PRAXXIS is an all female-led feminist studio atelier and research collective at the MSA in both BA3 and the MArch years 1&2. We take an inclusive; socially driven approach, in particular through the lens of intersectional feminism, to explore the inequalities in society and what that may mean for the built environment. Intersectionality acknowledges that the various layers of what we see as social and human characteristics—class, race, sexual identity, religion, age, disability, marriage status and gender identity do not exist separately from each other but are interwoven as a complex matrix. Studio for us is a platform where theoretical transdisciplinary practices are set up, a studio space of exchanges and dialogues where you can ask the questions that are not comfortable in other ateliers.
For the year-long thesis project our MArch2 students use feminist tools as a way of constructing project briefs that always respond to the personal and the political. Each individual project explores inclusive understandings of how our identity affects our life and our work. By defining a project from a personal position (an experience or simply a passion) and placing it within a political context, project work often results in the re-definition of systems—a key tenant of feminism. The objective is to alter the existing system for the inclusion of others, and primarily create equity for others. The project subjects are vast in their range and inspire the teaching team year in and year out.
In MArch1 students were challenged to design Intersectional Housing on a site next door to the Pankhurst Centre in Manchester City Centre (PS1). We then asked the students to consider the immediate space north of the Pankhurst Centre part of the site to create a Feminist School of Architecture (PS2) alongside some new feminist learning criteria. It has been important for the students to explore feminist technologies this year by discussing technologies which are collaborative, are gender equitable, or driven by need rather than just technological advances.
Finally, using feminist pedagogy we require our students to create individual Project Road Maps. Through this we ensure that these various key reflective processes are constantly discussed throughout the year. This is something we see as a crucial part of any successful feminist project. Each road map involves the navigation and communication of how and what the students have had to unlearn, learn, then had to re-learn, whilst constantly reflecting and finally self-evaluating.
Praxxis asks our students frequently what kind of Feminist Architect do you want to be? We ask our students how they want to practice, not where and not for who… And what form of practice that might be.
Please check our work out on Instagram and Twitter on @praxxis_f
