Abstract

In October 2008, we1 organised and took part in a workshop in Paris that set out to question the relationship between ‘resistance’, ‘activism’ and ‘architectural research and practice’. Our guests were the cultural critic, writer and activist, Brian Holmes, and the sociologist and urban planner, Anne Querrien. The informal workshop shifted from the paths at Parc de la Villette, to a discussion in the space of an apartment, and finally to a gathering at the self-managed cultural space at 56 St Blaise.2 The following article is an attempt to present and reflect on aspects of the workshop and is in two parts: the first describes some of the issues emerging from the walk, particularly concerning the agency of architecture and practice. The second part is comprised of a dialogue from the discussion that concerns possible forms of action in architecture.

How to Cite:

Trogal, K. & Vardy, S., (2009) “Resistance and Activist Research:
A Workshop with Brian Holmes and Anne Querrien”, field 3(1), 49–58.