THE FUTURE OF SHOWS
Nº 5Stage the World
Christian and Jade hope to foster freedom
and tolerance with an ADAPTABLE AGORA.Do you feel your system is suitable for only
certain types of events, and that others
should still occur in a more private realm?
JC: Most definitely. Our proposal stems
from the observation that the private realm
is where most shows take place. This means
that the ability to show is basically the ability
to match any associated regulations and
economical requirements, thus fostering very
limited and specific types of events. Self-
initiated, open-for-all shows could change
the current situation. – TI
christianandjade.comWhat was your initial response to the brief?
JADE CHAN: The word ‘show’ calls to mind
images of a theatre, a catwalk, a furniture
fair – charismatic worlds of cultural innova-
tion and progress. Yet these types of shows
are often accessible to only a select group of
individuals.
CHRISTIAN HAMMER JUHL: We
envision a future in which shows are a
fluid and integrated element of daily urban
life – any citizen can become a performer
or a member of the audience. Through a
series of small height-adjustable ‘podiums’,
a public square transforms into a stage,
market stands, seats for a debate or chess
tables. Common Ground is easy, free and
accessible. It’s a democratic tool that gives
locals the ability to adapt public space to
their needs. We also want to reduce the
waste and building materials associated
with typical events.
There’s a historical precedent behind
Common Ground... JC: The concept
recalls the beliefs and ideals surrounding
public gathering spaces, from the agorae
of ancient Greece to the town squares
CHRISTIAN HAMMER JUHL
and JADE CHAN seek to
understand how the objects
around us reflect and influence
the way we live, making the
two DAE graduates a fitting
addition to ‘The Challenge’.Common Ground is a series of small
height-adjustable ‘podiums’ that would
transform a public square into a stage,
market stands, seating or tables.
we know today. Such environments are
shared commons that symbolize unity and
embody the idea of equal speech. They’re
powerful tools for promoting a communal,
entrepreneurial, cultural and democratically
organized urban civilization.
CHJ: The internet and social-media
platforms have drastically increased involve-
ment in cultural and political discussions.
Although technology has led to a greater free-
dom of expression, it can’t replace the sig-
nificance and power of shared public spaces.
By integrating an adaptable spatial tool into
the architecture of the city and removing
the exclusivity of the traditional architecture
and format of an event, can we give people
the freedom to show in a public space? Will
seeing others respond to the same setting in
a similar way encourage tolerance in a climate
of increasing urban diversity?How did you decide on Common Ground’s
form? CHJ: We wanted something iconic,
playful and engaging – a setup that
encourages interaction. The mechanics
are based on those of automated traffic-
control bollards.42 THE CHALLENGE