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living for an astronaut and a danse. Archiprix 1998 Netherlands,  hounorable mention

The Unavowable Community is an inquiry in to the nature and possibility of community, asking whether there can be a community of individuals that is truly "communal." The problem is that the very terms of an ideal community make an "avowal" of membership in it a violation of the terms themselves.

The twin house for a dancer and an astronaut was inspired by Maurice Blanchot's book 'The Unavowable Community'. The design seeks to assess whether it is possible in this day and age to conceive a space for shared experience. In it Wubbo Ockels, the Dutch astronaut, and Jacqueline Bongers, the dancer, are given the roles of the future occupants. At first sight these two differ profoundly in what it is that motivates them. From conversations with both occupants it transpires that there are major similarities between them too. Both, for example, are fascinated by wind and water.

For the astronaut Wubbo Ockels the prime components of the programme are a research laboratory, a water basin, a library and sleeping quarters. For the dancer Jacqueline Bongers these are a dance space, a library and once again sleeping accommodation. Research done at the European Space Agency elicited the curious discovery that travellers in space have to learn to dance so as to be able to move better in a weightless state. Drawing on both wind and water, the astronaut uses technology to enable him to have dancing lessons from his terpsichorean fellow resident.

learn more in essay the unavowable community with Le Corbusier, Adolf loos and John Hejduk

the unavowable community