored. Our current recipe : marinate construction with video, music, graphic design, photography and gastronomy, without forgetting to leave space for interaction, freedom, informality and unpredictability. Our projects can result in spatial video games, architectural buildings, musical environments and/or thematic food feasts.
Even if we refuse to enter the current architectural practice which is under economical and political constraints, we do deal with the reality of construction. We design and build ourselves, live in our constructions and leave freedom for visitors to appropriate our designs.
What we produce is open source architecture. We collaborate to give free access to a structured living program and an interface for exchange. We only offer a framework for a direct and immediate emulation between people and space.
Our projects are always in movement. It is this dynamic process based on interaction between people and their environment that really make our projects. We are here to incite you to have conscience of your environment. React and act.
Thank you to : Yona Friedman, Archigram, Dada, Fluxus, hybrid architecture of the world (observed on our trips to Vietnam, Japan, Eastern europe, Africa). We owe you.
ACTION METHODS :
– SITE DETECTION :
We usually choose sites that are not regulated by real estate economy or social control.
Among them : wasteland, leftover spaces, or abandoned spaces.
We also work on flexible/neutral spaces offered by events like festivals or exhibitions.
– IN SITU ACTION :
Even if we usually use identical materials like scaffolding, textiles, photo, video and sound material, our projects are non reproductible products. They are designed and built in the context of location, place and participants.
– TEMPORARY INTERVENTION
Architecture is an adventure in time. We like it short and dense so as to focus more on the project. And also because we want to multiply projects around the world!
– EXPLORE NEW MEDIA TOOLS.
We experiment endlessly different tools for our interventions like videogames, short cuts, and vj. We attempt to translate media into physical space. A video projection can constitute a facade, a video game becomes a spatial interactive game.
Films are the memories to our constructions.
WHO IS EXYZT ?
Who designs Exyzt projects? We will just give you four hints :
– Initially, Exyzt comes from 5 architects’ desire of building alternative architecture together. The E,X,Y,Z,T, are Nicolas Henninger, François Wunschel, Phillipe Rizzotti, Pier Schneider and Gilles Burban, all architects D.P.L.G.
– Our team is now a community of people who have chosen to act under the same principle of sharing knowledge and abilities.
– We extend our network over national borders by collaborating with people around the world.
– The more participants the merrier. Even spectators take part to our projects!
« EXYZT » is an association under the french 1901 legislation. Exyzt can work in autonomy. We all design, build and inhabit our projects, so that project teams can stay flexible, but we do have individual specializations.
Beller Julien, architect D.P.L.G.
Fights for the people’s rights.
Burban Gilles, architect D.P.L.G.
Mister T, Webmaster and rustic cooking expert.
De Angeli Philippe, dj
electricity and all other skilled operations that include wire management.
Dezeuze Laure, architect D.P.LG.
English expert. She’s the one writing all these kewl texts.
Dudinsky Dagmar, graphist designer
Graphic design on all supports : clothes, walls, floors, objects..
Goutes Christophe, dj aka Toffee,
Mostly great video and music mixes.
Grimard Stephanie, architect D.P.L.G.
Her interior designs make our life so much more confortable!
Guiches Julie, photographer
portraits people in their natural habitats.
Hameau Tiphaine, gastro-artist, botanical searcher
He can work on all eadible stuff.
Henninger Nicolas, architect D.P.L.G.
Mister E, International Relations, truck driver. Always on the road!
Hervey Jerome, soundmaker aka Voodoo j
Musical environment manager.
Lacombe Gonzague, graphic designer
Graphic design on all supports : clothes, walls, floors, objects..
Messu Dimitri, architect
All heavy construction : the more dangerous tasks are the better
Pelleschi Brice, photographer
Lighting, electricity and architecture photography
Makes our buildings actually photogenic!
Rizzoti Philippe, architect D.P.L.G.
Mister Y, administrator, negociator and budget expert.
Römer Alexander, architect and carpenter
specialized in wood architecture. And is our sauna meister!
Saglier Antoine, computer geek
our in-house hacker.
Salis Raf, technical genius
plumbing, electricity, fireworks, and all mechanic reperations
Can actually make things work !
Schneider Pier, architect D.P.L.G.
Mister Z, Scaffolding expert, dancing cameraman and movie maker.
Wunschel François, architect D.P.L.G.
Mister X, video and computer expert.
There are also the people we enjoy working with :
3 RS, Coloco, Encore Heureux, ANPU, Dunja, Dubravka, Laurent Petit, Adriana Lopez, Phil Stumpf…