12/31/08

Diller Scofidio + Renfro

"Gonçalo Furtado - Whatever the object of focus, there always seems to exist an interventionist input geared towards the debate on the role of architecture in society, a challenging comment on everyday cultural and spatial conventions (domestic, visual etc), and, very often, a subtle political problematizations. (I recall stuff that goes from the 1996 theatre “Moving target” and the 2006 fashion design piece “Meat dress”, to installations for Lille, Turkey and Joanesbourg, books such as “Back to the front, tourisms of war”, and architecture such as the WTC platform.). Do you see architecture as a political arena and/or act?
Elizabeth Diller - We believe that the institutional critic is still very much alive and as architects, we are inevitably engaged in an intense dialogue and critique, of institutions and their relationship to one another, of our relationship to institutions, of architecture as an institution. It is not possible for us to not be institutional critics; when looking at institutions, you come to understand that they are often dominated by people whose power is derived from money, and there is a disconnect with a specific cultural interest. So inevitably, institutions typically reflect those with power and money, by virtue of who builds them, what they say and present. And we cannot ignore the need to develop a framework that allows such institutions to survive – a framework that generates income as government subsidies for the arts recedes. As architects then, we must be absolutely vigilant about our institutions. In a manner, they become our responsibility; we must become advocates of their best interests. Certainly, architecture becomes a sort of stealthy political act – to be a part of institution for example, but not let them go the course they might otherwise take."

in: Gonçalo Furtado, "Performing the critical [Interview with Elizabeth Diller]", in: Arq./a, December 2008, pp.70-75

IJUP 2009

COLOQUIO IJUP 2009

"No IJUP09, esperamos a participação de estudantes de 1º e 2º ciclos da U.Porto (incluindo estudantes de mobilidade), estudantes de outras universidades portuguesas integrados em grupos da U.Porto ou integrados em grupos em que participam docentes/investigadores da U.Porto, financiados ou não pelo programa “Investigação na pré-graduação”. Prevemos, mais uma vez, a participação de estudantes da USP, da UNESP e de universidades norte-americanas. Apelamos também à participação activa de todos os grupos de I&D da U.Porto, deixando o desafio de transformarem este encontro numa oportunidade para melhor se dar a conhecer a diversidade e a qualidade da investigação que se faz na U.Porto.
O IJUP09 realizar-se-á entre 25 e 27 de Fevereiro de 2009 e terá lugar na Faculdade de Arquitectura." See: http://sicc.fe.up.pt/eventos/IJUP09

12/9/08

link M+M at princeton

http://web.princeton.edu/sites/mandm/events2007-8.html

11/27/08

"...Simulação Urbana para Participação Pública"

"...Simulação Urbana para Participação Pública"

PROVA FINAL PARA A LICENCIATURA EM ARQUITECTURA

FAUP, 27 Novembro 2008, 9.30h,

luis Gama Pereira
"Ferramenta de simulação urbana para apresentação pública"

Júri
Rui Braz (presidente do juri)
Gonçalo Furtado (arguente)
Pedro Leão (orientador)

11/18/08

"...Interface dinâmico com o mundo natural"

PROVA FINAL PARA A LICENCIATURA EM ARQUITECTURA

FAUP, 18 Novembro 2008, 9.30h,

Alexandre Filipe Braga Loureiro
"Uma abordagem da Arquitectura enquanto Interface dinâmico com o mundo Natural"

Júri
Rui Braz (presidente do juri)
Alberto Lage (arguente)
Gonçalo Furtado (orientador)

11/14/08

AMANDA HEITLER's PERFACE TO GONÇALO FURTADO'S BOOK ON GORDON PASK

AMANDA HEITLER's PERFACE TO GONÇALO FURTADO'S BOOK ON GORDON PASK


"(...) Goncalo has done me the honour of asking me to write this preface, write I will. I take a certain comfort in the knowledge that G himself will be finding this situation hysterical, whatever ethereal plane he currently occupies.
(...) I can only offer a unique view of the man. In doing so I will indulge my own theory that G and cybernetics were perfectly suited to each other. (...) Gonçalo’s research (...)published with my permission, provides a passionate overview’s of G’s life and his performance in the fields of cybernetics, architecture and the arts. "
(Amanda Heitler)

11/11/08

Aula pelo Prof Sérgio Fernandez


TEORIA 1

"Arquitectura Moderna Portuguesa"
Sérgio Fernandez (Professor Emérito da UP)

Auditório Fernando Távora, 13 Novembro 16.30-18.00h

11/8/08

Interesses de Investigação

Gonçalo Furtado
Interesses de Investigação / Proposta de Temas para Dissertações de Mestrado 2008/2009

1)
Pensamento e crítica arquitectónica, com especial ênfase no período Pós-moderno e Contemporâneo.
2)
História da arquitectura do século XX,
com especial ênfase nas décadas de 60/70, e incluindo os sub-temas da
Produção arquitectónica; das Utopias urbanas e modos de habitar; e da Escola do Porto.
3)
Modelação projectual e manufactura assistida por computador,
e a sua relação com as ciências da complexidade, da ‘emergência’ e da sustentabilidade.

11/6/08

"...Projecto, Modelação e Manufactura" (D. Moreira)

"CIRCUNSTÂNCIA CONTEMPORÂNEA: PROJECTO, MODELAÇÃO E MANUFACTURA"
PROVA FINAL PARA A LICENCIATURA EM ARQUITECTURA
FAUP, 6 Novembro 2008, 12.30h

Diogo Aguiar Pinto Carvalho Moreira - "Circunstância Contemporânea: Projecto, Modelação e Manufactura"

Juri: Rui Braz (Presidente), Gonçalo Furtado (Orientador), José Miguel Rodrigues(Arguente)

11/3/08

LECTURES AT CESUGA – UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN

LECTURES AT CESUGA – UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN
By Gonçalo Furtado

10 November 2008, 15.30-19.30h
“The History of Modern Architecture and the Postmodern Jump”

17 November, 15.30-19.30h
“The Three Urban Utopias: From Suburbia to Digital City"

10/28/08

PUBLICATIONS

CR 09

G.Furtado, “Envisioning an Evolving Environment-Encounters of Gordon Pask, Cedric Price and John Frazer: A Brief Account”, in: W.Fiel, M.Jahrmann (eds.), “New Realities. Being Syncretic. BOOK OF ABSTRACTS”, Wien: University of Applied Arts, 2008, p.34.
G.Furtado, “Envisioning an Evolving Environment-Encounters of Gordon Pask, Cedric Price and John Frazer: A Brief Account”, in: Roy Ascott, Wolfgang Fiel, Gerald Bast (eds.), “New Realities. Being Syncretic. CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS” [“The Planetary Collegium’s IX th International Research Conference: Consciousness Reframed”], NewYork-Wien: Springer, 2008 pp.(?).

"Da medida do Corpo ao espaço do Movimento" (M.Cano)

"DA MEDIDA DO CORPO AO ESPAÇO DO MOVIMENTO"
PROVA FINAL PARA A LICENCIATURA EM ARQUITECTURA
FAUP, 28 OUTUBRO 2008, 12.30h

Maria do Rosário Vaz Cano - "Da medida do Corpo ao espaço do Movimento"

Juri: Rui Braz (Presidente), Teresa Fonseca (Orientador), Gonçalo Furtado (Arguente)

10/24/08

A nova cidade


(Foto de Alexandre Loureiro)



IN/NER CITY - PROGRAMA

23.10.2008 conferência Plano B 19.00
A nova cidade - Gonçalo Furtado

10/22/08

"... Para uma Arquitectura Humana"

PROVA FINAL PARA A LICENCIATURA EM ARQUITECTURA
FAUP, 23 OUTUBRO 2008, 12.30h

Joana Maria Morais Silva - "Quatro Pontos para uma Arquitectura Humana"

Juri: Rui Braz (Presidente), Teresa Fonseca (Orientador), Gonçalo Furtado (Arguente)

10/21/08

lectures cac 08



Pau Sola Morales
Josep Montaner

Mesa redonda CAC








CAC08 Sessão de abertura



- Jorge Gonçalves (Vice-reitor para a innovação e desenvolvimento)
- Nuno Portas (Professor jubilado)
- Manuel Fernandes de Sá (Centro de Estudos)
- Rui Póvoas (Vice-presidente da FAUP)

10/20/08

Sobre 'Detrás del lápiz' de Gonçalo Furtado

“He leído el libro 'Detrás del lápiz' y me ha parecido sumamente interesante. Estoy de acuerdo con los planteamientos de 'rastrear desde la teoría de la arquitectura las relaciones de dicha actividad con la política y la sociedad, reconstruyendo una cierta historiografía nueva'. Me perece realmente interesante este ‘recorrido que propone centrarse en la dimensión político-cultural de la arquitectura´. También concuerdo en hacer una interpretación positiva de la postmodernidad, al menos reconociendo una fase inicial que se debe estudiar, tal como hace Gonçalo Furtado, analizando la escritura de la modernidad y de la postmodernidad. Por lo que respecta a la caracterización rápida de los arquitectos y autores que se citan, me parece, generalmente, muy certera, ilustrativa y con gran capacidad de síntesis. En fin, un texto interesante, sugerente e impresindible, y que voy a añadir a la bibliografía de mi asignatura sobre 'Arquitectura y política'."

Josep Maria Montaner (Architect and Permanent professor in the Escuela de Arquitectura de Barcelona, ETSAB-UPC)

10/19/08

IN/NER CITY - PROGRAMA

IN/NER CITY - PROGRAMA


30.09 Debate FAUP 18.30
A Universidade e a Cidade – Francisco Barata, José Manuel Soares, Vladimiro Feliz, Ivo Santos, Ricardo Morgado

03.10 Debate FAUP 18.30
A Escola do Porto /? – Alcino Soutinho, Jorge Figueira, Gonçalo Furtado e Filipe Magalhães

01.11 conversainformal Café Ancora D’Ouro 17.00
O papel do estudante de Ensino Superior na cidade – Alexandre Alves Costa

15.10 debate FNAC 18.30
Porto: Transformações urbanas contemporâneas – Manuel Correia Fernandes, João T. Lopes

6
23.10 conferência Plano B 19.00
A nova cidade - Gonçalo Furtado

7
30.10 debate FNAC 18.30
Cidade e Privacidade – Hélder Pacheco, Luísa Neto e Luís Fernandes

8
05.11 conferência FNAC 18.30
O comércio e a cidade – J. A. Rio Fernandes

06.12 Conferência *******
Novas Centralidades – Álvaro Domingues

15.11 (data a confirmar) conferência CASA DA MÚSICA
Porto: cidade europeia – Elisa Ferreira

20.11 (data a confirmar) conversa com jovens CASA DA MÚSICA
Investimento Público e Dinâmicas Privadas – Fernando Teixeira dos Santos

27.11 tertúlia informal FAUP
A cidade Criativa – Carlos Martins

05.12 debate Majestic
Grande Porto : planeamento e irregularidades no território – Virgílio B. Pereira, J. P. Aguiar Branco e Manuel Fernandes Sá

06.12 debate Majestic
Grande Porto : ordenamento do território desde 74 – Nuno Portas, Daniel Bessa

21.12 debate-concerto FNAC
O que fazer num domingo à tarde? – André Tavares, Gonçalo Gonçalves, Gabriela Vaz

22.12 debate-concerto FNAC
Porto e Comunicação – Helena Lima, José Leite Pereira, Tiago A. Fernandes

23.12 conversa-concerto FNAC
O chão – J. Sousa Dias, Manuel A. Pina, Germano Silva

10/16/08

Paper on Pask and De Zeeuw’s IA

Title: Pask and DE Zeeuw’s Encounters at Amesterdam
[Excerpt of paper by Gonçalo Furtado - Universidade do Porto]

Abstract: "In the 1980s, pre-eminent British cybernetician Gordon Pask became involved in Professor Gerard de Zeeuw’s Dutch programme ‘Support, Survival and Culture’. In the early 1990s, their Interaction of Actors Theory ultimately evolved from the better-known Conversation Theory in response to the requirements for social action. These text merely outline a series of aspects related with that occurrence."

Paper
"In 1980 pre-eminent cybernetician Gordon Pask had left his long-held post as director of research of System Research Ltd. In the 1980s he became involved in the Dutch programme ‘Support, Survival and Culture’ which focused on social issues such as adult education and social-support systems. The program was led by the Dean of the Faculty of Andragology of the University of Amsterdam – Professor Gerard de Zeeuw – and it was his largest, funded by the Ministry of Education of the Netherlands. So called Androgology deals with the study of human action; and Pask personally dealt with social cybernetics, inter-personal and intro-personal interactions of actors, frequently through machines.
[…]
It was in this context that, together with Gerard de Zeeuw, Pask developed Interaction of Actors Theory (I.A.). A large draft, probably for a book titled Interaction of Actors, Theory and Some Applications, was dated 1992. I.A. was a play on words inverting the polemic term A.I., and in a letter to colleagues Pask clearly stated that: ‘In sharp contrast to the artificial intelligence often dubbed A.I., I have formulated a novel theory [...] as an[...] extension of my previous developed thought, still and always evolving, Conversation Theory [...].’ [Pask, untitled notes, ca.1990] In Pask’s words, Conversation Theory “[...] led to the “dynamical representation of concepts of participants and differences between participants, engaged in interpersonal or intrapersonal interaction often through computing machines. It soon became evident that, upon embarking upon studies of social support systems, at the [...] University of Amsterdam, considerable extension of the theories in question was needed, those Prof. Dr. de Zeeuw and I titled ‘Interaction of Actors’ or for brevity ‘I.A. theory’. They deal […] with mind creativity, thought, action, interaction and conversation.” [Pask, untitled notes, 1992] If, while developing C.T., he had identified conditions for sharing concepts, with I.A. he thus continued to develop an account of the conversational process while emphasizing a dynamic, creative, multiple interaction.
In this respect, some articles by authors close to Pask, namely by the I.A.’s co-author De Zeeuw, […] are helpful sources for immersion in this complex and later unfinished endeavour.
[…]
De Zeeuw's 2001 paper ‘Interaction of Actors Theory’ (published in Kybernetes N.7-8 edited by Glanville and Scott, and available at www.cict.demon.co.uk/interaction01.pdf), in turn, is extremely helpful in clarifying the theory’s intrinsic meaning for scientific research; being composed of several parts and containing references to the book’s draft manuscript. The first part consists of an introduction, and the second describes the ‘problem’ including an allusion to a redesign of science which acknowledges the user in the observational process. The third part explains the basis of I.A., and it indicates C.T.’s and I.A.’s common intention ‘[…] to include the ‘user’ in the process of research […]’; Pask distinguished between P and M individuals, and stated that, in I.A., P-individuals ‘[…] become part of a collective P-individual, which coordinates the actions of the M-individuals and is determined in conversation’. [De Zeeuw, 2001] The fourth part relates to the formulation of a research programme and discusses some of its consequences. To a large extent, I.A., as a ‘theory for research’ and ‘for the study of interactions’, extended the potentiality of science’s performance. The fifth, evaluating some examples, is followed by a conclusion which mentions that while advancing the development of I.A., Pask intended to deal with the difficulty of ‘improving on values’. [De Zeeuw, 2001] Zeeuw’s paper clarifies the meaning of I.A. and, in his words: ‘[…] how this theory intended to minimize the effects of use on scientific results, while maximizing the help of such results to improve on actions. This would facilitate empirical study of what changes user values, as well as the preferred design of (computer supported) support systems. Results include the material and communicative support of and collective and social activities.’ [De Zeeuw, 2001]]
By developing Interaction of Actors Theory, Pask answered for requirements of social intervention and the reality of multiple, simultaneous conversations. And at this point, one could say that to a certain extent Pask’s role in platforms like Amsterdam acknowledged the wide (civilizational) potential of his thought.
The last words goes to Professor De Zeeuw - the co-author of Interaction Theory – to emphasize what he pointed out to me in an impressive way: “Gordon wasn´t interested in (a discipline of) interactions. He was interested in (helping to) identify what knowledge is needed for people to change their actions (and behaviour), and hence what knowledge is needed to ‘improve on values’. Simply identifying interventions would lean much more on the control paradigm than was Gordon’s intention. He was well aware of the difficulty of acquiring knowledge that in its use would not ‘flatten’ individuals, and would ‘increase possibilities’ as Von Foerster would say.” [De Zeeuw, 2008]
Facing our contemporary Global World, an Interaction of Actors seems more important than ever."

Proceedings. 14 ICCS

Gonçalo Furtado, “Gordon Pask: Exchanges Between Cybernetics and Architecture and the Envisioning of the ‘Informational Environment’”, in: J.Józefczyk, W.Thomas, M.Turowska (eds.), XIVth International Congress of Cybernetics and Systems of WOSC: Prodeedings, Poland: Oficyna Wydawnicza Politechniki Wroclawskiej / World Organization of Systems and Cybernetics, 2008, p.910-921

See also: Abstract
Gonçalo Furtado, “Gordon Pask: Exchanges Between Cybernetics and Architecture and the Envisioning of the ‘Informational Environment’”, in: J.Józefczyk, D. Orski (eds.), “XIVth International Congress of Cybernetics and Systems of WOSC: Book of Abstracts, Poland: World Organization of Systems and Cybernetics and Wroclaw University of Technology, 2008, p.25

10/14/08

A ESCOLA DO PORTO


"IN/NER CITY"

"A Escola do Porto"
2 Outubro 2008, 18.30
- Alcino Soutinho
- Jorge Figueira
- Gonçalo Furtado
- Filipe Magalhães

10/13/08

LECTURES

Lectures by Gonçalo Furtado
ELISAVA SCHOOL OF DESIGN
Barcelona, Spain

November - "Cedric Price's Ouvre: FP vs Generator + Magnet vs JN"
December - "Ciudad de los Fluxos: Designing and Inhabiting the digital"

ARTECH 2008


4th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON DIGITAL ARTS
7,8 November 2008
ARTECH 2008 PROGRAM

Friday, 7 November 2008
Poster presentations #1
13:45 - 14:45

Affective-Driven Music Production: Selection and Transformation of Music
António Oliveira and Amílcar Cardoso

Ritmo de montaje vídeo – Memoria de una audición
José M. G. Silva

Virtually Brushing my Tooth
Cristina Sylla and Pedro Branco

CCRE digital platform for collaborative learning, public participation, architecture and arts
Pedro Neto, Andrea Vieira, Luís Pereira, and Lígia Maria Ribeiro

xTNZ, a three-dimensional evolutionary ecosystem
Rui Antunes and Frederic Leymarie

pDaniM: A Case Study around Interactive Processes for Expressive Music Generation in the Computer Animation Production Pipeline
João Cordeiro

Wearable Computing e Design de Moda
Dulclerci Sternadt Alexandre and António Miguel Monteiro

Authority
Ricardo Nascimento

Anatomias Urbanas
Sara Henriques, Jorge Cardoso, Helena Figueiredo

Invisível aos Olhos
Inês Petiz Pinho, Jorge Cardoso, Helena Figueiredo

Noon – A Secret Told by Objects
Tiago Martins, Christa Sommer, Laurent Mignonneau, and Nuno Correia

Installations (9:30-20:30)

Saturday, 8 November 2008

Poster presentations #2
13:45 - 14:45

Interaction in Digitally Augmented Opera
Raine Kajastila and Tapio Takala

The language of digital media in the theatre of Robert Lepage
María Elena Pérez Rodríguez

EME: a Wireless Music Controller for Real-time Music Interaction
O. Cornelis, M. Demey, and M. Leman

Cage en relectura y Calvino en revision
Eloi Puig Mestres

Gordon Pask (1928-1996): Seminal Experiments on Cybernetic Art and Design
Gonçalo M. Furtado



Através da sala escura: Uma aproximação entre a ala de cinema e o lugar do vjing
Gabriel Menotti

Body Tailored Space
Nancy Diniz

A Prototype for Visualizing Music Artist Networks
Bruno G. Costa, Fabien Gouyon, and Luís Sarmento

A Reflexive Audio Environment Using Genetic Algorithm
Scott Beveridge and Don Knox

The Informational Body as Creative Provocateu
Suzanne Thorpe
Mayil Iragu
Subalekha Udayasankar

Installations (9:30-20:30)

PASK EXPERIMENTS ON ART AND DESIGN

Gonçalo Furtado, “Gordon Pask (1928-1996): Seminal Experiments on Cybernetic Art and Design (From a Childhood Curiosity and Mobiles to the I.E.’s Symbiosis”, in: Álvaro Barbosa (ed.), "Artech 2008: IVth International Conference on Digital Arts", Porto: Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 2008, pp. 191-200.

10/11/08

KYBERNETES AWARD

WORLD ORGANIZATION OF SYSTEMS AND CYBERNETICS
INTERNATIONAL COLLOQUIUM “ICCS 08”
Wroclaw University of Technology (Poland,2008)

"HISTORY OF CYBERNETICS AND SYSTEMS"(9-9-2008, 16:15–17:45)
Session Chair: Alex Andrew

1. The history and influence of the Ratio Club
Owen Holland, Phil Husbands

2. Gordon Pask: exchanges between cybernetics and architecture and the envisioning of the ‘informational environment’ Gonçalo Furtado
(KYBERNETES AWARD - HIGHLY COMMENDED PAPER)


3. The research of the young genius’s phenomenon
Anna Pakshina

4. The scientific predictions of Vladimir Odoevsky and web-technologies
Julia Pakshina

Publication: Cedric Price's Generator [...]



See: FURTADO, Gonçalo, POVOAS, Rui (eds). Cedric Price's Generator [...]
Oporto: FAUP, 2008.

Includes:
- FURTADO, Gonçalo, “The Generator Project: A brief account”
- FURTADO, Gonçalo, "[...] Cedric Price’s work and the Generator [...]"

Towards an Evolving Architectural Aesthetics

FURTADO, Gonçalo. "Towards an Evolving Archiectural Aesthetics […]”, in: POVOAS, Rui, ET ALT(eds.), “Contemporary Architectural Challenges”, Oporto: FAUP, 2008.

Publicações: Desafios na Arquitectura

POVOAS, Rui, FURTADO, Gonçalo. “Desafios na Arquitectura”, in: Arq./a, Outubro 2008

See also: FURTADO, Gonçalo, PÓVOAS, Rui (eds.), in: “Contemporary Architectural Challenges”, Oporto: FAUP, 2008.

10/9/08

EXHIBITION CEDRIC PRICE'S GENERATOR











CEDRIC PRICE’S GENERATOR
AND THE FRAZERS’ COLLECTION
Curated by Gonçalo Furtado and Rui Póvoas

"Between 1976 and 1979 the avant-garde architect Cedric Price got himself involved in an enigmatic project that came to be known as the “Generator”. The afore mentioned project, designed for the plantation of a North-American millionaire was intended to hold the ever flowing occurrence of new activities, desires and raising of ideas.
At that time, John’s and Julia Frazer’s computer investigation would provide a system designed to stimulate the regeneration of the complex and the project was thus to be acknowledged as the “first intelligent building”.
The present exhibition, under the curatorship of the professors Gonçalo Furtado e Rui Póvoas, brings for the first time to the public a set of drawings of the Generator project that are in trust of the Frazers. The selection, made by Gonçalo Furtado during his PhD research in the UK, was structured by both commissaries and was put into context with the help of contemporaneous bibliographic material.
Passing by the numerous items present in the exhibition, the visitor will understand the enormous effort of Cedric Price in the name of an impermanent architecture, open to the time flow and to the desires of its users, as well as the relevant contribution of John and Julia Frazer.

NOTE: The exhibition held in the FAUP's Museum will be opened to the public from the 22 September 2008; and before the return of all materials to the UK, Furtado - author of the book "Generator and Beyond" - will conduct a guided visit to the exhibition."
(in:Gonçalo Furtado and Rui Póvoas (eds.), "Cedric Price's Generator [...]", Oporto: FAUP, September 2008. (ISBN 978-972-9483-88-2)

10/1/08

MOSTRA CAD-CAM comissariada por J.P.Duarte





MOSTRA CAD-CAM comissariada por J.P.Duarte
(CAC 08, FAUP-2008. Organização Gonçalo Furtado e Rui Póvoas)

lecture by Neil Leach


CAC 08, FAUP, 2008
Organization Gonçalo Furtado e Rui Póvoas

lecture by jasia reichardt


CAC 2008, FAUP, 2008
Organization Gonçalo Furtado e Rui Póvoas

CAC 08 Round Tables









Lecture by Ted Krueger




CAC 08, FAUP, 2008
Organization Gonçalo Furtado and Rui Póvoas

9/30/08

WOSC

A participação de Gonçalo M. Furtado C. L. no "14th World Organization of Systems [...] International Colloquium", com o paper "Gordon Pask: Exchanges Between Cybernetics and Architecture", foi premiada com "highly Commended Paper".