Urhuette: Beginning With Basics. What Is Architecture?

The installation “Beginning with Basics. What is Architecture?” takes children and young people back to the imaginary beginnings of architecture in order to re-envision its future.

The notion of the Primitive Hut - “Urhütte” in German – runs as a concept through the history of modern architectural theory. It was used in order to refocus the discipline in moments of crisis and to remind architects of their humble beginnings. The aesthetic and technological immediacy of the Primitive Hut, real or imagined, served for example as a means to criticize architectural practices from ecological, social, and economical perspectives. Both powerful and simple in its imagery, this concept is very well understood and received by children. By learning about the parable-like theory of the Primitive Hut and by experiencing the construction of simple spaces with different techniques, children are equipped with first-hand knowledge of both the practical and the theoretical basics of architecture. At the same time, the work on the Hut promotes collaboration, critical testing, and environmental awareness of all kinds.