Last month we hosted AnkaraAks as part of our Circle Talks: Young Enterprises in Architecture series. We both got to know AnkaraAks closely and had the opportunity to discuss what it means to be a young and dynamic team in the architectural community. During the talk, the team told us about their most recent organization New European Bauhaus: Young Spirit of Renewal project. Also the team read the Renewal Manifesto which they prepared as an outcome of this project. Now, you can find the Manifesto below on Circle Blog.

Renewal Manifesto

Ever since humans realized that they are human beings, they have considered themselves superior to nature and this is the biggest deception of our age. The destruction of nature we see today is the product of this deception. Human sees themselves in such a position that they think they are the savior of the nature they have corrupted.

To exist is to sustain. Sustaining is not about doing but not doing. The most ecological building is one that has never been built! So stop deceiving yourself and don't consider yourself superior to nature. Human is part of nature. Nature does not need saving. What is needed is reconciliation with nature. Live and design with nature, not against it.

Designers; It is time for design to meet nature! We must construct a holistic design that is compatible with nature.

I.

For this purpose, maintain and produce together with the future in mind. This unity is the polyphony of the actors in every field of design. These actors are undoubtedly the people who touch the spaces at all scales. Polyphony brings diversity. The harmony of this diversity and collectivity will shape the spaces of the future.

II.

In a world where the acceleration of consumption is seen as the level of prosperity, design should be sensitive to ecological balance and ecosystem. Production and consumption must be the result of a conscious and critical process. In this process, harmony with nature is to make minimum intervention and provide efficiency.

III.

The design cannot be standardized. Place, people and time are unique. So the design should be specific to the place, the person and the time. Designers should shape the design with all of these in mind and convey the spirit of the space to the future. For this, the texture, technique and material of the ground should be the inspiration of the designer.

IV.

We refuse to be divisive by design! Design is unifying. Inclusive, flexible and accessible design ensures equality for “everyone and everything”.

V.

Design tries to find solutions to the problems of today's system, but the real problem is the system itself. Design cannot be limited to the system, design does not only find solutions to problems.

All these are the principles that complete the parts together with nature and form the holistic design. It is education that creates and spreads the consciousness of this totality. Consciousness and knowledge are shaped and sustained through experience. Education should be an experimental, versatile and inclusive system that connects people with nature. This system should also be built on interdisciplinary cooperation. Only in this way unity is achieved and the benefit is not individual but social.

This manifesto is a call to designers who will shape their own future and to all young people who have a say in the future! We are the young spirit of renewal! The world is changing, what is changing is our future. By thinking about the past and taking lessons, we must shape today and continue nature and culture into the future. Thinking, shaping and sustaining are how we will be renewed.

AnkaraAks

For further detail on AnkaraAks and New European Bauhaus, you can visit their web site or read the document on this link. Plus, for detail on the Circle Talks live broadcast please visit the event page.