Course No.: 848152
Teaching: Santosh Kumar Ketham
Brief
The profound impact of climate change on cities, particularly through flooding, serves as a
pivotal theme in this course. Our overarching objective is to delve into the innovative realm of
speculative design, exploring how it addresses the intricate needs of flooded cities. This dynamic
approach engages various stakeholders, disciplines, and students in a symphony of
brainstorming, scenario generation, discussions, and reflections. This immersive experience
unfolds through a tapestry of enlightening lectures, dynamic design workshops, and captivating
exhibitions at the esteemed Institute of Experimental Architecture, Hochbau.
Keywords: Flooding Cities; Speculative Design; Collective Approach
Learning Outcome:
Embarking on a journey of exploration, our students seize the opportunity to dissect the
complexities of urban cities grappling with messy flooding crises. This transcends geographical
boundaries, fostering cross-cultural understanding and building international bridges between
Europe and India. The showcase of speculative design to local communities, through thought-
provoking exhibitions, empowers citizens to envision potential solutions and assume
responsibility for their cities. Our core contention is that these collective endeavors wield the
power to exert pressure on governments, compelling them to reconsider climate policies and
instigate tangible changes while integrating local voices into decision-making processes.
Contents:
This course proposes a collective reflection on flooding scenarios as a strategic response to
long-term climate change. Adopting a bottom-up approach, it guides participants through the
intricacies of studying, thinking, building, evaluating, and negotiating communicative formats
within speculative design workshops and exhibitions. The journey begins modestly, yet it
envisions a horizon of enduring social cohesion. Speculative design emerges as a transformative
force, providing a canvas to experiment with new design concepts, weave compelling future
narratives, and engage a multitude. In the crucible of course workshops, creative and non-
conformist ideas converge, testing the boundaries of what architecture can achieve for society.
This narrative challenges the very fabric of the profession and politics, urging a more profound
dialogue with those most profoundly impacted by climate change. The ambitious endeavor to
unravel deeply interconnected problems, through the development of theoretical and practical
scenarios, instills a profound sense of responsibility in diverse communities and building
professions. Although these processes are intricate, messy, and time-consuming, we steadfastly
believe that only collective action from the bottom up can catalyze a seismic shift in current laws,
political and economic systems, social beliefs, and behaviors.
Methods:
At the heart of this course lies the recognition of design as not merely a profession but a conduit
to cultivate sensitivity towards nature and people. It aims to equip students with a profound
understanding of flooding crises, contextual nuances, and cultural dynamics, empowering them
to craft bespoke speculative design strategies. The course exudes an informal ethos, fostering
spirited discussions and embracing the diverse perspectives of creative individuals. Collaborative
learning and positive innovations take center stage, encouraging students to express their
ingenuity through various mediums: sketching, painting, drafting, software-generated drawings,
three-dimensional models, physical manifestations, photographs, and more. A paramount
objective is ensuring that speculative designs, when exhibited, resonate comprehensibly with the
layman, transcending the complexities of design into relatable, transformative narratives.
Literature:
Flooding cities; Speculative Design; Collective approach etc. more will be discussed in the first
lesson
