Berlin
Techno Booth

Largely a favourite among the jurors, “Re-Unite" proposes a flexible, customisable structure inspired by scaffolding. It consists of triangular and square prototypes that can be wrapped in translucent fabric and expanded according to the needs and number of participants. The jury praised the proposal for the intelligence of its simple modularity and its sensitivity to both connectivity and separation. The jury writes, “The translucent fabric lets the silhouette be seen by the observer as a continuous curtain, but remains independent, separated by the vertical frames. Bodies are free to move while experiencing distancing. The strength of the project lies in the agglomeration of the individual, solitary units that generate collective forms, united by a shared interest of activity. It is a proposal that establishes references to the Occupy movement and informal/temporary settlements through the choice of materials, construction techniques, and collective use. The visualization is quite enticing in the way it occupies urban space while maintaining a grade of individualism.” The jury also commented that while the modular elements are simplistic and straightforward, they lack a layer of specificity that relates to techno music's audio-visual aspects. 

“snb-f1” (a name combining SFB radio with Funktion-One sound system) is a project for an autonomous and itinerant device dedicated to techno music inspired by French DJ Laurent Garnier who once described techno music as generated by “taking machines out of their context to make futuristic music with them.” The design comprises a scissor lift sandwiched by two digital advertising panels, allowing an individual to privately party inside while its envelope interacts at an urban level. According to the jury, “snb-f1 is a provocative proposal that takes into consideration the underground, hidden nature of Techno, and it explores the idea of a billboard that communicates to the exterior while hiding its main activity within. Although this concept could have been more developed, the use of the element of the screen, its portability, and its modularity are well-incorporated into the solution. The project’s flexibility of deployment is a great aspect; it innovatively uses existing infrastructures and machines from Berlin to create a whole new function. It's realizable and it's fun.”

‘Invisible Bodies’ is a proposal for a dance box that can be located throughout the city while remaining invisible, traced via mobile application. From the exterior, it is an anonymous structure clad in mirrors; the interior presents an intimate space enclosed by organic, soft shapes that are the colour of human skin. The jury comments, “‘Invisible Bodies’ is a poetic and original response to the brief. The title itself speaks to the contrasting experiences that one could observe during the pandemic: an absence in the city, and a bodily connection. The reference to the naked body suggests a return to the essential notions of human connection without any other artifice. The project represents and pictures an intimate inner experience and feeling.”