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EASA [European Architecture Students Assembly] is an international architecture students and young architects network which has been successfully organised since 1981 and is being renewed and enriched dynamically every year. It is done by students in collabora-tion with professional architects and artists, investigating architec-ture, art, city and technology. It is a communication platform for the exchange of ideas, experiences and reflections, the starting point for interaction.

500 young architects meet for two weeks every summer participat-ing in lectures, conversations, workshops, exhibitions, related to the theme proposed by the specific organising country. The theme is related to reflections posed by the place of conduction itself and the actions-interventions are in both the theoretical and practical levels.

easa

01identity

introduction

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EASA [European Architecture Students Assembly] is an international young architects network which, in collaboration with professional architects and artists, investigates today’s architecture, city and technology. It is a communication platform for the exchange of ideas, experiences and reflections, the starting point for interactions in the city field.

500 young architects meet for two weeks every summer participating in lectures, conversations, workshops, exhibitions, related to the theme proposed by the specific city. The theme is related to reflections posed by the place of conduction itself and the actions-interventions are in both the theoretical and practical levels.

The 27th meeting of EASA will be organized in August 2007 in Elefsina, with the theme of city_index. The place and theme were selected after a competition in November 2005 in Brighton. The city in transition, the need of identity redefinition and the latent potential aroused the architectural interest.

Elefsina is a complicated system of structures, flows and data, organized in multiple layers. Each one of those carries information about a different time period, while the complete image of the contemporary city results from their intersection. The aim of EASA007 is to read/comment on the place’s complexity through actions, which will be organized in a city_index [open actions_movements_potential catalog] in an effort to describe the phenomenon as a whole.

The N.T.U.A. , the TEE [Technical Chamber of Greece], the Municipality of Elefsina, the EIA [Greek Institute of Architecture], the SADAS-PEA [Higher Architectural Schools Graduates Union – Greek Architects Union] and other institutions support financially and scientifically the organization of the EASA007 congress [see attached letters of recommendation].

consicely01 identity_

EASA_

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02 what is easa

Armenia (4)

Austria (8)

Belarus (9)

Belgium (9)

Bulgaria (2)

Czech Republic (8)

Croatia (13)

Cyprus (4)

Denmark (16)

Finland (7)

France (23)

Georgia (5)

Germany (13)

Greece (8)

Hungary (20)

Ireland (7)

Italy (12)

Kosovo (3)

Latvia (8)

Lithuania (11)

Macedonia (9)

Bosnia and Herzegovina (9)

Netherlands (12)

Norway (11)

Poland (10)

Portugal (5)

Romania (11)

Russia (11)

Serbia and Montenegro (17)

Slovenia (11)

Spain (10)

Sweden (17)

Switzerland (50)

Turkey (15)

UK (14)

Ukraine (6)

Venezuela (2)

USA (2)

Palestine (2)Israel (2)

�e following countries needed visa for coming to Switzerland: Albania (lost country)ArmeniaAzerbaijan (lost country)BelarusBelgium (Turkish citizens)Bosnia and HerzegovinaGeorgiaVenezuelaKosovoLatviaLithuaniaMacedoniaMoldova (lost country)Moçambique (with Portugal)RussiaSerbia and MontenegroTurkeyUkraine

Visa For Visa presentations, the applicants needed to present a personal invitation at the Swiss embassy of their country. �at’s why we had to provide an invitation letter (see appendix).

We called to every Swiss embassy and asked wether the invitation letter can be send by fax for a quicker (and cheaper) process. �is was pos-sible in almost every case, even if all the NCs had been told that they an original letter is required. In fact, the applicants at the embassies are always treated much more strict than us. �e problem is that they talk to the local people on the counters that follow the guidelines strictly. When we called to the embassies, we were usually treated very friendly and – mostly due to language reasons – connected to someone that had more compe-tence to decide whether faxing the invitations is possible. We have always asked who was in charge of the issueing of the visa to be sure that the per-son who would get the letter was the same as the contact person of the applicants. Like that, things went a lot more smoothly through the big sleaze

of bureaucracy.

We also arranged a special arrangement with the Federal Office for Immigration, so that people applying for visa for EASA could get theirs for free. �e confirmation of this arrangement was sent via snail mail from the Migration Office to all the concerned embassies. As we were a bit late (we found out about this possibility to get free visa by chance and rather late in the application process), we faxed this recommendation letter to every embassy so that many participants could stand in benefit of it.

What needs to be expressed clearly is the fact that this recommendation did not say that visa should be issued. �e issueing of the visa would still follow the same process as usual. But once the embassy decided that visa should be issued, they would issue it for free. It didn’t cause too much trouble for us, just a couple of calls, mails and letters, but it was great savings for all the par-ticipants.

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The network strenghtens the architectural developement of archi-tecture students throught out europe.

03EASA was founded in 1981 when architecture students from Liver-pool, invited their fellow students from the rest of Europe to come and discuss, proposing solutions for the problems of their city. Approximately 300 young architects gathered, starting up with EASA’s collective institution: “starting up the easa experience”, was the first theme of the congress.

Since then, every year, European architecture students, meet in a different location with the intention of exchanging ideas and views on architecture, as well as interacting within the location.

history

04 history

1981_ England LIVERPOOL Starting up the EASA Experience

1982_ Netherlands DELFT Architecture of an Uncertain Future

1983_ Portugal LISBOA Social Spaces

1984_ Denmark AARHUS Turning point in Architecture

1985_ Greece ATHENS Interpretation and Action in the City

1986_ Italy TORINO Architecturi Latenti

1987_ Finland HELSINKI Architecture and Nature

1988_ Germany BERLIN The Dimension Between

1989_ France MARSEILLE Heritage et Creativé

1990_ Sweden KARLSKRON Exploration

1991_ USSR KOLOMNA Regeneration

1992_ Turkey ÜRGÜP Vision 2000 Environment

1993_ Scotland SANDWICK The Isle

1994_ Belgium LIEGE Consommer l’Inconsumable

1995_ Poland ZAMOSC Beyond the Borders

1996_ France CLERMONT L’HERAULT Dream Builders!

1997_ Scandinavia THE TRAIN Advancing Architecture

1998_ Malta VALETTA Living on the Edge

1999_ Greece KAVALA Osmosis

2000_ Belgium/Netherlands ANTWERP/ROTTERDAM Dis-Similarities

2001_ Turkey GÖKEADA No Theme

2002_ Croatia VIS Senses

2003_ Denmark FRILAND Sustainable Living

2004_ France ROUBAIX Metropolitain - Micropolitain

2005_ Switzerland BERGUN Trans, Transit, Transition

2006_ Hungary BUDAPEST Common Place

2007_ Greece ELEFSINA City_index

2008_ Ireland LETTERFRACK Adaptation

2009_ Italy VAL CAMONICA Super(m)ARCHet

One of the most important EASA activities are the workshops, which are being conducted during the two weeks. Their subjects also de-rive from the assembly’s main theme and are constructive, theoreti-cal, and artistic. During the past years, there has been a tendency of use of new technology, therefore, the workshop results are to a large extent digital. Workshops are lead by architects or artists [tutors] from the organizing country and all the other European countries. The participants are being informed on the subjects at the presenta-tion in the beginning of the assembly, and choose according to their interests. The organizers provide the largest part of the materials and equipment required for their realization, while the tutors are respon-sible for the workshops’ coordination.

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One of the most important EASA activities are the workshops, which are being conducted during the two weeks. Their subjects also derive from the congress main theme and are constructive, theoretical, and artistic. During the past years, there has been a tendency of use of new technology, therefore, the workshop results are to a large extent digital. They are constituted by architects or artists [tutors] from the organizing country and all the other European countries. The participants are being informed on the subjects at the presentation at the beginning of the congress, choose according to their interests and are being divided into groups. The organizers provide the largest part of the materials and equipment required for their realization, while the tutors are responsible for the workshops’ coordination.

The easa007 workshops will be based on new technologies and will be immediately related to the city of Elefsina. Interesting spots [hot spots] in the city will be commented on by the participants with constructions, installations and artistic happenings. The results will be interconnected creating a catalog of open actions, movements and possibilities catalog; a platform that will cover totally but changeably the urban organism phenomenon. The result will be a city_index; the point of view of a European network of young architects and artists [EASA] for the city in the contemporary era.

Apart from the various architectural and artistic exhibitions, which take place during every EASA, there is also the meeting main exhibition, where the results from the workshops [constructions, installations, video art, performances] are being presented. The exhibition gives the opportunity not only to the participants, but also to a wider public, to acquire a complete image of the congress’s produced work.

The easa007 exhibition will be opened at the end of the meeting [04.08.07], bringing in contact

workshops_

exhibition_

Switzerland 2005, workshop12

the European EASA network with the city residents and the wider Greek public. The exhibition will be part of the city annual festival [Aeschylia], which is being held by the municipality of Elefsina at the end of every August, while later, in [October 2007] it will be presented, during the University’s cultural activities in collaboration with the N.T.U.A. In November 2007 the exhibition will “travel” [transferred] to the organizing European city of INCM [intermediate national contact meeting] in Croatia, in order to give the national contacts the opportunity to evaluate the produced result of easa007, and offer the opportunity to the hosting city to be informed about the general institution of EASA. After returning to Greece, the exhibition will be hosted in cities such us: Thessaloniki, Patras, Volos, Chania, Xanthi, which, as seats of Architecture Schools have a public highly interested in matters concerning the city, architecture and new technologies.An example of such a “travelling” exhibition is the easa005 exhibition [Berguen, Switzerland 2005, theme: Trans, Transit, Transition]. After the opening in the city of Berguen [Swiss city of easa005 conduction], the exhibition was held in Zurich with the support of E.T.H. Zurich [Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich]. Later on architecture schools in Europe hosted the exhibition, while in November 2006 it was presented in Moscow, organizing city of INCM006 [05.11-12.11], and is continuing its European trip.

During the last years, before the annual summer congress of EASA, the organizing country announces an architectural student competition. The first prize, which is selected as the best architectural proposal by a jury, constituted by professors and professionals of the country, starts materializing during the two weeks of the congress, after an application study by an architectural office. The process of a student competition activates the members of the easa network before the congress begins, and is also sometimes a choice criterion for the participants by the national contacts; at the same time it leaves the hosting city with a complete architectural work.

The organization of an architectural competition for easa007 is under consideration by the Greek organizers, while there is already the thought of giving more emphasis to new technologies.

architectural competition_

Budapest 2006,exhibition Denmark 2003, pavillion Switzerland 2005, pavillion

the

CURIOUSSUITCASEINCIDENT

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workshops

06During every EASA assembly lectures are being carried out by architects [professors and professionals] but also by artists or other scientists. The lecture subjects are being directly related to the basic theme and intend to pose the assembly’s theoretical frame, activating the thought and creativity of the participants. The lecture program as well as the speakers’ selection is made by the organizers, in order to achieve the best theoretical and scientific coverage of the meeting.

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During every EASA congress lectures are being carried out by architects [professors and professionals] but also by artists or other scientists. The lecture subjects are being directly related to the basic theme and intend to pose the congress theoretical frame, activating the thought and creativity of the participants. The lecture program as well as the speakers’ selection is made by the organizers, in order to achieve the best theoretical and scientific coverage of the meeting.

The lectures, during easa007, will bear on the central theme: city_index and will address not only the 500 European participants, but are also open to the Greek public. The speakers invited from Greece and the rest of Europe originate from the fields of architecture, research, technology and the arts. The program will include a lecture marathon at the beginning of the two weeks [22.07.07-05.08.07], and individual proposals during the congress. Further details about the speakers, the titles, the days and timetable of the lectures will be announced at the organization website and the press.

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Each EASA congress has a central theme, which is being defined by each organizing country and is usually related to the place of conduct. The workshops, lectures as well as happenings [exhibitions, presentations, discussions] that are being organized in relation with EASA, are always in correlation with the theme.The formulation of the theme is being conducted in a modern way, in order to concern and inspire new architects and artists from the whole of Europe. The detailed presentation of the theme is being registered in the organization website, from which the Europeans as well as Greek participants can be informed.

At the INCM [intermediate national contact meeting] held in England, in November 2005, [Brighton] the Greek proposal was chosen by the national representatives [national contacts] from 40 European countries. In the summer of 2007 [22.07-05.08], the 27th EASA congress under the theme of city_index, will be organized in Elefsina.Elefsina, as a highly complicated urban organism in transition, feeds the theme of easa007. The city constitutes a structure, flow and data system, which is being organized in successive layers. The interference of a team of 500 new architects and artists [EASA007] in the field of this city, intends to activate its complicated, multilayered organism. The team of easa007 will transform the city of Elefsina, for two weeks, in a field of actions, movements and potentials. It will comment on the urban organism through constructions, artistic happenings, lectures-discussions and exhibitions. The interventions that will occur, will organize an open content catalog, a total reading of a complexity, a system receptive of the continuous evolution of the contemporary city, a city_index.

the EASA007 theme04

interactive game during the annual festival of Aeschylus, Elefsina aug.-sept. 2006

lectures

07Apart from the various architectural and artistic exhibitions, which take place during every EASA, there is also the meeting’s main exhibition, where the results from the workshops [constructions,installations, video art, performances] are being presented. The exhibition gives the opportunity not only to the participants, but also to a wider public, to acquire a complete image of the assem-bly’s produced work.

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After each EASA congress completion, the theme and results of the activities [constructive workshops, lectures, theoretical projects, exhibitions etc.] are collected and published in a special edition. The ‘final reports’ of each organization, are published for the congress participants, the cooperating institutions, as well as for a wider public of architects, students, professionals, artists etc. They also enrich the EASA archive which is located in Copenhagen, while at the same time ideas, information and guidelines can be drawn out of them for the next organizations.

The Greek organization team of EASA007 began its preparation immediately after the INCM005 in Brighton. It has already held two exhibitions about the EASA work and the presentation of the Greek proposal. The first one was held in N.T.U.A. last April, where the undertaking of the organization by the Greek team was introduced to professors, students and other architects. The second one was held during the annual festival Aeschylus in the municipality of Elefsina, 27 August to 16 September 2006. Apart from the results from past congresses [constructions, videoart etc.], it included an interactive map of the city, in the creation of which residents and visitors participated. In this way, a first contact was made with the resident and an introduction to the activities in which his city will be involved together with the dynamic of 500 young architects next summer. The exhibition was published in the press.Until the beginning of the EASA007 [22.07.07], during but also after its end, the organizing team will hold other events as well, in order to inform further and promote the event, in Athens as well as in Elefsina and the other cities with Architecture Schools [Thessaloniki, Patras, Volos, Chania, Xanthi].

final report_

other events_

interactive game/ exhibition/ projections,

Aeschylus festival, Elefsina, aug.-sept.2006

exhibition

08During the last years, before the annual summer assembly of EASA, the organizing country announces an architectural student com-petition. A jury, constituted by professors and professionals of the country selects the first prize. The winning proposal, starts material-izing during the two weeks of the assembly, after an application study by an architecture office. The process of a student competition activates the participants of the easa network before the assembly begins and it leaves the hosting location with a complete architec-tural work.

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Approximately 300 young architects gathered, starting up with EASA’s collective institution: “starting up the easa experience”, was the first theme of the congress. Since then, every year, European architects-students, meet in a different city with the intention of exchanging ideas and views on architecture, as well as acting within the city itself. In Greece, easa has been organized already twice, in 1985 in Athens with the theme “interpretation and action in the city” and in 1999, in Kavala with the theme “osmosis”. Last year [2005], the organization was held in Switzerland [Berguen] with the theme “trans, transit, transition”, while last summer [2006] it was held in Hungary [Budapest] with the theme “common place”. In the summer of 2007 easa will be held once again in Greece, in the city of Elefsina, with the theme “city index”.

Denmark2003, pavillion

competition

09Apart from the annual events, EASA supports the international communication and exchange network through its’ representatives in every country [National Contact]. The representatives [2 for each country] communicate with each other during the whole year and meet every November, for one week [Intermediate National Contact Meeting] in a different country. During these meetings the results from the latest summer assembly are being discussed, and the pro-posal for the forth coming events being chosen.

the easa network

SESAM [small EASA meeting]. These are smaller meetings that take place during the year in different countries with the participation of approximatly 100 members and consist of workshops, lectures etc.

other activities

The summer assembly EASA is an organization that takes legal substance every time, at the level of the country that undertakes the organization of the annual meeting. Each country defines the selec-tion procedure of its representatives and participants in the EASA activities.

legal framework

After each EASA summer assembly completion, the theme and re-sults of the activities [constructive workshops, lectures, theoretical projects, exhibitions etc.] are collected and published in a special edition. The ‘final reports’ of each organization, are published for the assembly’s participants, the cooperating institutions, as well as for a wider public of architects, students, professionals, artists etc.

final report

how does it work

www.easa.tk